Once again, volunteers to get snapshot of homelessness in Renton, county


January 24, 2013 · 11:09 AM

Early Friday morning, volunteers will once again scour Renton for people who are living on the streets, in their vehicles or in shelters.

The annual One Night Count of Homeless is 2 a.m. to 5 a.m. throughout King County. Last year about 800 volunteers counted 8,830 people who were without shelter in the county; 73 of them were in Renton, mostly living out of their cars or trucks.

Last year homeless in Renton were also found under roadways or in doorways, in undergrowth or simply walking around.

Volunteers are trained to observe the homeless but not to disturb them.

The count is sponsored by the Seattle/King County Coalition on Homelessness. Besides Renton, the homeless are counted in Seattle, Bellevue, Kirkland, Redmond, Shoreline, Kenmore, Bothell, Woodinville, Kent, Federal Way, Auburn, and White Center.

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