Homelessness is often seen and felt most where we live and work, making local government the first place the community turns to respond to the growing need. People experiencing homelessness are members of our community. Their experiences and identities are diverse, complex, and cannot be reduced to a single circumstance. Being unhoused does not make someone less a part of our community, nor does it define the totality of who they are. Protecting and affirming the dignity of all people, especially the most vulnerable, is central to our work at the City.
In December 2025, City Council adopted Kirkland's first Homelessness Continuum of Care Action Plan(PDF, 694KB).
Why We Need an Action Plan
Did you know? Over the past five years, the community submitted more than 300 reports of individuals experiencing homelessness in Kirkland. While some of these reports involved the same individuals or situations, each one required a coordinated City response. Additionally, the City's Homeless Outreach Coordinator has contacted 160 unhoused or at-risk residents in nine months. Because homelessness is often underreported and regional rates continue to rise, these trends suggest that homelessness is not only present in Kirkland but also growing and at risk of reaching a tipping point.
The City’s Response: A Continuum of Care
For years, City staff has partnered with local non-profits, faith-based organizations, county, state, and federal partners to respond to the community’s unhoused residents through a comprehensive approach. While this long-time commitment is, in part, why homelessness in Kirkland has historically been less visible than other cities of its size, our city is not immune from broader national trends or the myriad issues or events that can cause someone to become unhoused.
The City’s goal is to prevent homelessness and, when it does occur, to transition individuals back into stable housing as soon as possible. To this end, the City currently invests in five strategies that provide a continuum of care for people who are, or at risk of, experiencing homelessness: Read More about Kirkland’s Homelessness Continuum of Care
Statement about our City Values: Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging. The City of Kirkland is committed to being a safe, inclusive, and welcoming place for all who live, work, and visit. This commitment is grounded in the City Council’s adoption of the Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging (DEIB) 5-Year Roadmap. People experiencing homelessness are members of our community. Their experiences and identities are diverse, complex, and cannot be reduced to a single circumstance. Many also belong to other historically marginalized groups, including Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC), immigrants, people with disabilities, veterans, and the 2SLGBTQIA+ community. Being unhoused does not make someone less a part of our community, nor does it define the totality of who they are. Protecting and affirming the dignity of all people, especially the most vulnerable, is central to our DEIB work.