Homelessness isn’t someone else’s issue. It has a ripple effect throughout the community. Homelessness impacts:

• The availability of healthcare resources
• Crime and safety
• The workforce
• The use of tax dollars

Further, homelessness impacts the present as well as the future. It benefits all of us to break the cycle of homelessness, one person, one family at a time.

Across the Puget Sound, people are struggling to keep up with the rapidly rising cost of living and many of our fellow community members are ending up homeless. Our current systems do not keep up with the need. And without enough affordable housing, many seniors, families, and individuals end up homeless, sleeping on the street and in vehicles.

The causes of homelessness are complex—from losing a job or experiencing a sudden financial challenge, such as a medical emergency, to mental health or substance use disorders. Our approach to addressing the impacts of homelessness should be as well.

In partnership with local and regional community providers, the City is addressing immediate needs related to homelessness and working on longer-term strategies. The City works with community providers to provide:

• Preventative services
• Services for those experiencing homelessness
• Facilities with access to services

Types of Homelessness

There's a lot of stigma and a lack of understanding about homelessness.  Some may not realize how easily it could happen to them, their friends or neighbors.

Homelessness is not one-size-fits-all. Here are three types of homelessness.

Our Response to Homelessness

City staff work with neighboring communities, within our community and with agencies and providers to connect our most vulnerable populations with resources and access to assistance. By working directly with providers, outreach workers, and caseworkers, we are learning what barriers and challenges exist between services and agencies. From this knowledge, staff works to build relationships and develop navigation support and resources to collectively bridge gaps and address the impacts and reach of homelessness across City departments and divisions.

The City’s Internal Homelessness Taskforce with representatives of city departments, meets monthly to discuss and address the impacts of homelessness within the city. Human Services works collaboratively within this group to address impacts homelessness has on residents, businesses, resources, assets, and City departments.

Staff also provide support to Police encountering homeless individuals and families by supplying emergency resources, referrals and connections to direct service providers. Understanding the additional barriers criminal history poses for anyone experiencing homelessness, efforts are made to avoid arrests and charges that could negatively affect one’s ability to access resources and housing. The lack of affordable housing leaves ex-offenders competing for the same limited resources with others who have no criminal history.

While the City of Kent invests nearly half its human services funding in programs addressing homelessness, we rely on community partners to provide direct services. We continue to work with our local businesses, faith-based organizations, service clubs, and non-profits to serve the homeless. Community and regional partnerships are critical because no one jurisdiction will be able to solve homelessness challenges alone. 

How to Help

How to approach homelessness can be confusing. Not only do professionals and volunteers involved with the homeless wrestle with difficult questions of how to help—so does the average person who is approached at a bus stop, or while walking down the street minding his or her own business. What can you do, personally, to help them?

Often what is needed is a combination of the person wanting to be helped and an organization knowledgeable about availability of resources to assist. Governmental aid is available for people experiencing homelessness, but many may not know where to find it or how to apply.

You can help by directing the people who are homeless to assistance providers trained in identifying each resident's unique needs.

Resource and referral organizations such as Crisis Connections (or simply dialing 2-1-1) can help connect residents with much needed services and inform on what aid is available.

Download our Emergency Resources card.

If you are interested in becoming a volunteer or are looking for ways you can help, check with your local provider or search HERE for opportunities.