Point in Time Count

Brief Summary

On January 25, 2017, there were 1455 people who were either at-risk of homelessness, living in a shelter, or unsheltered in Central Oregon.  Of those, there were 778 people who experienced “literal” homelessness (see HUD definition above) on that night, a 31% increase compared to the last sheltered and unsheltered count in 2015.

Increases were seen among veterans (41% increase), as well as among adults, youth, and children. There was a 35% increase in the number of people in families experiencing homelessness, with a striking number unsheltered (238), including 129 unsheltered children.

The number of people living unsheltered (ie., in cars, camping, or in other places not meant for human habitation) jumped 35% from 2015, a harsh reality for so many people during a month of record snowfall and cold temperatures. Of all the people considered literally homeless, 70% (548 people) were unsheltered. Nearly 80% of all the children who were homeless were unsheltered. This is a 30% increase in unsheltered children compared to 2015. As in previous years, economic reasons, particularly “couldn’t afford rent”, were cited as the primary cause of people’s homelessness with more than 800 respondents identifying economic causes.

Review the complete 2017 Point in Time Count Results here.  Results include data for the region as a whole, results by county for Jefferson, Deschutes and Crook counties, and results by city for Deschutes county.  Also included are data on subpopulations, household types, living situation, and access to healthcare.