Mirror staff reports:

The 2012 One Night Count of homeless people in King County took place in the early morning hours of Jan. 27.

Nearly 800 volunteers across King County counted men, women and children who are homeless and lacked shelter for the night. Volunteers counted homeless people in cars, tents, all-night buses and hospitals — or curled up in blankets under bridges and in doorways.

In total, 2,594 people had no shelter in King County last night, compared to 2,442 counted in 2011. In 2010, the count totaled 2,759.

In Federal Way, volunteers counted 77 people, of which 48 were sleeping in vehicles and 16 were found sleeping in “structures.” Last year, the Federal Way count was 124, and in 2010, the county was 181.

In other South King County cities, 104 people were counted in Kent, 73 were counted in Renton and 44 were counted in Auburn. Seattle topped the list of county cities with 1,898 homeless people counted this year.

The Seattle/King County Coalition on Homelessness organizes the yearly count, which focuses on people surviving outside without shelter. The numbers do not include those who are staying in shelters or transitional housing.

Five years ago, King County took on the daunting task of attempting to end homelessness in the region.

Through the creation of the Committee to End Homelessness, and the adoption of a 10-year plan, the county set out to find the ways and means to get people off the streets and into stable housing.

Learn more

• Click here to learn more about The Seattle/King County Coalition on Homelessness.

• Click here to read details about the 2011 homeless count in Federal Way.