Homelessness rises in Washington state – reform state by 6.2%

Sydney Kurle | March 22, 2021

According to a report Washington state, published by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), saw homelessness rise 6.2% between 2019 and 2020. During that time, 30 out of 10,000 people in the state were homeless.

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Washington had the third largest surge after California and Texas, which occurred before the pandemic.

The 2020 annual homelessness rating report found the state also saw a 20% increase in family homelessness over the same period. This increase was one of the largest in the country.

Washington also had significant numbers of people in families with children who were not cared for – 28%, or 1,884, of families affected by homelessness were not cared for. Vancouver, Washington, reported that a majority of 54% of homeless families in the area were unprotected.

In Seattle and King Counties, 3,743 people in families with children were reported as being homeless. Spokane County reported 363 people.

Seattle and King Counties ranked third among urban areas in terms of homelessness, after New York City and Los Angeles. A total of 11,751 people were homeless in Seattle and King Counties, of whom 955 were unaccompanied youth homeless.

During the same period, homelessness grew by 2% nationwide. This is the fourth year in a row that homelessness has increased in the United States.

The report found that homelessness increased significantly among unprotected populations and people with chronic homeless patterns. Veterans homelessness has not decreased compared to 2019, and family homelessness has not decreased for the first time since 2010. Black people are also clearly overrepresented in the homeless population.

Denis McDonough, the US secretary for veterans affairs, said this was worrying.

“Even a slight increase in pre-pandemic veteran homelessness after significant declines since 2010 is extremely worrying. The Biden Administration’s commitment to Housing First – a proven strategy and worthy way of helping veterans and others achieve stable, permanent housing – will help accelerate progress in preventing and eradicating veterans’ homelessness. The American rescue plan will also have a major impact on improving outcomes for veterans by expanding access to community homelessness prevention and rapid recovery services for those who may not be eligible for VA care. “