Oregon Public Broadcasting

Northwest cities are counting homeless people this week. In Washington state, the census is a prerequisite for local governments to collect public money for homeless programs. Correspondent Doug Nadvornick reports.

Each city and county handle the count differently. In Seattle, the King County Coalition on Homelessness picks one night and sends out small groups to look for people sleeping out in the open.

In Spokane, the city and county census the homeless with questionnaires passed out in shelters. Chantel Decker works at the Women’s Hearth day shelter, one of the places where the homeless will fill out questionnaires.

Chantel Decker: “We pretty much ask as many questions as we can to try and figure out why and how this person became homeless and what are the reasons they’re not moving forward with their life.”

The results of the count are published, sent to the state and included in the 10-year homelessness plans compiled by counties. Those are required before the state writes checks for homeless programs.

Some says the census undercounts because it doesn't take into account people who bypass shelters and stay with friends or family instead.