Central Oregon makes strides in reducing homelessness, count reveals

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) The Homeless Leadership Coalition announced a significant decrease in homelessness for Bend and the Central Oregon region, according to its 2026 Point in Time Count. The count, conducted from Jan. 27 through Feb. 2, found a 16% reduction in people experiencing homelessness in Bend.

The broader Central Oregon region also experienced a 19.1% decrease in homelessness compared to 2025. This data reflects a regional effort to address housing needs for people without homes.

The annual Point in Time Count provides a snapshot of people experiencing sheltered and unsheltered homelessness on a single night in January. This year's data showed 838 people experiencing homelessness in Bend, down from 1,001 people counted in 2025.

Regionally, 1,706 unique people were included in the count, which asked individuals where they slept the night of Jan. 26, 2026. This count is required by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development for jurisdictions receiving federal funding for homelessness services.

Bend also saw a decline in the rate of unsheltered homelessness, from 545 individuals in 2025 to 424 individuals in 2026. Bend Mayor Melanie Kebler noted the positive trend.

"Bend is seeing meaningful progress in reducing houselessness and it's a direct result of our sustained focus on housing goals that prioritize both short-term support and long-term solutions," Kebler said. "While the new Point in Time Count data is very encouraging, there is still work to be done to make a real impact on the housing crisis that we are seeing in Bend and across the Central Oregon region."

Megan Perkins, Bend Mayor Pro Tem and vice chair of the Coordinated Houseless Response Office, credited the collaborative efforts for the positive outcomes. "The regional multi-agency approach we have taken is the reason why we are starting to see some positive results," Perkins said. "This work doesn't happen in a vacuum. It reflects the dedication and coordination of service providers, regional partners, nonprofits and community members all working toward the same outcome."

Eliza Wilson, chair of the Homeless Leadership Coalition, Central Oregon's CoC, highlighted the role of investment. "The 19% decrease in homelessness reflected in the 2026 PIT Count shows what is possible when government invests in regional housing services and communities work together toward shared solutions," Wilson said. "This progress is a direct result of sustained public investment, strong partnerships and the unwavering commitment of dedicated service providers across the region who work every day to connect people with housing, stability and support. While there is still more work ahead, these numbers demonstrate that our collective efforts are making a real difference."

The City of Bend continues to work with local partners to advance solutions to reduce homelessness, reflected in the Bend City Council's housing goals. Current shelter capacity in Bend includes 540 shelter beds and 35 Safe Parking spaces, providing 51 beds. This marks an increase from 527 Shelter and Safe Parking beds in January 2025.

The city is expanding affordable housing options through its Housing Division's funding and incentive programs. Since July 1, 2025, the City of Bend helped complete 128 dwelling units that serve households at or below 80% of Area Median Income (AMI). The city has also issued 1,760 permits for housing since July 1, 2025, completing nearly 50% of its goal to issue permits for 3,942 housing units.

In 2025, the City of Bend partnered with 11 non-profit organizations. This partnership provided funding for shelter, outreach to unsheltered individuals, support services and homeless prevention. These programs supported 332 individuals in transitioning to more stable housing situations and prevented 447 people from becoming homeless.

The work of the City's homeless response programs continued into 2026. Since Jan. 1, City-funded programs have provided more than 24,600 nights of shelter and supported 55 transitions to more stable housing.

Highlights from the regional 2026 Point in Time Count reveal that 1,286 people were unsheltered and 570 people were in shelters across the region. Fifty % of respondents reported living in Central Oregon for 10 or more years and 65% have experienced homelessness for one year or longer. Twenty-two % of the unhoused community is experiencing chronic homelessness. The count also noted 187 people under age 25 were unsheltered and 227 people over age 55 were unsheltered. Additionally, 480 individuals reported struggling with substance use, mental health disorders, or both. Between the 2025 and 2026 PIT Counts, 293 individuals were rehoused.

The Safe Parking program is expected to further expand by 16 spaces before July 2027.