Chief Seattle Club

𝗪𝗵𝗲𝗻 𝗱𝗮𝘁𝗮 𝗺𝗶𝘀𝘀𝗲𝘀 𝗡𝗮𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗽𝗲𝗼𝗽𝗹𝗲, 𝗡𝗮𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗺𝘂𝗻𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝗽𝗮𝘆 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗽𝗿𝗶𝗰𝗲.

A new ICT and Underscore Native News article features concerns raised by Chief Seattle Club, Seattle Indian Health Board, and the Urban Indian Health Institute about King County's latest homelessness count. The report found that 4.2% of unsheltered individuals identified as Native, but we believe that figure significantly undercounts Native relatives experiencing homelessness in our region.

𝗔𝗰𝗰𝘂𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗱𝗮𝘁𝗮 𝗺𝗮𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗿𝘀. 𝗙𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗱𝗲𝗰𝗶𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀, 𝗽𝘂𝗯𝗹𝗶𝗰 𝗽𝗼𝗹𝗶𝗰𝘆, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗺𝘂𝗻𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗼𝘂𝗿𝗰𝗲𝘀 𝗱𝗲𝗽𝗲𝗻𝗱 𝗼𝗻 𝗶𝘁.

We urge the King County Regional Homelessness Authority to 𝗽𝘂𝗯𝗹𝗶𝗰𝗹𝘆 𝗮𝗰𝗸𝗻𝗼𝘄𝗹𝗲𝗱𝗴𝗲 that this data does not accurately reflect the number of Native people experiencing homelessness and 𝘀𝗵𝗼𝘂𝗹𝗱 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝗯𝗲 𝘂𝘀𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝗼 𝗶𝗻𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺 𝗳𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴, 𝗯𝘂𝗱𝗴𝗲𝘁𝘀, 𝗼𝗿 𝗽𝗼𝗹𝗶𝗰𝘆 𝗱𝗲𝗰𝗶𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝗮𝗳𝗳𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗡𝗮𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗺𝘂𝗻𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗲𝘀.

We encourage our partners, supporters, and community members to 𝗷𝗼𝗶𝗻 𝘂𝘀 in urging KCRHA to issue that acknowledgement.

📖 Read the story: https://ictnews.org/news/northwest-bureau/undercount-of-native-homeless-population-in-seattle-highlights-bigger-data-collection-concerns

Undercount of Native homeless population in Seattle highlights bigger data collection concerns - ICT Following the King County Regional Homelessness Authority Point-In-Time Count that showed 4.2 percent of unsheltered individuals identified as American Indian, Alaska Native or Indigenous, Native-led organizations in Seattle point to larger concerns with data collection and called for the King Count...

At Chief Seattle Club, we run housing and safe spaces across King County, including five permanent supportive housing sites, two tiny house villages, and our Day Center in Pioneer Square. Every day, we offer meals, support, and community for our relatives.

But his work depends on accurate data.

The 2026 PIT Count says that Native people are just 4.2% of those experiencing homelessness. We know that's not true.

When the numbers are wrong, it puts our work, and our community, at risk.

Hear more from our CEO, Derrick Belgarde (Siletz & Chippewa-Cree), in this story:

Questions mount over KCRHA’s Native homelessness count as advocates warn of flawed data Even as homelessness continues to climb across King County, local Native American leaders are warning that the region's latest homeless count paints a dangerous

𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟲 𝗣𝗼𝗶𝗻𝘁-𝗜𝗻-𝗧𝗶𝗺𝗲 (𝗣𝗜𝗧) 𝗖𝗼𝘂𝗻𝘁 𝗘𝗿𝗮𝘀𝗲𝘀 𝗡𝗮𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗛𝗼𝗺𝗲𝗹𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘀.

The latest PIT Count reports that 4.2% of people experiencing homelessness are Native. From what we see every day, we know this is a harmful undercount.

At Chief Seattle Club, we walk alongside our relatives, and we know many are not counted. When this happens, "𝗶𝘁 𝗽𝘂𝘁𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗹𝗶𝘃𝗲𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗺𝗼𝘀𝘁 𝘃𝘂𝗹𝗻𝗲𝗿𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲 𝗿𝗲𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲𝘀 𝗮𝘁 𝗿𝗶𝘀𝗸,” as our 𝗖𝗘𝗢, 𝗗𝗲𝗿𝗿𝗶𝗰𝗸 𝗕𝗲𝗹𝗴𝗮𝗿𝗱𝗲, 𝘀𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗲𝘀.

This is not just about numbers. The PIT Count determines where resources go, so an undercount of Native homelessness can mean less support for our community members who need housing and care.

