Number of homeless in Pierce County jumps 37 percent -- to 1,762 people

TACOMA, Wash. (AP) — The number of people living outside, in cars or in shelters in Pierce County has jumped by 37 percent since last year.

County officials on Friday said a one-night count conducted in late January found 1,762 homeless people in the county. Most were in living homeless shelters or temporary housing but about 18 percent were sleeping outside.

The survey found that the top five factors leading to homelessness were job loss, family crisis, substance abuse, economic issues or loss of temporary living arrangements.

Pierce County is the second-largest county in the state with about 840,000 people.