03/13/2010: "Homeless In San Juan County"

Washington state requires a yearly count of the homeless, and this year the official report states that nearly 80 persons were found to meet the criteria of homeless: living in tents, cars, boats (not equipped with facilities for living aboard) or staying in motels (with money from churches, etc.), with 50 of the total count classified as homeless because they were "staying in temporary, unstable living arrangements either with friends or family members;" which the county report sums up as "couch surfing."

It was assumed the numbers would be higher due to business closures, but in fact the numbers were very close to last year, when the count showed 23 people unsheltered and 50 “couch surfing” a significant increase over the 2008 Count which reported only 9 unsheltered and 17 “couch surfing”. Similarly, in 2007 11 were reported unsheltered and 17 “couch surfing”.

Are the numbers accurate? Doubtful, more likely they signify the degree of effort put into the count, and the type of questions asked, and the responses given that met the working definition of "homeless."

The County said "it is impossible to truly know the exact number of homeless people and those staying with friends or family in unstable situations. However, based on this year’s results and information from churches, food banks and other organizations that help the homeless, organizers see no sign that the problem is decreasing."

San Juan County PIT Count organizers and volunteers worked with local schools, food banks, churches, healthcare providers, support service counselors, youth groups, Senior Centers, Family Resource Centers, Sheriff’s department, Fire and EMS departments and many other community organizations to perform this year’s count.

The PIT was established by the Washington legislature in 2005 in the Homelessness Housing and Assistance Act (RCW 43.185c). The goal of the Act was to reduce homelessness in our state by 50% by 2015.