Central Oregon’s yearly ‘Point in Time’ count finds number of homeless has risen 17% in past year, 89% over five years

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) -- There were 2,108 Central Oregon homeless people counted in January's annual Point in Time Count, a 17% increase from last year, the Homeless Leadership Coalition said Monday.

The coalition said the regionwide survey is part of a federally mandated nationwide survey of people experiencing homelessness on a single night in January. Surveys were conducted between Jan. 28 and Feb. 3, asking people where they slept the night of Jan. 27.

Although the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development only requires a full count every other year, the HLC said it chose to conduct a full yearly count of both sheltered and unsheltered populations.

Of the total homeless surveyed across the region, two-thirds were unsheltered, and 1,442 said they were living outside in a vehicle. Also, 80% of those counted said they've been homeless for over a year.

Nearly 60% of the people surveyed say they've lived in Central Oregon for a decade or longer. And more than half said they'd been without a permanent residence for at least three years. Also, 54% reported having a mental health disorder.

The coalition said the total number of people surveyed who were experiencing homelessness has grown 89% in the past five years.

Here's the full PowerPoint presentation: