On Thursday volunteers and local government employees fanned out across Thurston County for the annual “point in time” count of people who are homeless. It’s a task that’s challenging, important and never quite complete. No matter how hard they try, census-takers can’t find every tent camp hidden in the woods, every family living in their car, or every person who sleeps under a bridge or in a backyard toolshed.
Census takers also can’t be sure why the people they’re counting are homeless. When asked, homeless people cite job loss, eviction and family strife (including domestic violence) as the top reasons. Next in line come mental illness, physical illness, addiction and other disabilities.
In truth there is a much larger menu of reasons for homelessness.
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Washington state Department of Health data show that our county has a higher-than-average rate of people who’ve had multiple Adverse Childhood Experiences, or ACES. These include physical and sexual abuse, domestic violence, being raised by someone who is mentally ill and/or addicted, and having a parent or other family member in jail or prison. And although ACES data doesn’t include death of parents and other family members, it ought to. ACES data also doesn’t include chronic neglect, or multiple unsuccessful foster care placements.
Click HERE to read the full article written by the Olympian Editorial Board
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