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CSDE Seminar Series

Population Research Discovery Seminars

A Portrait of the Unhoused Population of Seattle in 2023

Nathalie Williams, Professor of Sociology, University of Washington

Hugo Aguas, PhD Student Department of Sociology, University of Washington

Mingze Li, PhD Student Department of Sociology, University of Washington

Yuanxi Li, Undergraduate Student Department of Sociology & Informatics, University of Washington

Brandon Morande, PhD Student Department of Sociology, University of Washington

Aryaa Rajouria, PhD Student Department of Sociology, University of Washington

Caroline Teague, Undergraduate Student Department of Sociology, University of Washington


Parrington Hall Room 360

To Join By Zoom: Register HERE

10/10/2025
12:30-1:30 PM PT

360 Parrington Hall

Co-Sponsor(s):

Population Health Initiative

Surveys of people experiencing homelessness traditionally focus on questions related to their housing
statuses, often excluding broader topics asked of the general population. As a result, research
frequently fails to capture the full humanity and lived experiences of this diverse community.
Our Sound Data project seeks to address this gap by conducting a survey on a representative sample of
unhoused respondents on a variety of subjects about social life and well-being. This report presents the
results from our survey collected during Spring 2023 in Seattle, WA.

To launch this study, researchers from the University of Washington (UW) Department of Sociology
fielded a multidisciplinary questionnaire in person at local public libraries. This comprehensive survey
covered individual demographics, family structures, social support, residential situations, shelter use,
employment, health, substance use, religion, politics, languages, and nativity. Importantly, the
questionnaire is intended for a general population and closely mirrors that which will be fielded on a
survey of housed residents in the future, to facilitate direct comparison.

Results in this report portray Seattle’s unhoused people as a complex population, with varied lives,
experiences, and perspectives. All of this has important policy implications. For example, this report
clarifies the community’s demographic composition, allowing service providers to better tailor their
support. We highlight patterns in homelessness duration, eviction histories, forced displacement, and
resource access. Furthermore, the paper broadens our understanding of employment statuses,
complicating common conceptions about earnings and financial situations. We also uncover trends in
physical, mental, and behavioral health conditions that might help inform medical care. Lastly, the
study provides insight into the diversity of respondents’ religious, political, and national backgrounds,
all of which could influence the efficacy of interventions designed to reduce inequity and build
community.

 

Full Report Here


Nathalie Williams is Professor of Sociology at Affiliate at CSDE. Her research focuses on migration and developing survey and analytical methods for hard-to-reach populations and complex demographic systems.

 

Hugo Aguas is a PhD student in Sociology whose research focuses on housing insecurity, homelessness, and poverty scholarship. He also works as an After-Hours Supervisor at Downtown Emergency Services Center (DESC) in Seattle, bridging academic research with frontline systems.

 

Mingze Li, a Sociology PhD student and also received the CSDE Graduate Certificate in Demographic Methods. His research interests encompass migration, immigration, labor studies, and policy.

 

Yuanxi Li is an undergraduate student majoring in Sociology and Informatics. She is committed to utilizing mixed-methods research to address critical issues related to social justice and digital inequalities.

 

Brandon Morande is a PhD student in the Department of Sociology. His research broadly examines the relationships between poverty governance, neighborhood change, and placemaking in urban spaces.

 

Aryaa Rajouria is a doctoral student in Sociology whose research examines how individuals and communities make decisions in times of uncertainty, particularly in relation to migration, displacement, and mobility.

 

Caroline Teague is a fourth-year undergraduate research assistant pursuing a B.A. in Sociology. Her work is primarily focused on survey methods, housing and homelessness, and transportation and urban planning.

 

All presenters are at the University of Washington.