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From the Streets of Seattle We are committed to serving the Transgender Community 
 A man was asked about his life on the streets of Seattle. His reply was “I’ve seen too many Suicides and stopped counting.” I’ve stopped making friends because I couldn’t bear losing another person to the violence, the elements or the self-inflicted risks associated with being homeless. We sometimes say the person is better off dead.” The gentleman who said this has been homeless for more than twenty years.
It is notoriously difficult to get exact numbers of homeless people, but estimates of Seattle's homeless population put the number somewhere around 6,000 to 8,000 people; up to 1,000 are children and young adults.
According to a report released back in 2005, the number of homeless deaths in Seattle continued to rise. The 2005 report showed 94 homeless people died in Seattle in 2005, compared with 82 in 2004. In 2003, 77 homeless people died. The average age of the 94 who died in 2005 was 47.
| The Seattle/King County Coalition on Homelessness believes that people do not become homeless due to one easily pinpointed factor. Instead decades of poor social policy are the real root causes of homelessness.
King County has over 8,000 people without permanent homes because our community lacks enough affordable housing, as well as, a means to support themselves. The jobs available for the homeless are generally minimum wage, which to a homeless person is a waste of time. It won’t get them a roof over their head or even cover the cost of food to eat.
Nationally 25% to 40% of homeless people need supportive services to help them recover from drug and alcohol abuse.
In March 2004, Seattle was recognized in a report released by the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development as one of the seven cities in the United States that are leading the way toward reducing chronic homelessness.
Seattle has also provided some of the locations for the series of homeless encampments known as a Tent City. Tent Cities are largely self-policing, with strict regulations, such as no alcohol, no drugs, and segregated areas for families, men, and women. This is nothing but a temporary fix. Most Tent Cities have a limit on the number of people and the length of time they can remain in one location. The duration of time is generally no more than 90 days in the same location.
There is constant opposition to these Tent Cities by the people that live nearby. They fear that the crime rate will go up. They also fear that their peacefulness will be compromised. Most locations have to be fought for in court. The reality is that these Tent Cities take care of their own and work together to maintain peace within the Tent City and the area around them. People often saying that they don’t want the scum of Seattle to be anywhere near us. These are people like you and I, they put their pants on one leg at a time. The difference being a permanent place to call home.
There is a growing problem on the streets of Seattle. That is the number of youth living on the streets. There is only 6% - 8% runaways for one reason or another. The main reason is a conflict at home. The problem lies with what happens to them next. The majority are lead into drugs and alcohol, some into prostitution just survive. When asked what it’s like to be living on the streets. A young man answered, “It is a constant looking over your shoulder, guarding all your belongings from theft, looking for food, dry clothing and shelter, and continually feeling insults and nasty looks from passers by.”
There is help for the homeless but there is not enough to go around. Food is hard to come by. Shelter is very limited and medical care is almost non-existent. It is estimated that 20 to 25% of homeless people have some form of mental illness. People who are homeless suffer from extremely high rates of acute and chronic health problems due to poor nutrition, exposure to the elements, and the fatigue and stress. There seems to be little or no concern for these people. They need medical care, as well as, mental help now. Short of walking the streets passing out blankets, coats, and some food, there is little done to help those with the biggest need. I write this article from my modest apartment while there are people and children sleeping in doorways. I feel ashamed that this is happening all around me.
Seattle is not the only city with a homeless problem. The surrounding cities have been seeing an increase in the number of homeless in their communities. We need to find a way to connect with these people. There are many programs to help the homeless but they are on limited budgets and can reach only a small portion of the homeless population.
Seattle has a plan to reduce the number of homeless within the next 8 to 10 years. How many lives will be lost before they receive the required care they need now? Copyright © 2006-2007 The STHN Group Last modified: January 1, 2007 |
Isn’t it a little to late?
Well, it’s never too late. We can help by supporting the various organizations such as Seattle Homeless Adolescent Research Project (SHARP), Seattle Community Network Housing, Seattle/King County Coalition for the Homeless, Housing & Community Development Program (HCD), Homeless Intervention Project (HIP), Seattle Emergency Housing Services (SEHC), Seattle Transgender Help Network (STHN) that are working to improve the lives of those so desperately in need.
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