With the holiday season approaching, thoughts turn not only to what people want or already have, but by extension to those things others might lack.

Wrangell resident Brittani Roane was on medical leave in Seattle for a week earlier last month. She explained she often travels to the city, but on this particular occasion was accommodated in the city's downtown area.

While there, Roane was struck by the number of homeless people in the surrounding neighborhood. In its 36th annual tally in January, the Seattle/King County Coalition on Homelessness reported more than 4,500 people were found to...