Mayor Denis Law greeted the 60-some volunteers at Renton Senior Activity Center at 2 a.m. Friday morning with a simple statement.
“We all know they’re out there,” he said.
What they didn’t know at that time was how many. But by just after 5 a.m., they knew. From 2:30 to 5 a.m. Friday morning, the 11 teams of volunteers counted 90 homeless in Renton. That’s up from last year’s 44. Fifty-six homeless were found in 2007, the first year of the Renton count.
Friday morning’s Renton search was part of the One Night Count of people who are Homeless in King County. Friday morning was the 29th annual One Night Count in King County. The purpose of the count is to determine the number of homeless living in the county.
That number of homeless went up this year from last year — not only in Renton, but countywide.
Volunteers Friday morning counted 2,826 people on the streets of the 13 surveyed cities. That’s a small increase from last year’s 2,631. An additional 6,000 homeless are expected to be reported when results are released from Friday morning’s survey of the county’s shelters and transitional housing.
Organizers of the One Night Count said the countywide increase was not “statistically significant.” They did not say the same of the 68 percent increase in South King County.
Volunteers counted 498 Friday morning in Renton, Auburn, Kent and Federal Way. Last year’s count was 297.
“Astounding.” That’s how Alison Eisinger described that increase. Eisinger is executive director of Seattle/King County Coalition on Homelessness — the count’s main organizer.
Eisinger said because moderate-to-low-income people typically seek housing in the south part of the county, this area is the first hit by hard times. One Night Count numbers in Seattle proper Friday morning were similar to last year’s count.
Eisinger blamed the increase in homelessness on the national recession and the homelessness and affordable housing crises.
Because of the faltering economy, Renton One Night Count coordinator and housing repair coordinator Tim Lawless had expected to find more homeless this morning than last year.
Still, volunteers were surprised at Renton’s increase.
“I know it’s a tough economy, but I wasn’t expecting it to filter down to homelessness so quickly,” said Susan Camerer, executive director of Vision House, a Renton agency that provides housing for the homeless.
Camerer led the count in downtown Renton. Her team spotted 14 homeless. Most in cars, but also under bridges, and even curled up without a blanket next to Renton Skate Park.
Camerer’s downtown group counted only six homeless last year.
High totals were gathered Friday morning at many of the nine Renton spots.
One of the two Highlands teams tallied 10 homeless, most car-camping in parking lots.
Another team counted five tents around Narco, the former brick plant adjacent to the Cedar River and Cedar River Trail.
A blue tarp deep in a Royal Hills ravine was the main sign of homelessness spotted by the Royal Hills team. The group also found an abandoned sleeping bag and a couple burned-out campfires.
“If I hadn’t already seen the encampment I’d say I was surprised to see the encampment deep down in that remote area,” said Royal Hills leader Mary Burton, Vision House communications and donor relations manager.
“Someone really made an effort to find a hidden spot,” she added.
In addition to Renton, One Night Count volunteers Friday morning surveyed Auburn, Bellevue, Bothell, Federal Way, Kenmore, Kent, Kirkland, Redmond, Seattle, Shoreline, White Center and Woodinville. Metro Night Owl buses also cruised the entire county.
HOW TO HELP AFTER THE ONE-NIGHT COUNT:
• Sign up to go “Beyond the One Night Count.” Review priorities for the 2009 State Legislative Session and learn how to advocate to end homelessness at two free workshops Feb. 21 from 10 a.m.-12 p.m. at the Keystone United Church in Seattle and 1-3 p.m. at the Kent Lutheran Church in Kent. Pre-register at bonc@homelessinfo.org or 206-357-3149.
• Take part in Housing and Homelessness Advocacy Day Feb. 24 in Olympia. Register at wliha.org or take virtual action by signing up for advocacy alerts from Seattle/King County Coalition on Homelessness at homelessinfo.org
• Contribute to Seattle/King County Coalition on Homelessness at homelessinfo.org or by mail, 77 S. Washington St., Seattle, WA 98104.
FOR MORE INFORMATION ON THE ONE-NIGHT COUNT, GO TO:
