For the first time since 2012, the number of homeless people in King County has dropped.
On January 25, 2019 hundreds of volunteers spread out across King County to survey every homeless person in an event called Count Us In, a Point in Time Count. This year they counted 11,200 homeless people in shelters or outside – an 8 percent drop from last year. The number of people living outside also dropped 17 percent.
However, it is important to note that the Point in Time Count only shows how many people are homeless on a single night – which could vary throughout the year – and the count does not show how many people experience homelessness in a year. For example, the count in January 2017 found 11,643 people were homeless while a database that tracked the number of people seeking homeless services counted 29,462 homeless people in 2016. This number has also been continuously rising over the years.
Additionally, people of color are over represented in homeless population: they make up a third of King County’s population and half of the homeless population. Additionally, while the number of homeless people has dropped, the number of homeless people who are people of color has risen. This can be seen most drastically in Native Americans whose homeless population almost tripled from last year to this year. The number of homeless African Americans has also risen by 8 percent from 2018 to 2019. Additionally, African Americans represent only 6 percent of King County’s population while one third of the homeless population is black. At the same time the percent and number of white people who are homeless decreased.
In addition to counting all homeless people in King County, the Count Us In survey asks homeless people a series of questions, including what the primary event or condition was that led to them being homeless. According to last year’s report (The full 2019 report will come out at the end of May) the three top responses were losing a job, alcohol or drug use, and eviction. Last year homeless people were also asked what would help them the most in finding a home. The majority (80 percent) agreed that more affordable housing would help them find homes.
In 2015, King County and Seattle declared a state of emergency due to the high rates of homelessness. This allowed them to act much more quickly and spend more money on homelessness. To respond to this crisis they have invested millions in preventing homelessness and emergency response. Emergency response includes outreach services, hygiene, and shelter while preventing homelessness includes rent assistance. Another strategy for this crisis is diversion and rapid rehousing which helps people who have just entered the shelter system to quickly find permanent housing. Seattle also has seven City-Permitted Villages which offers people living outside, in tents, and vehicles a tiny house as well as access to bathrooms, showers, and a kitchen. Not only that but they are also provided case management. The success of these strategies is mixed: while the Point in Time Count found less people are homeless, the number of people seeking homeless services continues to rise.
