Homeless Leadership Coalition One Night Homeless Count

Homeless Count Background Information

In 2006, the HLC began an annual process of conducting a one-day count of individuals and families in the Tri-county area struggling to find appropriate and adequate housing.

Each year hundreds of individual volunteers and agencies participate in conducting confidential and anonymous surveys to identify the number of people dealing with homelessness. This count provides the most up-to-date information about the number of individuals in Deschutes, Crook, and Jefferson Counties who are struggling to find adequate housing. Through this data, local agencies and programs are able to qualify for increased funding, better target support services, and develop comprehensive plans to address poverty and homelessness in Central Oregon. This local effort ties into a national effort by Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to count people struggling with homelessness across our nation.

The One-Day Count occurs each year in late January, but the planning starts long before that. If you, your family, your church, or services organization is interested in getting involved, please attend a HLC meeting or contact one of the co-chairs. The needs for this event include: fund-raising to buy food and supplies, training volunteers to conduct surveys for the count, packing and distributing supplies, logistical support and much more.

Donations for this event can be given through the Partnership to End Poverty. You can donate with a check payable to Partnership to End Poverty/One Night Homeless Count (PO Box 147, Redmond, OR 97756) or with a credit card by calling (541) 504-1389 or visiting their web site www.partnershiptoendpoverty.org

2009 One Night Homeless Count results now available
For the fourth straight year, the Central Oregon Homeless Leadership Coalition conducted a one-night count of people who are homeless or in transitional housing in Deschutes, Crook, and Jefferson counties. This count is a part of a national effort to identify the number of people struggling to find appropriate and adequate housing.

On January 29th volunteers conducted confidential and anonymous surveys in Bend, LaPine, Sisters, Redmond, Prineville, and Madras. This one-day count will provide the most up-to-date information about the number of individuals in Central Oregon who are struggling to find adequate housing. Through this data, local agencies and programs are able to qualify for increased funding, better target support services, and develop comprehensive plans to address poverty and homelessness in Central Oregon.

Individuals and families counted through this effort include people living in:
• Weekly motels
• Shelters
• Transitional housing
• "Doubled up" with other families
• Camping or sleeping in cars
• Other places not designed for long-term human habitation.