Numbers Served
Community-based organizations participating in the ESAP Program provided 1,228,623 shelter bednights to 51,380 individuals in 35,943 households; and 684,363 prevention bednights to 41,515 individuals in 22,883 households.

Participating Organizations
One-hundred and forty-six community-based organizations, in every county of the state, received Emergency Shelter Assistance Program (ESAP) funds to prevent homelessness and help homeless families and individuals begin to rebuild their lives in safety.

Homeless Families
Fifty percent of the individuals served were in families with children. There were 14,337 children under the age of 18 in shelters with parents or legal guardians.

Homeless Youth
ESAP participants sheltered 1,226 youth without adult guardians in need of emergency housing.

Turnaway Incidents
Although requests for shelter are duplicated when people try several shelters over a period of days, turnaways are an indicator of shelter demand. There were 78,027 unfilled shelter requests in SFY 2002.

Additonal Information on Homeless Families
More information on homeless families can be found in the Washington State Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS) document Homeless Familes in Washington State: A Study of Families Helped by Shelters and Their Use of Welfare and Social Services