Next week HUD’s annual Point-in-Time count will be conducted. This count is widely considered to be an undercount by homeless advocates (Don’t Count On It, The Nation Law Center on Homelessness & Poverty, 2017, HUD-PIT-report2017.pdf) . It remains the standard upon which HUD determines their funding protocols for communities throughout the US. The City of Spokane conducted a 2024 Longitudinal Systems Analysis which determined that the regional number of homeless was more than 7200 (Report: Over 7K people accessing homelessness services in Spokane, Tim Clouser, The Center Square, Mar. 11, 2025, Report: Over 7K people accessing homeless services in Spokane | Washington | thecentersquare.com.). We do not have housing nor are there any plans to create enough low-income, affordable housing for that many people soon. This month also marks the significant rise in insurance premiums for many who rely on the ACA health care plan or Medicare and Medicaid. It also is the month we have learned that the cost of electricity will rise (Avista proposes rate increases for gas, electric customers over the next four years | News | kxly.com). Add to the current deficit Washington state is facing due to increased demand for social services, increase in costs and the current federal administration’s decision to not pay already awarded grants, many people who are not now homeless will have to face that reality soon. The 2026 PIT may not reflect the anticipated rise in homelessness, but as those bills add up, and the income remains stagnant, lowers, or is lost, the probability of the numbers in the 2026 Spokane Regional Longitudinal Systems Analysis rising is high. Avista proposes rate increases for gas, electric customers over the next... Melissa Luck SPOKANE, Wash - Avista customers who use electric or natural gas can expect to pay more over the next four years... Usually at this point I ask the County Commissioners to enact the 1590 Tax. It may be too late to stop what is coming. Time will tell if limiting resources and criminalizing homelessness will change anything for the better. Becky Dickerhoof 7107 S Parkridge Blvd Spokane, WA 99224