Walla Walla County approves five-year homeless housing plan
By Griffin Beach on Wednesday, December 3rd, 2025 in Columbia Basin News More Top Stories
WALLA WALLA – Walla Walla County Commissioners have approved a five-year homeless housing plan, a required step under state law that will guide how resources are allocated to combat homeless housing issues from 2026 through 2030.
The plan was developed by the Council on Housing, the county’s designated homeless housing task force, through community forums, focus groups and a dedicated workgroup. It will be updated annually with a report presented to the Council on Housing, county commissioners, and the state Department of Commerce.
During the public comment period, a homeless resident identified only as Alyssa spoke about her struggles since becoming homeless over a year ago. She requested the plan include consideration for homeless residents with pets and for establishing a methadone clinic in Walla Walla.
Alyssa noted that residents currently must drive to Pendleton for methadone treatment. She also shared that she has administered the overdose-reversal drug Narcan on multiple occasions.
Sam Jackle, Department of Community Health Human Services Manager, said the current plan does not specifically address those issues due to funding limitations, but that her department recognizes the need to “make sure that we’re talking with other services that are addressing those things.”
Commissioners Bertha Clayton and Gunner Fulmer approved the plan, though both noted the issue extends beyond housing. Commissioner Todd Kimball was absent from the meeting.
“We’ve got to use this document (Homeless Plan) to guide the decisions in each of the areas that impact this environment including planning regulations, including substance abuse,” Clayton said.
Fulmer added, “There’s a lot of factors involved here, it absolutely has to do with the drug problem in the state of Washington.”
The most recent annual Point in Time Count identified 197 people experiencing homelessness in Walla Walla County, a decrease from 218 in 2024.
