Central Oregon One Day Homeless Count Today

For the eighth straight year, the Central Oregon Homeless Leadership Coalition is conducting a one-day 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.

Throughout the day on Thursday, January 24 volunteers will be conducting 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

The Homeless Leadership Coalition often relies on friends and families to aid in identifying people who should be included as a part of this One Night Homeless Count.  If you, or someone you know, should be included in the count, please contact (541) 280-1137, or visit the nearest Command Center site on January 24^th to complete a confidential and anonymous survey. To be counted as a part of this effort, it has to occur on Thursday, January 24^th, 2013. Please do not try and be counted before that day. Blankets and sleeping bags, pet food, propane, and other items will be available at various Command Center sites throughout Central Oregon, while supplies last.

Deschutes County Command Center Sites:

Bend- Trinity Episcopal Church/Family Kitchen- 231 NW Idaho Light snacks starting at 10am and dinner served from 5pm to 6:30pm

Bend- COCC Campus Center– Office of Student Life-11am to 12noon and 3pm to 4:30pm

Bend Community Center/Senior Meals-1036 NE 5^th St.                                                                   Low-income seniors lunch available from 11am-1pm

Bend-Mosaic Medical-409 NW Greenwood Ave.-Coffee, light snacks and connections to medical resources from 8am-5pm

Lapine-Lapine Community Kitchen- 16480 Finley Butte Road-Lunch served 12noon to 2pm

Redmond- Redmond Fire Department- 341 NW Dogwood– Hot lunch from 12noon-1pm

Redmond-Jericho’s Table-325 NW Dogwood-Dinner served from 5pm to 6pm

Sisters- Kiwanis Food Bank- 225 N Oak Street– 9am to 5pm