How many homeless persons are there in the Tri-Cities?
It is difficult to get an exact number of people who are homeless in the Tri-Cities at any given time, but there is no doubt that the number has increased over time. Regional homeless counts over a 24 hour period have been held in March every 3 years since 2002. In 2002, the total number of homeless persons enumerated in the Tri-Cities was 13. This number increased to 38 in 2005 and to 94 in 2008. However, it is recognized that this is an undercount of the actual numbers. First, it is difficult to enumerate homeless persons who are “couch-surfing” with a friend or relative, and second it became obvious during the 2008 count (which was more rigorous than the previous counts) that some homeless persons will avoid being enumerated. The outreach work performed by the Hope For Freedom Society provides a more accurate estimation of the number of homeless in the Tri-Cities as it is based on day-to-day contact with homeless persons. In its first report on the homeless in the Tri-Cities, Hope F
