Homelessness in Seattle

Homelessness is defined as the condition of an individual without a regular dwelling.[1] There are at least 8,000 individuals in Seattle without shelter each night, who lack permanent housing.

Annual One Night Count

A yearly One Night Count of the Homeless in the Seattle and King County area's is coordinated by Seattle/King County Coalition on Homelessness(SKCCH)[2] in coordination with other local social service providers including, The Downtown Emergency Service Center (DESC), The Compass Center, United Way of King County, and others. The 1999 One Night Count (ONC) counted 5,900 homeless persons throughout King County. In 2000 the ONC counted 6,900; in 2001 7,350, in 2002 7,980, 2003 8,000, in 2004 8,300, in 2006 7,919, in 2007 7,839, and in 2008 a total of 8,439 homeless individuals were counted. These numbers represent both these found living inside and outside of shelters. Most of these homeless persons are found living in cars, vans, under roads, under freeway ramps, and among other places in the city.[3]

In 2009, in the Seattle King County area, there were about 10,000 homeless people living on the streets or in shelters.[4] On January 30, 2009 the street count of homeless individuals was 2,827, the number of homeless individuals in Emergency Shelters was 2,522, and the number of homeless individuals in Transitional housing was 3,582, for a total of 8,961 counted homeless people. The One Night Count does not count all homeless people, nor in all areas of the city.

The percent of homeless individuals by race in the year 2009, living in shelters consisted of: African American populated 40%, White 31%, Hispanic 12%, Multi-racial 6%, Asian/ Pacific Islander 4%, Native American 2%, with 5% unknown.

In 2010, the One Night Count showed 2759 homeless people without adequate shelter[5]

In 2011, the One Night Count showed 2442 homeless people without adequate shelter[6]

In 2012, the One Night Count showed 2594 homeless people without adequate shelter.[7]

In 2013, the One Night Count showed 2736 homeless people without adequate shelter.[8]

In 2014, the One Night Count showed 3123 homeless people without adequate shelter.[9]

In 2015, the One Night Count showed 3772 homeless people without adequate shelter.[10]

The age distribution of homeless individuals in King County Housing shelters was:

ages 0–5: 95
ages 6–12: 714
ages 13–17: 422
ages 18–25: 723
ages 26–54: 2593
ages 55–64: 584
age 65 plus: 203

Around 8,830 people were known to be homeless in King County on the 2012 One Night Count, including those in emergency shelters and transitional housing programs. This number is essentially unchanged since 2009.

In 2014, 9294 people were known to be homeless in King County during the One Night Count, including those in emergency shelters and transitional housing.[9]

In 2015, about 10,300 people were known to be homeless in King County (3772 outside plus about 6500 in shelters, transitional housing, and so on).[10]

Problems of homeless persons in the Seattle King County area.

Medical problems

Many homeless individuals have health issues. Diabetes is a common ailment among homeless individuals. Many homeless persons are unconcerned with their health issues or cannot afford adequate care for their health issues. In 2003, 47% of homeless individuals had one chronic condition. Homeless persons in the Seattle area have health conditions including history of alcohol or substance abuse, more than half had a cardiovascular disease, and a quarter had a mental health issue. Common causes of death among homeless individuals in the Seattle area include intoxication, cardiovascular disease and homicide. In 2003 the average age of death of a homeless individual was 47.[11][12] In 2009 reported disabilities in the King county homeless housing include 1,001 mentally ill with 476 having a serious mental illness, 1,090 had an alcohol or substance abuse with 595 having a chronic substance abuse, 534 homeless were physically disabled, 99 had HIV/AIDS, and 140 had a developmental disability.

Violent Crimes

Unanimously voted on December 10, 2007, the Seattle City Council passed a measure prohibiting malicious harassment of a homeless person and declaring the act a hate crime. This law makes it illegal to damage a homeless person's personal items as well.[13]

Solutions to homelessness in Seattle

The City of Seattle, King County, and the United Way of King County are the funders of the Committee to End Homelessness in King County and the Ten year plan to End Homelessness. The 10-year plan began in 2004 as an idea when a group of people consisting of leaders representing United Way of King County, businesses, faith based communities, housing and human services organizations, homeless people and governments addressed the issue of homelessness. In 2005 the 10-year plan was completed. "The 10 year plans goals are to promote long-term and sustainable solutions to homelessness including alignment of funding, programs and services among the public, private and non-profit sectors." (9) In 2009 the city of Seattle plans to spend $40 million to end homelessness. The Seattle Human Services Department and Seattle Office of Housing are major funding contributors to this plan.(9)

Every year the city of Seattle spends about $40 million to help prevent homelessness, and in 2006 Seattle has since been adding $6 million more in general funding resources. The Seattle city has helped pay for 215 housing units in Seattle. 288 are currently under construction and planned to open by 2011.[11]

