According to the third annual Count Us In survey of homeless youth taken Jan. 24, the number of homeless and unstably housed youth in King County grew by 10 percent in the past year.

Friends of Youth (FOY) served as the Eastside host for Count Us In, which listed 776 youth and young adults ages 12-25 in its preliminary report.

This year’s count included surveys at more sites than previous years, which may account for some of the increase. But the invisibility of the homeless youth population, who often resort to couch surfing and double-bunking, leaves many young people uncounted. About 12 percent of those counted were younger than age 18.

Most of these young people who find themselves homeless and in need have little control over the circumstances that created an unstable home life, such as physical and sexual abuse, drug and alcohol dependency, poverty or being kicked out after revealing their sexual identity.

To address this growing need, FOY provides shelter, housing and services that give these youth a home and a chance for success.

To learn more about how to help increase FOY’s capacity to meet this rising demand, visit www.friendsofyouth.org.