Public Health — Seattle & King County is monitoring changes in key economic, social, and other health indicators resulting from strategies to slow the spread of COVID-19. Just as the pandemic has had disparate impacts on parts of our population, mitigation measures present more hardship for some members of our community than others. The economic, social, and health impacts data project helps inform strategies and policies to minimize those harms and maximize outcomes for all residents of King County.

How are you using the data? Share your feedback via this brief survey.

Below are highlights, but you can view the entire dashboard here

We're proud to celebrate the achievements of King County's LGBTQIA+ community during Pride Month and all year.

If you are LGBTQIA+ and are experiencing difficulty with access to care, there are local and national resources available; below are a few : 

Gay City, Seattle's LGBTQ Center: https://www.gaycity.org/enroll-in-health-care/  
Gender Justice League: https://www.genderjusticeleague.org/covidsupport 
Ingersoll Gender Center: https://ingersollgendercenter.org/ingersoll-directory/ 
LGBTQ National Help Center:  https://www.glbthotline.org/programs.html  
National Queer & Trans Therapists of Color Network: https://nqttcn.com/en/  

Lower access to healthcare among LGTBQIA+ individuals in the King-Pierce-Snohomish County area

Inequities in healthcare access based on gender identity and sexual orientation continue to be a public health concern. 

In the King-Pierce-Snohomish County area from March 2 – May 9, 2022, 6% of adults (ages 19-64) reported that they lacked health insurance. 

• Among those who identified as gay/lesbian, 10% lacked health insurance
• Among those who identified as something other than straight or gay/lesbian or bisexual, 11% lacked health insurance
• *Similar inequities were observed among adults who identified as transgender

_{*Based on a small number of survey responses. Please interpret with caution.} 

% of adults in the King-Pierce-Snohomish County area who lacked health insurance by sexual orientation, March 2 – May 9, 2022

ECONOMIC

Housing: Increasing percentage not current on rent or mortgage

From March 2 - May 9, 2022, 12% of adults in the King-Pierce-Snohomish county area reported they were not or slightly confident that they will be able to make their next payment (rent or mortgage) on time or defer payment. Housing insecurity was higher among LGBTQIA+ adults: 16% of bisexual adults reported housing insecurity.

Washington State eviction moratorium ended October 31, 2021 while the City of Seattle's eviction moratorium ended February 28, 2022. 

_{*Small numbers are presented, please interpret with caution.*}

Decrease in weekly calls to King County's 2-1-1 Crisis Connections line

During the week of  4/18 - 4/24/2022, there were 1,024 calls to King County's 2-1-1 Crisis Connections line. This is a 7% decrease in calls compared to the previous week, and a 34% decrease compared to the same time in 2020.  

SOCIAL

Food insecurity: higher among LGBTQIA+ adults

From early March - early May 2022, 7% of adults in the King-Pierce-Snohomish county area did not have enough to eat in the last 7 days. Food insecurity was higher among LGBTQIA+ adults, and was reported by 16% of bisexual adults and 15% of adults who identified as something other than straight or gay/lesbian or bisexual. 

Slight decrease in number of Domestic Violence protection orders filed in King County

In April 2022 there were 259 Domestic Violence protection orders filed with King County Superior Court. This is a 6% decease compared to the previous month (275 DV protection orders filed) and similar compared to March 2019 (256 DV protection orders filed).

This work is funded by Public Health — Seattle & King County, the Washington State Department of Health, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’ s (CDC) Epidemiology and Laboratory Capacity for Prevention and Control of Emerging Infectious Diseases ( ELC) Cooperative Agreement (CK19 - 1904 ).

For questions, please write to: COVIDevaluation@kingcounty.gov

To sign-up for this newsletter please click here.