Yakima County To Hire Care Coordinator to Address Homelessness

Yakima County is in the process of hiring a Care Coordinator to help homeless people and help save tax dollars.

THE 2023 POINT IN TIME SURVEY REVEALED AN INTERESTING PROBLEM

Following the annual Point in Time survey in which homeless are counted in the valley, Yakima County Commissioner Kyle Curtis says the survey found there were 1,768 visits to the Yakima Multicare Memorial Hospital Emergency Room in 2023 by clients listed as “unhoused."

THE SURVEY FOUND 30 PEOPLE WHO LIVE ON THE STREET ARE TAKING UP A LOT OF RESOURCES

Curtis says 30 people who live on the streets of Yakima accounted for almost half of the hospital visits. That's a problem that needs to be addressed say commissioners it's the reason for the hiring of a Care Coordinator. The person will "responsible for working with the 30 people to find more appropriate programs and resources that divert from an emergency room visit. Also the coordinator will also help those who identify as unhoused who end up in the Yakima County jail.

CURTIS SAYS THEY'RE LOOKING FOR SOLUTIONS AT THIS TIME

“We have to be specific on how we are improving the homeless response system in our County. One way to do this is to find appropriate solutions for unhoused individuals who are high utilizers of our emergency rooms, first responders and who become incarcerated, says Curtis.

THE COUNTY IS HOPING THE COORDINATOR WILL SAVE LIVES AND MONEY

He says by exerting a focus to find appropriate solutions for these individuals, we will save the taxpayers in the long run.” Curtis says simply we can't keep throwing money at the same problem. "We must ensure that our community's response is a multiprong approach for a multifaceted issue. One size doesn’t fit all.”