Homeless Count Reveals Spike In People Living In Vehicles

SEATTLE, WA - More people are living unsheltered in King County, but fewer people became homeless over the past year, according to the results of the the county's 2018 point-in-time homeless count.

King County's All Home homeless service agency released the 2018 figures Thursday, revealing that an estimated 12,112 homeless were homeless on the night of the count, a 4 percent increase over 2017. That's a slower rate than in past years when the homeless population grew by about 11 percent each year.

However, about 6,300 homeless were living outside on the night of the count, which is about 350 more than last year - and the most in a decade. This population includes people living in sanctioned and unsanctioned camps, in RVs and cars, and on streets.

Many of the unsheltered - 28 percent - were living in vehicles. That category grew by about 1,000 over 2017 to 3,372, a 45 percent increase. The number of people living in sanctioned encampments also grew, and the population of people living on the streets was about the same at about 1,500.

Life in a car or RV can be particularly treacherous. There are virtually no places to park in King County without risking a parking fine, tow, or worse. If a homeless person's vehicle is broken down, they simply can't obey police orders to move.

Here's what else the point-in-time count found:

• The population of homeless veterans dropped by 31 percent compared to 2017 to 921, but a majority of homeless vets (57 percent) live unsheltered.
• The population of chronically homeless (people who sleep "in places not meant for human habitation or
  staying in emergency shelters for a year or longer") people grew 28 percent over the 2017 count.
• The homeless population grew in every part of the county except southwest King County. For example, the population grew on the Eastside to almost 400 from 319 in 2017.
• The count identified a racial disparity in the homeless population. Although most homeless are white (48 percent of the total homeless population), other races were over-represented. For example, blacks made up 27 percent of the homeless population, but only 6 percent of the population county-wide.
• Most homeless people in King County - 71 percent - live in Seattle. Southwest King County had the second highest share with 15 percent.
• There were 1,518 unaccompanied teens and young adults (people under age 24) experiencing homeless, and 75 percent live unsheltered.
• The number of homeless families decreased overall, but the count found 782 households experiencing homelessness.

Another important part of the count reveals how people ended up homeless.

About 25 percent reported that a job loss cost them their home. Alcohol and drug use was next at 21 percent, and eviction was third at 11 percent.

The top needs homeless people named, according to the survey: an affordable place to live and a job.

The annual point-in-time count serves as a snapshot of the homeless population and helps measure local progress in addressing the homelessness crisis. The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development requires agencies like All Home conduct a PIT annually during the last 10 days of January.

Photo by Patricia Huzar