Conducted once each year, the annual one-night count offers a "point-in-time" census of homeless people in King County. The total gives homeless planners, government officials, and advocates a snapshot of those in need.

Download: 2010 One Night Count Report (PDF)

Highlights from the 2010 Report

• Areas counted in 2010: Street counts from portions of Seattle, Shoreline, Kent, White Center and East King County, and a survey of homeless shelters and transitional programs throughout King County.
• Number of homeless individuals in King County: 8,937 individuals. The survey found 6,178 people in shelters and transitional programs and 2,759 people surviving outside without shelter. Many more were not counted, either because they were hidden from volunteer counters, are living unsheltered in areas of the county not included in the count, or are homeless but staying with friends and family. Over the course of a year, it is estimated that over 24,000 people will experience an episode of homelessness.
• Geographic breakdown:80% percent of homeless people counted in the shelter survey reported their last permanent address having been within King County. Permanent address is defined as a place occupied for at least two months prior to the latest episode of homelessness, and excluding shelter and transitional housing. The breakdown was:

  51% Seattle
  16% South King County
  7% East King County
  5% North King County
  7% Washington (outside of King County)
  13% Outside of Washington State
  

• Household composition: The shelter survey reports the following household breakdown:

  33% single adult men
  11% single adult women
  55% families with children*
  Less than 1% unaccompanied youth

  * Children aged 0-17 make up 34%t of the total count of people living in shelters in King County. Young adults aged 18-25 are a growing segment of the homeless population, and make up 11% of the shelter population (included as a segment of the single adult figures above.

• Disproportionality: People of color are significantly over-represented in the homeless population. While people of color comprise approximately 27% of the general population in King County (2000 Census) they are known to make up at least 64% of all people who are homeless.
• Domestic violence: 1,321 people accessing shelter and transitional programs reported they had experienced violence or abuse in the past year. 743 of these people were adults (almost all of whom were women) and 578 were children.
• Working Poor: For many people, lack of affordable housing causes them to be homeless. Seven percent of emergency shelter residents and 19% of transitional housing residents surveyed reported that their main source of income was employment.

The One Night Count is coordinated by the Seattle-King County Coalition for the Homeless, with funding support from the Committee to End Homelessness in King County.

You can help

Volunteer for the One Night Count

The annual count employs hundreds of volunteers in cities and neighborhoods in King County who walk during the very early morning hours to count the numbers of people found on the streets, under bridges and freeway underpasses, sleeping in cars, and riding the buses all night. The census also includes a one-night count of people found in local area shelters and transitional housing facilities. Volunteer for the One Night Count (external).