What we are seeing in Auburn is not unique. Across King County, Washington state, and nationally, we are seeing the sub-urbanization of poverty, as the poor are priced out of housing in urban centers. In Washington, decades of under-investment in mental health care, developmental disabilities services, and substance abuse treatment are translating into increasing homelessness. In King County, those systemic failures combined with an alarming increase in the cost of housing have further complicated an already complex challenge.

Key Highlights:

According to the 2020 All Home Count Us In point in time count held in January 2020, there are approximately 1,115 unsheltered homeless adults in southwest King County (area includes Algona, Auburn, Burien, Des Moines, Federal Way, Kent, Milton, Normandy Park, Pacific, Renton, SeaTac, Tukwila, Vashon Island, and unincorporated areas ). Up from 1,084in 2019.
The Auburn School District reports that there are about 300 homeless students in the district each year.
Auburn's homeless population has increased over 20% since 2014.
Seventy percent (70%) of King County's homeless are in Seattle, 20% is in southwest King County.
A total of 11,751 individuals experiencing homelessness were counted in January 2020. Forty-seven percent (47%) of the population was unsheltered, living on the street, in parks, encampments, vehicles, or other places not meant for human habitation. (Learn more about homelessness in King County)