Count of Homeless in San Juan County Shows Increase

By Stan Matthews
County Communications Program Manager

This year’s Count of Homeless Persons identified 110 people in San Juan County. 42 of those people, including many children and disabled, were classified as unsheltered –  living in tents, cars, boats (not equipped with facilities for living aboard) or staying in motels (with money from churches, etc.). The remaining 68 people, were staying in temporary, unstable living arrangements often with friends or family members – a situation commonly referred to as “couch surfing.”

The state-required Count was conducted by the County Health & Community Services on Thursday, January 27th.

Count organizers had anticipated an increase in the number of homeless people in the county due to the worldwide economic crisis and significant local business closures. This year’s count was significantly higher than last year’s , when 79 homeless were counted (29 unsheltered and 50 “couch surfers”). Organizers caution that this is just a snapshot in time and the increase could be a result of the amount of effort that was put into the count over last year, rather than an actual increase in the overall number of homeless people.

Organizers say these numbers are an estimate at best, as it is impossible to  locate and identify all 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 found no evidence that the problem is decreasing.

San Juan County “Point in Time” (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 the 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.

Results from previous PIT counts for San Juan County, and all Washington counties, are available at: www.commerce.wa.gov