Share/Wheel is self-help organization run by many homeless individuals in Seattle. Share/Wheel has created 4 Tent Cities through the years. The first Tent City set up in 1990 at the Goodwill Games. It later became a self-managed homeless shelter at a Metro Bus Barn. It eventually moved to the Aloha Inn and created a self-managed Transitional Housing program. Tent City 2 was established on Beacon Hill against the objections of the City of Seattle. The City invited the residents to a joint discussion, and while the campers attended the meeting, the Police bulldozed the camp site, including private possessions. Tent City 3 was created on March 31, 2000, on private land. The police did not intervene, but the City of Seattle sued the host over unpaid permit fees. SHARE/WHEEL and the City of Seattle settled out of court with a "Consent Decree[14]"[15] when a Superior Court judge warned the City that it would lose the case. Tent City 3 moves from location to location every 60–90 days. Tent City 4 split from Tent City 3 and shifts from place to place on the East side of Lake Washington. Tent cities shelter homeless persons who can not or do not wish to attend a public shelter for various reasons. The City of Seattle does not approve of these tent cities.[16] Effective March 13, 2012, the Consent Decree between SHARE/WHEEL and the City of Seattle ended. Tent City 3 has been studied extensively, and is noted by many in the United States to be an encampment that works.[17]

There are other encampments in the Seattle area:

There are homeless shelters across the Seattle area, they provide beds, meals, showers, and laundry services. Most shelters in the Seattle area force their residents to leave the shelter between 5 and 7 A.M.

Operation Sack Lunch

In 2012, the city of Seattle attempted to force a homeless feeding program, Operation Sack Lunch, located outdoors under I-5 freeway viaduct, to close down. The city says that an indoor feeding center would be much more appropriate. After more than three years since the proposed closing of Operation Sack Lunch, the city has not provided an indoor location.[23][24]

Human Services Director Danette Smith was behind the shutdown of Operation Sack Lunch's Outdoor Feeding program.[25][26] Many Council members felt strongly that the program should not be shut down.[27]

The Human Services Department has since relented in its demand, partly due to public outrage.[28] In fall of 2012, a transition program was recommended by a Mayor-appointed Task Force.[29] However, no alternative sites have yet been proposed.

Income sources

Real Change news is a newspaper sold by homeless street vendors, they buy the paper for 60 cents and sell it for two dollars. The Real Change has increased in sales by 41% since 2007. An increase in vendors was also recorded, growing from approximately 230 to 350 vendors in one month.[11]

In 2009, income resources used by homeless persons include: 690 of which are unemployed, 558 homeless persons receive Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), 481 receive Supplemental Security Income (SSI), 355 receive general assistance (GAU), 233 have an other source of income, 142 are on general assistance (GAX), 49 receive unemployment compensation, 21 receive income through the Alcohol and Drug Addiction Treatment Act (ADATSA), and 590 homeless persons whom have an unknown income.

References

  1. ↑ Heim, Kristi (September 25, 2009). "Homeless are economic assets, says Gates Foundation CEO". The Seattle Times.
  2. ↑ Cydney, Gillis. "Law maker to seek hate crime status for attacks on homeless." Real change News.org. Real change News, 4 Nov. 2009. Web. 18 Nov. 2009.
  3. ↑ Dawdy, Philip (April 19, 2006). "Back to the Task at Hand". Seattle Weekly.
  4. ↑ "Harassing homeless now a crime in Seattle". Seattle Post-Intelligencer. December 11, 2007.
  5. ↑ 2011 One Night Count results
  6. ↑ 2011 One Night Count results
  7. ↑ SKCCH One Night Count 2012 results.
  8. ↑ 2013 One Night Count Results.
  9. 1 2 2014 One Night Count Results.
  10. 1 2 2015 One Night Count Results.
  11. 1 2 3 Blanchard, Jessica (December 14, 2004). "Homeless people studied died at average age of 47". The Seattle Times.
  12. ↑ Painter, Alan. "The Greater Seattle Datasheet." City of Seattle. Net. Seattle.gov, 16 Dec. 2004. Web. 18 Nov. 2009.
  13. ↑ Painter, Alan. "Ten Year plan to end Homelessness." Seattle. Gov. Seattle.gov, 16 Dec. 2004. Web. 18 Nov. 2009
  14. ↑ Consent Decree Consent Decree
  15. ↑ Tent City 3 Tent City 3
  16. ↑ Gregory J, Nickels. "Housing first approach to Homelessness Brings hope to hard lives." City of Seattle 1. 9 (2008): N. web 10/11. 2009
  17. ↑ Tent City primer
  18. ↑ Nickelsville.org
  19. ↑ United We Stand at Richmond Beach UCC
  20. ↑ United We Stand splits from Tent City 3
  21. ↑ Camp Unite Eastside
  22. ↑ Tent City dispute
  23. ↑ King 5 News
  24. ↑ Operation Sack Lunch newsletter, Spring 2012
  25. ↑ Operation Sack Lunch saved
  26. ↑ Danette Smith discusses depriving homeless of meals
  27. ↑ Godden about Operation Sack Lunch
  28. ↑ Operation Sack Lunch outdoor meal program still operating
  29. ↑ OSL newsletter, Fall 2012

External links

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