Homelessness

Getting Beyond Homelessness

Seattle and King County lack sufficient transitional housing to help women journey successfully to a stable future. Transitional housing, which allows women to stay from a few months to two years, is an important step along the path to independence for homeless women. There are approximately 100 transitional housing units available for single women in the Seattle area, not enough for the estimated 600 single homeless women looking for safety from the dangers of the streets. Most women who are homeless feel safe only in housing that is reserved for women.

When University Lutheran surveyed leaders in the University District, 79% indicated that housing and support services for homeless people were the area's greatest need.

Most women in transitional housing work or are in school, but they work at low-paying or temporary jobs. Many come physically and emotionally exhausted from living on the streets and in emergency shelters. many need supportive services to continue their recovery from drug and alcohol abuse.

There is no one cause for the increasing numbers of homeless people. Rising housing costs, the short supply of affordable housing, the tumultuous economy and company layoffs, and the recent rise in domestic violence are all contributors. Transitional housing programs are successful because they address the root social and economic problems that must be overcome to break the cycle of homelessness.

Statistics

Current economics in the Puget Sound region are taking a toll. The homeless population grew 23% in King County last year alone, and has grown over 70% ince 1998. Families giving last year are homeless this year. Domestic violence and lost job-related income are the leading causes of homelessness for women and their children.

Did you know that:

• In King County, about 8,000 people are homeless on any given night?
• Approximately 1,800 women are homeless on a typical night in Seattle?
• There are about 500 beds available in transitional housing? Of these beds, only 21% are reserved for women.
• In King County, a worker must earn twice the minimum wage--$16.04 per hour--to afford a modest two-bedroom apartment?
• There is a 5,000-person waiting list for Section 8 vouchers (which help make up the difference between earnings and rent) in King County and that only one in four who are eligible will receive a voucher?
• Community Voice Mail provides homeless and jobless people in need with free voicemail and gives domestic abuse victims an untraceable lifeline to services and support?
• Nationally, 22% of homeless people report some income from paid work in the past month? (Source: National Coalition for the Homeless)

Ending Homelessness in King County: The Ten-Year Plan

More than 9,000 households experience homelessness on any given night in the suburban cities, urban centers, and rural towns of King County. In a year's time, 24,000 children, youth, women, and men in King County have an experience of homelessness. Our community's ten-year plan to end homelessness is an expression of our collective commitment to actively seek long-term and sustainable solutions to the issue, rather than continuing to simply manage episodes of homelessness as they occur. It is a commitment to ensure that there is an appropriate, affordable rood over the bed of everyone living in King County--whether young or old, living alone or with families, sick or well.

Eight organizations, coalitions, and local governments came together in 2002 to form the Committee to End Homelessness in King County, a unified effort to provide the vision and leadership required to develop and implement a plan to end homelessness.

Excerpt from "A Roof Over Every Bed in King County: Our Community's Ten-Year Plan to End Homelessness"