Central Oregon homeless count in 10th year

For the 10th straight year, the Central Oregon Homeless Leadership Coalition (www.cohomeless.org) is conducting a one-day count Thursday ofpeople who are homeless or in transitional housing in Deschutes, Crook and Jefferson counties.

Thursday’s count is a part of a state and national effort to identify the number of people struggling to find appropriate and adequate housing.

Throughout the day, volunteers will be conducting confidential and anonymous surveys inBend, 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 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, visit the nearest Command Center site on Thursday to complete a confidential and anonymous survey.

To be counted as a part of this effort, it has to occur on Thursday, January 29 th , 2015. Please do not try and be counted before that day.

A limited supply of pet food, hygiene items and other supplies will be available at various Command Center sites throughout Central Oregon, while supplies last.

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

LaPine: LaPine Community Kitchen, 16480 Finley Butte Road. Lunch served 12noon to 2pm

Redmond: Redmond Grange Hall, 707 SW Kalama Avenue – Dinner served from 5pm to 6pm

Redmond: Deschutes County Library, 827 SW Deschutes Avenue – 12:30 to 2 pm

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

Prineville: St. Vincent DePaul, 904 NE Court St- 9 am to 5pm

Prineville: Family Resource Center, 422 NW Beaver – 9 am to 5 pm

Madras: Madras Christian Church, 115 SE C St. – 7 am to 7 PM, lunch served from 10 am-2 PM