Among the Counted

An estimated 1,900 are homeless each night in Seattle.  They can be found in transitional housing, sleeping in shelters, under roadways, in doorways, or curled up in their car/truck. A quarter of these persons can be considered chronically homeless, which according to HUD's definition, means they are homeless for long periods of time and have a disability such as HIV/AIDS.

Catherine's plan had never been to be one of the people counted as homeless when she first lost her apartment.  This was a temporary situation and would turn around in a few days.  Days turned to months and months turned to years.  All told, the journey to finding a home she can call her own has taken seven long years.  Five years on the streets and two as part of Rosehedge/Multifaith Works’ transitional housing program.

On the streets you aren't concerned about the basics of clothing, food or medical treatments.  In fact, good health is the least of your concerns.  You live to use…and use to live.  You do anything to get that next high.  You tell yourself it is a natural progression from the early lies or cheating to the extremes of theft and prostitution.  Alone, all Catherine could do at night was cry and wish she wasn’t there.

Connecting to Rosehedge/Multifaith Works during early sobriety, Catherine knew that she had no more chances…without the transitional housing program she would be on the streets again.  Faced with this fear, she changed dramatically and quickly.  After nearly two years in transitional housing, she made the big step into permanent housing.

When asked about her success she quickly quantifies it as OUR success.  “I didn’t do this by myself” she states.  “A lot of people gave me a hand…and then a second hand.”   Alone, inside her apartment she can, at times, feel intimidated by the dramatic change.  It is a fear that is quickly defeated by opening the door and joining her new community.  A community built on compassion, concern and love.

Each January, volunteers canvas the Seattle area and count the men, women and children without shelter.  This One Night Count is done for two reasons: to document the nature and extent of homelessness in King County, and to build public engagement and action around the issue. It is a solemn and eye-opening opportunity to witness the survival struggles of our neighbors who are homeless.  Witness to her journey and after seven years, Catherine is no longer one of those counted!