The 2009 One Night Count of people who are homeless in King County took place on January 30th, 2009. This marks the 29th year that the Seattle/King County Coalition on Homelessness and Operation Nightwatch have organized volunteers to see how many of our neighbors are homeless and without shelter. The annual One Night Count has two purposes:  to document the nature and extent of homelessness in King County, and to build public engagement around the issue so that more people will speak up and act and write and advocate to end this crisis.

The One Night Count has two parts:

1. A survey of emergency shelter and transitional housing providers. Staff provide a written summary about who is staying in their programs or facilities on that night. Staff from the King County Community Services Division, Homeless Housing Program coordinate the survey.
2. A street count of people who are homeless and without shelter and staying outside or in vehicles or makeshift shelters. Volunteers go out with trained team leaders to pre-arranged areas in parts of Seattle, Bellevue, Kirkland, Redmond, Shoreline, Kenmore, Bothell, Woodinville, Kent, Federal Way, Renton, Auburn, and White Center. For more than two decades, the Seattle/King County Coalition on Homelessness (SKCCH) has organized the One Night Count together with dozens of our member agencies and other partners, and hundreds of dedicated volunteers.

2009 Results

» Press release

» 2009 Summary Numbers

For more information, contact the Seattle/King County Coalition on Homelessness: www.homelessinfo.org

Alison Eisinger (206) 357- 3148 or (206) 349-0350 (cell)

Nicole Macri (206) 313-3751 (cell)

Josh Okrent (206) 957-8076 or (585) 734-8130 (cell)

Here are THREE important ways you can be an active partner in ending the regional crisis of homelessness.

1. Attend one of SKCCH’s FREE Workshops: “Beyond the One Night Count: Becoming a Voice for Change” on Saturday, February 21, 2009. Seattle Beyond the One Night Count (BONC) workshops: 10.00 a.m. – 12.00 at the Keystone United ChurchKent Beyond the One Night Count (BONC) workshop: 1.00 p.m. – 3.00 p.m. at the Kent Lutheran Church. mapPlease pre-register: call (206) 357.3149 or send an e-mail to bonc@homelessinfo.org

   These workshops are designed for people who want to take the next steps towards ending homelessness. The dynamic and delightful Nancy Amidei will convince you that ANYONE and EVERYONE can and should speak up for affordable housing, and how much fun it can be to do so. Participants will learn about current legislative priorities and take action during the workshops.

2. Participate in Housing and Homelessness Advocacy Day on February 24th, 2009! Come to Olympia and tell your legislators in person why you care about ending homelessness. Register through the Washington Low Income Housing Alliance: www.wliha.org. Can’t come to Olympia? Just set aside 10 minutes of that day to advocate via phone, fax, or e-mail for the resources and policies we need to end homelessness. Sign up for SKCCH’s Action Alerts for sample messages.
3. Become a Voice for Change 365 days and nights a year. Become a Member or Friend of the Seattle/King County Coalition on Homelessness. Sustain the One Night Count as a strong community effort, reflecting the urban, suburban, and rural realities of homelessness across King County. Support SKCCH’s on-going work to educate and engage the public about the human and economic costs of homelessness, and take concrete actions to end it. As a member or friend of SKCCH, you will support the One Night Count and related activities, as well as projects such as Project COOL for Back-to-School, which provides school supplies to hundreds of children who are homeless. SKCCH hosts candidates’ forums, sponsors workshops, and holds monthly meetings open to the public. Sub-committees work on advocacy and public awareness; address special issues related to serving families with children, single adults, and youth and young adults; and coordinate with other service providers and advocates in the region and the state.Membership is open to providers of emergency, transitional, and permanent housing and supportive services in King Couny, to people who are homeless, to local government and private institutions addressing homelessness, and to concerned citizens.

(Source The Seattle/King County Coalition for the Homeless SKCCH)