𝗪𝗲 𝘄𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝗸𝗲𝗲𝗽 𝘀𝗽𝗲𝗮𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘂𝗽 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗮𝗰𝗰𝘂𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗱𝗮𝘁𝗮 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗼𝘂𝗿𝗰𝗲𝘀 𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗺𝘂𝗻𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗱𝗲𝘀𝗲𝗿𝘃𝗲𝘀.

Read our full statement here: https://www.chiefseattleclub.org/in-the-news

Hey, Member! A little birdie told us that you may not have collected your box of Girl Scout Cookies from our Day Center yet! 🍪❤️✨

You still can stop by! We are holding onto the 175 boxes that remain for our members to swing by and collect their sweet treat.

Spread the word! 🦅🍪❤️

For years, our local Girl Scout troop has chosen to collect cookie box donations for Chief Seattle Club members. This year, they showed up BIG! Because of their hard work and the community's generosity, over 600 boxes of Girl Scout Cookies were donated! This year, every Chief Seattle Club member gets their own box to enjoy a sweet moment of joy!

At this year’s Memorial Walk, we unapologetically took up space to honor our relatives ❤️🪶📢

From Pioneer Square to Pike Place Market, crowds parted for our big drum and banners that held the names of our members, our relatives, that have passed. This was a march of remembrance, honor, and compassion, with a record turnout. 🪶

Between our stops at Pioneer Square, the Seattle Art Museum, and Victor Steinbrueck Park, we shared songs, words of wisdom, and calls to action to protect our relatives.

Thank you to our staff, members, relatives, and community partners who dedicated the time to join us in this year’s Memorial Walk ❤️

Join us in continuing this work: honor our relatives, support our community, and help protect those who come after us.

Photos by Sheoletze Media. .media 📸

🍪💙 A long‑standing tradition of generosity and joy.

For many years, our local Girl Scout troop has intentionally collected Girl Scout Cookie box donations for Chief Seattle Club so our members can enjoy a sweet treat and a moment of celebration!

This year’s cookie season brought an incredible turnout: over 600 boxes donated, meaning that every Chief Seattle Club member will receive their own box of cookies! Seeing the troop return together with so many boxes is a powerful reminder of what community care looks like across generations.

📍 CSC Members: Cookies are ready for pickup until 1:00PM every day this week at the Day Center front desk—please stop by and collect yours!

Thank you to our Girl Scouts, Troop #41696, for continuing to show up with heart, generosity, and love for our urban Native community. We are so grateful!

TODAY IS THE DAY! Join us for our Annual Memorial Walk to honor our members that have passed & build to power for our community ❤️ We will kick off our walk at 9:00AM at the Chief Seattle Club Day Center (410 2nd Ave Ext S) and end by 12:00PM at Native Park, or Victor Steinbrueck Park.

This year, lunch will be provided after our Memorial Walk at Occidental Park at 12:30PM. ❤️ We hope to see you soon!

Join us in community on Friday, May 22nd, from 9:00AM - 12:00PM for our 2026 Memorial Walk to celebrate and honor our relatives who have passed on. ❤️

Our Annual Memorial Walk supports our members, relatives, and staff that have felt the losses of our honored relatives. Together in solidarity, we will lead with compassion, values, and culture to nurture and strengthen the spirit of our urban Native people.

This year’s route returns to its origins:
📍 START: Chief Seattle Club Day Center
📍 Pioneer Square
📍 Seattle Art Museum
📍 END: Victor Steinbrueck Park
Lunch will be provided at 12:30PM close to our Day Center.

Please note that a photographer will be present for our event! While all regalia, drums, and rattles are encouraged, they are not required to participate. 📸‼️

We hope to see you there!

This Monday, we had the privilege of hosting King County Executive Girmay Zahilay at Sweetgrass Flats, where he announced the “Breaking the Cycle” Initiative! 🎉

This levy is a bold new plan to help break the cycle of homelessness, addiction, and incarceration, and provide long-term solutions centered on data, accessibility, and stability.

Many thanks to Executive Zahilay and the King County Council for their work and thought partnership on this initiative. We’re excited to see how “Breaking the Cycle” will pave the way for housed and healthier communities!

Permanent supportive housing (PSH) is a common term used at Chief Seattle Club, but what does it actually mean? ⬇️

Permanent supportive housing refers to a community based housing model that provides people experiencing chronic homelessness with a safe space to call home.

Our PSH buildings are designed for Native peoples, with culturally informed spaces and services that provide the necessary care needed for our members to regain stability and independence.