Overview:
Corrected data shows Native Americans and Alaska Natives account for nearly 15% of King County’s homeless population, revealing significant undercounting caused by racial classifications and data collection methods that researchers say must be changed.
Native Americans and Alaska Natives account for nearly 15% of King County’s homeless population, nearly three times the share initially reported in the county’s 2026 Point-in-Time Count, according to corrected data released by researchers.
The revised findings follow collaboration between the Urban Indian Health Institute (UIHI), Chief Seattle Club and the University of Washington to address flaws in the data collected by the King County Regional Homelessness Authority (KCRHA).
Native peoples make up an estimated 1% to 2% of King County’s overall population but represent a substantially larger share of people experiencing homelessness. The initial Point-in-Time Count, released in June, reported that Native people accounted for 4.2% of the homeless population.
Derrick Belgarde, chief executive officer of Chief Seattle Club, said his organization had repeatedly raised concerns about the accuracy of the county’s data.
“For years we have flagged this issue with the City and County, but KCHRA kept releasing bad data,” Belgarde said. “It is so critical that we have the clearest picture possible of the number of homeless relatives so that we can tackle the problem. The data matters. Critical funding, resources, and peoples’ lives depend upon it.”
Multiracial classifications obscured Native homelessness
Abigail Echo-Hawk, director of the Urban Indian Health Institute, worked with Zack Almquist, the University of Washington researcher who led the initial Point-in-Time Count, to identify and correct the data discrepancies.
Researchers found that the count had classified many unsheltered Native people who identified with more than one race as multiracial rather than including them in the overall count of American Indian and Alaska Native people.
After disaggregating the multiracial data, researchers determined that American Indians and Alaska Natives account for 16% of King County’s unsheltered homeless population and 6.5% of its sheltered homeless population.
Echo-Hawk said the problem reflects a broader pattern in research in which Native people are excluded from data used to shape public policy and determine funding priorities.
“We unfortunately see this flaw in research all the time. We call this data genocide,” Echo-Hawk said. “People who identify as American Indian or Alaska Native in combination with another race are too often erased from data that is used to inform policy and funding. We know this is a problem, yet we see it over and over again.”
Researchers call for culturally informed counting methods
Researchers also identified concerns with the methodology used to conduct the Point-in-Time Count, an issue Chief Seattle Club had raised before the count took place.
According to Belgarde, the methodology relied on people reporting to a central location to have their information collected. He said that approach may discourage Native people experiencing homelessness from participating because of distrust of government institutions and concerns about safety.
“There is so much distrust by Native peoples that there has to be a safe place for people to report to, a place where they are met by members of their own community, especially in this current political environment where reporting to ‘officials’ feels especially dangerous,” Belgarde said.
The University of Washington and the Urban Indian Health Institute recommended changes to the counting process, including ensuring that people who identify as American Indian or Alaska Native alongside another racial identity are included in the overall Native count.
They also called for greater collaboration with Native organizations to develop data collection methods that account for the experiences and needs of marginalized communities.
Belgarde credited the University of Washington for working with Native researchers and organizations to correct the discrepancies.
“Too often, outside institutions dismiss our expertise and perspectives, confusing equity for equality,” Belgarde said.
He said the findings offer a lesson for communities nationwide that conduct homelessness counts.
“We hope Point-in-Time counts nationwide learn from this: if you count Native people without listening to Native people, you’re going to get it wrong.”
