成人X站

MYNORTHWEST NEWS

Huge increase in Washington homeless numbers in 2016

Nov 18, 2016, 12:57 PM | Updated: 1:50 pm

Washington homeless...

Homelessness in Washington, in particular Seattle-King County, has grown significantly over 2015. (AP)

(AP)

Washington homeless numbers rose by 7.3 percent in 2016, over the previous year, according to a report from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.

There were 1,408 more people sleeping outside and in shelters, according to the report.

搁别濒补迟别诲:听Seattle mayor wants to build four new homeless encampments

The increase is the second-largest in the country, falling only behind California, the Associated Press reports. In all, there were 20,827 homeless people counted in Washington.

While Washington’s homeless numbers rose, the number of homeless people declined in 37 states between 2015 and 2016, according to the report.

Homelessness has grown in the Seattle-King County area while it has dropped in Everett-Snohomish County, Tacoma-Pierce County, Spokane, Yakima, Vancouver-Clark County and the rest of Washington.

Overall, 13 states saw increases from 2015 to 2016. In seven, including Washington, at least half of the people counted were sleeping without shelter.

Since 2007, homelessness has been steadily declining, according to the report. Point-in-time counts found 647,258 total homeless people that year, with 255,857 living unsheltered. A total of 549,928 were counted in 2016.

The states with the highest rates of people living without shelter include California, Oregon, Hawaii, Nevada, and Mississippi. The states with the fewest living without shelter are Rhode Island, Nebraska, District of Columbia, Massachusetts, and New York.

Beyond Washington homeless

The news that Washington homeless numbers are up, while many states are seeing their homeless populations decrease, follows a report from the National Law Center on Homelessness and Poverty that called out some cities for the criminalization of people living on the streets. That includes Puyallup, which made the “Hall of Shame” for how it has addressed its homeless situation.

搁别濒补迟别诲:听Criminalization of homelessness is rampant problem, according to study

The National Law Center on Homelessness and Poverty says criminalizing strategies fail to address the root causes of homelessness and can create barriers to obtaining employment, stable housing, education, and access to justice.

The law center argues that homeless people should not be subject to civil or criminal sanctions 鈥渙r harassment by law enforcement.鈥 It says police training and protocols should be improved and constructive encampment policies should be developed.

The Associated Press contributed to this story.

MyNorthwest News

aircraft fuelers...

Frank Sumrall

Over 150 aircraft fuelers vote ‘overwhelmingly’ to authorize strike, threatening Sea-Tac standstill

More than 150 fuelers at Sea-Tac voted to strike after contract talks fail, threatening airport operations and traveler convenience.

53 minutes ago

The scene as police respond to a protest on UW campus. (Photo courtesy of 成人X站 7)...

Jonah Oaklief and Frank Sumrall

4 face judge after chaotic protest, standoff at UW ends in 32 arrests

Four appeared in court Tuesday after a protest at the University of Washington led to 32 arrests.

2 hours ago

wildfires wa...

Luke Duecy

WA concerned federal government won’t help fight wildfires this year

State officials are sounding the alarm over a lack of federal resources and support in a year the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) predicts will be an "above-average" year for wildfires, especially across Eastern Washington.

4 hours ago

benson boone beautiful things...

MyNorthwest Staff

WA pop star to bring ‘beautiful things’ to Climate Pledge Arena

Benson Boone, the Monroe-raised pop sensation and Grammy-nominated breakout star, has announced his first headlining arena tour 鈥 and he鈥檚 coming home to the Climate Pledge.聽

6 hours ago

king county lawsuit...

Frank Sumrall

King County joins national lawsuit challenging new conditions to receive federal grant money

King County joined seven other jurisdictions in a lawsuit against HUD and FTA after more conditions were added in order to grant funding to local governments.

9 hours ago

REAL ID TSA...

Frank Sumrall

Last day before REAL ID deadline: WA residents face long DOL wait times

The deadline for a聽REAL ID is a week away, and wait times at the DOL are consistently more than an hour long across the Puget Sound region.

11 hours ago

Huge increase in Washington homeless numbers in 2016