County Commissioners
John Hutchings - District One
Gary Edwards - District Two
Bud Blake - District Three
NEWS RELEASE
CONTACT: Anna
Schlecht, Homeless Census Coordinator—City of Olympia, (360) 753-8183 or aschlech@ci.olympia.wa.us
Results of the 2018 Thurston County Homeless Census
Released
OLYMPIA – Results
are in from the recent Point in Time (PIT) Count of Homeless People, also known
as the annual Homeless Census. While great strides have been made in providing
more housing, social services, and other resources, it appears that
homelessness in Thurston County has increased significantly.
As shown on the 2018
Resource Utilization Progress Chart 2006-2018, 828 people were identified as
homeless on the day of the PIT Homeless Census with 324 of those identified as
living unsheltered. This represents a 43% increase since last year overall and
constitutes the second highest count since the PIT Homeless Census began in
2006. All existing shelter and transitional housing resources are being used,
with an average of more than 100% occupancy.
“The results of the
latest census are extremely alarming, and indicate that we are in the midst of
a major homeless and affordable housing crisis in our community,” said Schelli
Slaughter, Thurston County Public Health and Social Services Director. “This is
going to take a coordinated response effort and more resources than we
currently have. The record numbers of those living outdoors without safe,
stable housing is a great public health and humanitarian concern, and we know
that the problem is likely even larger than we were able to capture in this
survey.”
The Annual Thurston
County Homeless Census was conducted on January 25, 2018 as part of a
nationwide “Point in Time” (PIT) Count of Homeless People” that determines who
is homeless and why. This initial report presents the raw numbers of people
found to be homeless during the PIT Homeless Census with a 3% margin of error. The
final report will be released in May 2018 and will provide more detailed
information on demographics, the causes of homelessness and an assessment of
the resources available to help people find housing stability. The results of
this annual Homeless Census will be used to chart the County’s progress in its
soon to be released homeless housing plan.
Thurston County
provided funding to contract with the City of Olympia to conduct the annual
Homeless Census this year. Census volunteers and guides were used to provide
resources to those in need and also to improve the accuracy of this year’s
count. “Hundreds of volunteers, including nonprofits, individuals, staff, my
fellow commissioners, and other elected officials worked together to make this year’s
count a success. It was amazing and humbling to see so many people come
together to support this effort and to see firsthand the magnitude of need in
our community,” said Commissioner Bud Blake.
Background on the Thurston County
Homeless Census
Once a year in January,
all Washington counties conduct a “Point in Time” count of homeless persons as
mandated by the State of Washington’s Homeless Housing and Assistance Act (RCW
43.185C.030).
The Act requires each
County to “make every effort to count all
homeless individuals living outdoors, in shelters, and in transitional housing,
coordinated when reasonably feasible, with already existing homeless census
projects including those funded in part by the US Department of Housing and
Urban Development (HUD) under the McKinney-Vento homeless assistance program.”
Locally, the results of
this census are compiled into the County’s annual “Point in Time Count of
Homeless Persons Report”, often referred to as the annual homeless census
report. This homeless census report serves to:
· Provide an accurate count of homeless people, the causes of their homelessness, and
other demographic information;
·
Quantify needs based on numbers of homeless people,
which in turn brings in federal and state dollars to provide homeless shelter,
transitional housing and other services;
·
Assess resources currently available; and
·
Analyze needs and resource gaps to serve as the basis for local
strategic responses to homelessness.
Census results are also
reported to the state and federal governments to ensure a proportionate level
of public funding for local shelters, transitional housing, and related
supportive services. These numbers help to create the most accurate picture of
homelessness throughout our state and across our nation. Locally, census
results are shared with all community stakeholders— policy makers, funders,
service providers, concerned citizens, and the homeless themselves.
For more information on
the results of the 2018 PIT Homeless Census, please contact: Anna Schlecht,
Homeless Census Coordinator, at aschlech@ci.olympia.wa.us, or call 360.753.8183.
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