American Indian and Alaska Native people make up at least 12.7% of King County residents experiencing homelessness, according to a new analysis that found the county’s initial estimate substantially understated their numbers. The analysis, developed with the University of Washington and Chief Seattle Club using regional homelessness data, found Native people account for 16% of those living unsheltered. They make up about 2% of the county’s overall population, yet are more likely than other groups to experience homelessness and less likely to receive shelter services, the report found. The findings contrast with a King County Regional Homelessness Authority estimate released earlier this year, which put Native people at 4.2% of the homeless population. The authority said that figure was an initial count prepared under federal guidelines, with a more detailed analysis expected to follow. The discrepancy largely stems from how race is counted. The authority’s public figures included people who identified as a single race, while many Native people identify as multiracial and were categorized as “Multi-Racial.” The new analysis included people who identified as American Indian or Alaska Native alongside another race, adding about 1,500 people to the count. Abigail Echo-Hawk, director of Seattle’s Urban Indian Health Institute and an author of the report, said Native leaders have pressed the county to use a fuller count since 2017. She said incomplete data can harm Native communities when officials make decisions about resources. Derrick Belgarde, executive director of Chief Seattle Club, said the county’s figures influence how the public and policymakers understand the scale of the problem. The nonprofit serves Native people experiencing homelessness in the Seattle region. The authority said it continues to collect multiracial data and has worked with Native organizations to improve the count. Spokesperson Lisa Edge said the agency believes more work is needed. Native advocates, however, said releasing the initial figure without additional context gave a misleading picture of the community’s needs. The stakes are heightened as federal support may shrink and local governments face difficult budget choices. The report found that half of Native people experiencing homelessness meet the definition of chronically homeless: living without housing for more than a year while also experiencing mental illness or a disability. Demand is visible at Chief Seattle Club’s Pioneer Square day center, where staff report record numbers of people seeking meals, a place to rest and help finding housing. The organization’s two shelters have about 65 beds, which remain close to full. Seattle Mayor Katie Wilson’s office said it hopes to include a shelter for American Indian and Alaska Native residents in the city’s plans to expand shelter capacity. The mayor’s office and King County Executive Girmay Zahilay’s office also said they want the regional authority to provide data communities can trust.