(The Center Square) – Washington state seems to be sticking with its housing-first approach for the most part in dealing with homelessness, based on the Department of Commerce’s recently released strategic plan outlining statewide goals over the next five years for addressing the growing unsheltered population.

Frustrated critics contend that treating homelessness as primarily an economic problem to be solved by simply providing housing to people, no matter if they have addiction or mental health issues, does not work. They point to the state’s increasing number of homeless people as proof.