When Families Don't Count, Children Pay the Price

We’re grateful to Stephannie Stokes and The Seattle Times for helping shine a much-needed light on family homelessness in King County in this recent story. Far too often, the experiences of families, like the Fraustos, go unseen. The family of five spent months living in a tent after an eviction ruined their credit. Most of the services available to them weren’t geared toward families, making it even harder for them to find stability. Stories like these remind us why accurate data matters.

Stephannie shares that the King County Regional Homeless Authority (KCRHA) is working with Mary’s Place to improve the accuracy of the family count in the one-night Point-In-Time (PIT) count. When we have a clearer picture of the scope of family homelessness, communities can better allocate resources, respond to urgent needs, and invest in long-term solutions. Better data leads to more support—and more support means fewer children sleeping in cars, in shelters, or without a safe place to call home.

But data alone won’t solve this crisis. Behind every number is a family navigating impossible choices, and the need across our region remains profound. Addressing family homelessness will take more than awareness—it will take sustained commitment, compassion, and action from all of us.

Together, as a community, we can ensure that no child sleeps outside.

Andrew and Codi Frausto finally found housing for their family after months of navigating a system not built for families.