Fri, 01/27/2012

Despite last night's frigid temperatures, there were thousands without shelter in King County. That's no exaggeration: 800 volunteers found 2,594 people sleeping on the streets, under bridges, in their cars, on public transit, in temporary shelters and in makeshift campsites. This is 152 more people than volunteers counted one year ago.

The One Night Count is organized by the Seattle/King County Coalition on Homelessness (SKCCH) each year as part of a national effort to document how many people still lack basic shelter. According to SKCCH, “the results are impossible to misinterpret: several thousand men, women, and children lack safety and stability.”

This year, like last year, the local runaway homeless youth providers hosted “slumber parties” as part of the ONC efforts to intentionally include youth and young adults in the count.  82 youth and young adults were counted in the 5 regional “slumber parties” hosted by Teen Feed, YMCA – 2100 Building, Friends of Youth, New Horizons, and PSKS. YouthCare's outreach team helped to publicize the events leading up to the count and provided outreach services throughout the night to support the “slumber parties.”

 

Source: 

Seattle/King County Coalition on Homelessness