Homelessness

How is King County doing?

In 2005, the region came together to establish the Committee to End Homelessness (CEH) in King County and develop a regional Ten-Year Plan to End Homelessness. This extraordinary collaborative effort brings together all levels of government, business, faith, social services, philanthropy and homeless advocates working together as never before to create the housing and supportive services countywide that will end homelessness, not just continue to manage it. The plan focuses on increasing homeless prevention efforts, creating much needed housing and moving people into housing as quickly as possible with the supportive services they need to maintain that housing.

The Ten-Year Plan has a goal of 9,500 units of housing, or an average of 950 units per year. Thanks to the combined efforts of dozens of Ten-Year Plan to End Homelessness partners and funding sources we are creating nearly 500 units per year - more than double the historic production rate of 190 units per year prior to the Ten-Year Plan. By the end of 2008, 2,102 units dedicated to housing formerly homeless families and individuals were opened in King County based on the goals of the Ten-Year Plan. Another 1,242 units were in the pipeline for a total of 3,344 units, more than nearly every other ten year plan in the nation.* These numbers -- and our momentum -- will increase as our regional collaboration continues and as new state and local fund sources move from the planning to the implementation stages.

For 25 years, the annual One Night Count of homeless people has provided helpful information about the trends and the extent of homelessness in King County. The One Night Count provides a snapshot of the number of people on the street and those in emergency shelters and transitional housing. The count does not reflect the exact number of people without homes; nor does it include people doubled up with relatives or friends, or living in sub-standard housing. The most recent One Night Count estimated that about 8,700 people are homeless on any given night.

What else influences these indicators?

Many factors set the stage for homelessness, such as the shortage of affordable housing; poor access to health care; untreated mental illness or substance abuse; and the availability of livable wage jobs. Individuals are more vulnerable to losing their housing when they experience domestic violence, child abuse and neglect, loss of employment or other emergencies. Without a ready supply of affordable housing, even people whose only vulnerability is poverty may experience crises that can lead to a period of homelessness. A strong network of supportive services (such as housing assistance, food, child care, health care, and treatment services) is critical to addressing or preventing homelessness. Service providers must also consider housing needs as they develop discharge plans for those exiting jails, treatment facilities, and other institutions.

What role does King County government play?

The Department of Community and Human Services (DCHS) hosts the staff for CEH, and provides oversight to the implementation of the Ten Year Plan to End Homelessness in King County. The CEH works to

• Create programs that prevent individuals and families from becoming homeless
• Build or acquire 9,500 units of housing for formerly homeless households, integrated with treatment and supportive services
• Streamline services providing health care, mental health and substance abuse services and job training
• Strengthen discharge planning to include housing and treatment considerations
• Address the disproportionate impact of homelessness on people of color
• Educate the public on how we can end homelessness together.

Through agency contracts, DCHS provides a variety of homeless intervention services, including legal services for families facing eviction, emergency rent/utility assistance, financial literacy education, and some case management services. Programs provide emergency shelter beds and transitional housing, and assist individuals in moving on to permanent housing. DCHS works with its mental health providers to help individuals leaving residential treatment facilities to transition to community housing with supportive services.

What can you do?

There are many ways communities can be involved to help end homelessness in King County and/or make the lives of homeless people easier.

Support Efforts to End Homelessness

1. Take up a collection to provide first month's rent and deposit for homeless individuals or families that service providers are trying to place in housing. For example, Jewish Family Services administers a non-denominational program coordinating such donations.
2. Work with your church or service organization to support a landlord who is willing to rent to formerly homeless individuals. As an incentive, a group from the congregation, association, etc, might guarantee rent or offer to fix up an available rental unit and/or agree to fix any damage if the unit is damaged during the course of the rental.
3. Provide life coaching/mentoring in partnership with a service provider to an individual transitioning into permanent housing.
4. Make "welcome kits" with everyday household basics for people moving from homelessness to housing; donate to an agency of your choice; volunteer to help someone move into a new home. Visit United Way of King County's Web site to find agencies who would benefit from this type of help, or other volunteer opportunities at http://www.uwkc.org/volunteer
5. ABOVE ALL: become informed and advocate for community solutions for homelessness. Persuade our elected officials that we can and must end homelessness now.