Who are the homeless? 

In 2001 over 3 million men, women, and children experienced homelessness (National Law Center on Homelessness and Poverty, 2002).  Most of the homeless are invisible to us, faceless people holding up signs asking for help or bundled forms lying beneath highway overpasses.  Yet, surprisingly, one of the largest groups of homeless people is families.

Families, usually headed up by single moms, comprise approximately 40% of the homeless population (US Conference of Mayors, 2001).

It’s estimated that there are 7,350 homeless people each night in the Seattle/King County area, and only 4,671 shelter and transitional housing beds available (Seattle/King County Coalition for the Homeless, 2002).