Without shelter

Without shelter

As homeless deaths climb, these women insist that those who are lost are remembered.

King County has the third-largest homeless population in the country. And despite the concerted efforts of the county and city governments over the last decade, the number of people living outside continues to climb. That means more and more people are dying outside as well. Those who do die while homeless face a kind of anonymity in death that their housed neighbors largely do not. Anitra Freeman and Qween B King Rios are two members of Women in Black, a group of volunteers that aims to recognize those who might be forgotten, standing in silent vigil for every unsheltered person in the region who dies outside or by violence. Both women have experienced homelessness, and each does this as a form of advocacy—a way to say that homeless lives matter and that keeping the issue in the public eye matters, too. Seattleland sits down this week with Anitra and Qween B to hear their stories, their hopes and fears, and what motivates them to do this work.

Music by Natalie Mai Hall, Doctor Turtle, and Leeni Ramadan.

This week’s cover photo was taken by Sara Bernard and is an image of the leaf made for Anitra’s friend Colette Fleming, located in front of the Seattle Justice Center.


Talk to us

Please share your story tips by emailing editor@kentreporter.com.

To share your opinion for publication, submit a letter through our website https://www.kentreporter.com/submit-letter/. Include your name, address and daytime phone number. (We’ll only publish your name and hometown.) Please keep letters to 300 words or less.

More in Northwest

t
King County executive’s plan to renew parks levy 6 more years

King County Council still must approve proposal to voters on August ballot

t
Man, 19, dies in Auburn shooting

Officers found the man in the 1900 block of 22nd Way NE with a gunshot wound.

The suspects’ vehicle. Photo courtesy of the Renton Police Department.
Man dragged, shot, killed in Renton after holding onto car during theft

Police report there are at least two suspects who have not yet been identified.

t
Man shot and killed in Federal Way

A K9 search team was activated, but no suspect was located after Feb. 1 shooting

Maleng Regional Justice Center in Kent. FILE PHOTO
Federal Way man accused of killing teen with machete goes to trial

His defense claims there’s no evidence to show he was involved or ever present

A “no trespassing” sign outside of the Northwest ICE Processing Center in Tacoma. (Grace Deng/Washington State Standard)
Feds fly 110 detained migrants to Washington state, advocacy group says

Dozens of people sent to a detention center in Tacoma.

t
Congressman Adam Smith criticizes Trump for accusing DEI for plane crash

‘The president is not seeking to solve real problems by blaming DEI,’ Smith says

The four yellow parcels in the center of the image are where Portofino Investment plans to develop between 107 and 132 middle incoming housing units. Image courtesy King County Assessor
Up to 132 townhomes slated to be built on Lea Hill in Auburn

The properties are part of the area Auburn annexed from Kent in 2024

Courtesy Photo, King County
Man accused of killing his mother in Renton

‘I killed my mother,’ the suspect told police, according to court documents.

Attendees display their signs at the “School Funding Crisis” Eastside Town Hall on Jan. 8 at Sammamish High School in Bellevue. Andy Nystrom/ staff photo
People speak up at ‘School Funding Crisis’ Eastside Town Hall

‘We cannot keep going the status quo of funding in Washington state,’ Renton teacher says

t
South King Fire chief to retire, deputy chief returns to work

Chief Van Valkenburg’s paid status extended to Jan. 31; Deputy Chief Lisa Defenbaugh back on job