Between 2 and 6 a.m. last Friday morning, two teams of volunteers traveled the island in search of those living outside as part of King County’s annual “Count Us In” tally of its homeless population. In all, the teams found six tents, 14 occupied RVs, one occupied car and one person walking. The total number of individuals will be estimated, using multipliers based upon survey data for the number of people, on average, that report living in tents and various vehicles.

The count is federally mandated, and the data collected from Count Us In will be used by the county to help determine funding and services, as well as both long- and short-term plans to address the ever-worsening homeless crisis.

This year’s team of Vashon volunteers saw some personnel changes as longtime island activist Hilary Emmer, and Eden Bossom, who works with the King County Housing Authority and has been participating in the annual event for over a decade, both chose to sit this one out.

Emmer cited both the absence of services and funding for housing coming to the island as well as some organizational issues for her choice.

“Our numbers do not seem to matter,” she said. “And All Home, while they have done some good things around this event, like paying the guides, just do not seem organized.”

All Home is the organization that took over the point-in-time count from the Seattle/King County Coalition on Homelessness.

Bossom’s reason was personal.

“I wasn’t trying to make a statement of any kind, I just needed to step away this year,” she explained. “I want the count to be a success, and for Vashon providers to benefit financially, hopefully through allocation of county funds.”

Taking the reins this year was VYFS board member Susan Fitzgerald.

“I was looking for another volunteer opportunity,” she said. “So when Kathleen Johnson said before she left that the count would need someone, I jumped in.” Fitzgerald and her team of island volunteers Mary Ashby, Karen Adler, Trey McBride and Shanna Clinton, worked with guide Greg Garcia. Starting with last year’s event, “guides” (currently or recently homeless individuals) were paid $15 per hour to lead most teams throughout the county, as they are better able to locate those who need to be counted. Garcia was hired with the help of Nancy Vanderpool of the Interfaith Council to Prevent Homelessness.

The final report will take a couple of months to complete.