HOMELESSNESS in King County
“ The experience deepened “ my relationships. I had to ask for help from family, friends, strangers — that was hard for me. I did not like feeling helpless, which was often the case.
“
– Anonymous homeless woman
“ I experienced my housing
When people offer help out of a place of pity, it is dehumanizing. – Ezra, Mockingbird Society*
“
Housing is a human right. We have to dig up all the pipes and restructure the way society works in order to ensure everyone has the opportunity to be housed
– Anonymous homeless woman
HOW CAN YOU TRULY HELP?
One could offer intangibles like time and attention. And, it would help if more people would urge the city council to increase the supply of affordable housing, institute rent control, support a tenants union and create policies that support low income renters.
– Anonymous homeless woman
There are homeless in every King County zip code.
– Azia, Mockingbird Society
I want people to know that, in Seattle, there are regular memorial services for the dead, people who lived and died on the street.
– Azia, Mockingbird Society
“
instability in high school. I would have to walk 100 blocks to get to school. It would take me four hours to get to and from school every day.
91
...
PEOPLE DIED as a result of homelessness in King County during 2015.
87%
of homeless individuals in
Washington State are from
King County
2000+
17
of homeless individuals are under age
RACIAL DISPARITY homelessness disproportionately impacts people of color
3x 5x 7x
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islanders: more likely than whites
African Americans: more likely than whites
Native American / Alaska Native:
*The Mockingbird Society is a statewide advocacy organization working to improve foster care and end youth homelessness in Washington.
more likely than whites Statistics from seattlegov.org