Thursday, October 1, 2026
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Timothy stood leaning against a wall in an alley in downtown Olympia, Washington. He shouldered a blanket; his hands held a crumpled can and an unlight cigarette.
“I’ve been on the streets, homeless, for about five years,” he said. “All I’d like is a roof over my head.”
About 50 yards away at one end of alley, several thousand individuals participating in the third "No Kings" protest walked by carrying signs and voicing their opinions about the Trump administration.
“No one thinks of us,” continued Timothy, as he watched the marchers. “Who protests for the end of homelessness in this country?”
Throughout American history, protests have played a pivotal role in realigning the nation’s evolving political, economic and social fabric.
From the Boston Tea Party (1773), the Women’s Suffrage Parade of 1913, The March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom (1963), The Stonewall Riots (1969) and the Anti-Vietnam War Movement (1960s and (1970s) to The Dreamers Movement (2001), the Great American Boycott of 2006, The Black Lives Matter Movement (2013), The Occupy Wall Street Movement (2011), The Women’s March of 2017, The March for Our Lives (2018) and the current "No Kings" movement, Americans have long upheld the need and right to protest for change.
Yet, Timothy’s question lingers: "Why aren’t there protests to end homelessness?" There is data that shows a need to do so.
According to the latest numbers in the 2024 annual Homelessness Assessment Report, a total of 771,480 people — about 23 of every 10,000 people in America — have experienced homelessness. This marks an 18 percent increase from 2023. The Trump administration has not released data from 2025 and 2026.
A breakdown of some of these statistics provided by worldmetrics.org reveals a much clearer picture of the depth of homelessness in America while also providing a reason to act on Timothy’s question.
These numbers represent a growing challenge, which is fueled by unaffordable housing, stagnant wages and federal, state, county and city bureaucratic mismanagement or neglect.
It is time to protest this situation, and a march through downtown Olympia protesting an end of homelessness is not too much to hope for.
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JulesJames
Its time to be accurate and accountable. Transients are well-known to say whatever gets them a dollar, a drink, a meal, a fix, a blanket -- self-reporting reasons for living on the streets just doesn't provide actionable information. Funds expended by taxpayers should not be passed out with the blind eye of faith-based charity. We need a name, date of birth and street address of last legal residence added to a database for every government-subsidized food bank, outreach project, medical services van, ecetera. We can't solve the problem until we clearly know the problem -- by name and history.
Friday, April 17 Report this
cappers
We've seen quite a few homeless seniors. Many are homeless due to disabilities that leave them unable to work & pay medical bills.
Many can't live in a house or home due to rising rent/ mortgage payments that their only source of income won't cover ( like their SS payments.)
Friday, April 17 Report this
franiazgorski
Homelessness is driven by housing costs, wage stagnation, lack of mental‑health care, and decades of policy decisions, not one dramatic event that triggers mass protests. And unlike wars, police violence, or sudden political actions, homelessness is a chronic crisis, not a single flashpoint — which means the public becomes desensitized even as the numbers rise. The data is clear: communities with higher rents, fewer affordable units, and weaker tenant protections have higher homelessness rates. But because the people suffering are often isolated, stigmatized, or struggling for basic survival, they’re not in a position to organize large‑scale demonstrations — and the public rarely mobilizes on behalf of groups society has already pushed to the margins.
Saturday, April 18 Report this
longtimeresident
"During the Industrial Revolution (from about 1760 to ----), poverty began to be regarded not as a natural condition to be endured but as a social problem to be remedied, Civil governments began to realize their need to deal with the realities of poverty so that the common welfare of all of society would be improved. In England as well as in other countries, the poor gradually became the responsibility of the state. Previously, the churches had assumed that responsibility". Looks like the churches have again taken on that responsibility.....
Saturday, April 18 Report this
Wesley
I prefer to call it vagrancy.
Sunday, April 19 Report this
USA_Ronin
It looks like the gentleman that's depicted is holding a bent soda can that's used to smoke ice/meth.
-No?
Sunday, April 19 Report this
Chloeandme
There is a process for accessing solutions and it requires cooperation from persons needing services. Their un-cooperation is often their stumbling block.
Tuesday, April 21 Report this
Olywelcomesall
I am impressed by our community’s aggressive programs to provide full service rehousing for people. We did have some marches and rallies in support of housing for people in need back in the early 2000s. We had volunteers and NGO’s work together for efforts to help those with housing. Then we voted to tax ourselves to create the Home Fund in Olympia and now the Home Fund is county wide. We’re beyond protests. Our sleeves are rolled up, lets keep the momentum going. We gotta good set of programs. Let’s build on our success.
Friday, April 24 Report this