BILL REQ. #:  H-1377.1 

Read first time 02/08/2005.   Referred to Committee on Housing.

     TO THE HONORABLE CHRISTINE GREGOIRE, GOVERNOR OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON, AND TO THE LEGISLATIVE AUTHORITY OF EACH COUNTY, AND TO EACH MEMBER OF CONGRESS FROM THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:
     We, your Memorialists, the Senate and House of Representatives of the State of Washington, in legislative session assembled, respectfully represent and petition as follows:
     WHEREAS, Responding to a crisis of truly horrific proportions, many public health agencies and community-based organizations have worked together to stop the rising incidents of death among the members of the homeless population; and
     WHEREAS, Public Health - Seattle and King County's Health Care for the Homeless Network; the Epidemiology, Planning and Evaluation Section of Public Health - Seattle and King County; the King County Medical Examiner's Office; the King County Council; and many other citizens and organizations have dedicated themselves to developing preliminary information on the number, causes, and characteristics of deaths among the homeless men, women, and children of King County; and
     WHEREAS, The study found that homeless individuals in King County died at an average age of 47 years old, while the average age of death for the general population in the United States is 77 years old; and
     WHEREAS, According to this exhaustive King County study, the most frequent causes of death for homeless adults were acute intoxication, cardiovascular disease, and homicide; and
     WHEREAS, A disproportionately high incidence of tuberculosis, cancer, neurologic, renal, and skin conditions was also reported in this landmark study; and
     WHEREAS, The work of these selfless, community-minded organizations also found that malnutrition, poor sanitation, overcrowding in poorly ventilated buildings, predatory crime and violence, repeated exposure to the extremes of weather and temperature, and inadequate access to primary and preventive health care services are some of the many risks faced by homeless individuals and families struggling to survive outdoors and in temporary shelters; and
     WHEREAS, Children and families, according to national studies, make up the fastest-growing segment of the homeless population; and
     WHEREAS, A child born into homelessness is likely to have a low birth weight, and is nine times as likely to die within his or her first twelve months of life; and
     WHEREAS, Homeless children experience increased hospitalization rates, more outpatient visits, and more use of the emergency department compared with other low-income children; and
     WHEREAS, Almost half of all homeless children have two or more developmental delays, one-third of these children have at least one major mental disorder, and almost half of these children have problems with anxiety, withdrawal, or depression; and
     WHEREAS, Based on the numbers of identified homeless deaths from the King County study as well as the numbers of persons seeking emergency shelter throughout the state, it has been concluded that over 200 adults and children die homeless in Washington each year; and
     WHEREAS, This homeless epidemic should be publicly recognized and addressed;
     NOW, THEREFORE, Your Memorialists respectfully pray that the executive branch of the State of Washington and the legislative authorities of each county promote a statewide effort to count and track homeless individuals and children, as well as publicly highlight and support successful homeless housing programs in the state.
     BE IT RESOLVED, That copies of this Memorial be immediately transmitted to the Honorable Christine Gregoire, Governor of the State of Washington, the legislative authority of each county, and each member of Congress from the State of Washington.