This year’s One Night Count recorded double the amount of unsheltered individuals in Renton, a jump from 79 to 160 individuals.

The count, conducted by Seattle/King County Coalition on Homelessness and All Home last week, resulted in a preliminary estimation of 4,505 unsheltered individuals throughout Kind County – a 19 percent increase from 2015.

Of the 160 counted in Renton, 75 individuals were found in cars/trucks, 18 individuals in or around structures, 16 individuals in alleys and 14 individuals in roadways.

“We look for folks sleeping in public places not meant to be regular sleeping accommodation for human beings,” said Gina Custer, clinical service manager at Valley Cities Counseling and Consultation and one of the lead organizers for the Renton count. “This may include park benches, under bushes, in doorways, under bridges, etc. We count each person we encounter and if it appears someone is living in a structure or vehicle (fogged or covered window, etc.) we assume two people per vehicle, tent or structure.”

According to Custer, it is hard to determine the reason behind the spike in numbers.

“There are so many reasons folks are homeless and living on the street,” said Custer.

Volunteers are broken into teams and tasked to count in publicly accessible areas such as streets, alleys, parks, parking lots, etc. This year, 56 volunteers swept through 12 designated count areas in greater Renton.

“All involved in the count were shocked and saddened by the large increase in the number of folks counted this year,” said Custer. “It is brutal reality that we have a long way to go to end homelessness.”

The count ran from 2 to 5 a.m. in parts of Auburn, Bellevue, Bothell, Burien, Des Moines, Federal Way, Kent, Kenmore, Kirkland, Redmond Renton, Seattle, Shoreline, Vashon Island, White Center and Woodineville.

According to All Home statistics, homelessness increases by 15 percent in urban areas and 39 percent in rural and suburban area when the average apartment rent increases by $100 per month. In King County, the average apartment rent has increased by 115 per month in the last year.

According to a press release, All Home – formerly the Committee to End Homelessness – will be building on their current data and findings to estimate the number of veterans, chronically homeless individuals and people living in shelter and transitional housing, and form a more comprehensive picture of homelessness in King County.

“We are committed to finding solutions to the crisis of homelessness,” said Mark Putnam, director of All Home in a press release. “Though the need is great, homelessness is solvable, and by coming together as a community we can ensure that all people have a home.”

CORRECTION: Due to a reporter error, Gina Custer was incorrectly identified in the initial version of this story. The error has been corrected.