Crook County homeless numbers revealed

The numbers are tallied for Crook County’s 2018 homeless population.

The mandatory survey, called the Point in Time Homeless Count, happens on a random day at the end of January every year, and the research results were just released for Prineville on Wednesday evening.

The Homeless Leadership Coalition works with the Central Oregon Research Coalition to conduct the county through a survey. About 67 people responded to the questions in Crook County. It is a voluntary decision to take part in this count.

Economics and legal issues were the main reasons people reported being homeless in Crook County. Most homeless people in the county reported being alone, without family or children.

Many homeless men and women are survivors of domestic abuse. Across Central Oregon, the average age of a homeless individual was 32 years old.

“I am constantly out, talking in our community about not just this process, but the importance of knowing what these numbers are, so we can continue to reach out to these individuals and to this particular population base,” said Crook County Emergency Preparedness Coordinator Vicky Ryan. “(It helps) make sure they’re getting the support and services they need.”

The data comes from the definition that homelessness incorporates those unsheltered, living in a shelter, or precariously housed, such as couch surfing.

Redemption House Ministries Executive Director Greg Sanders said the effort is an important one for communities.

“A lot of people that are homeless complain about being invisible to people in their community, and so having a place where they can actually connect with people or getting additional support they don’t necessarily get because their support system let them down in some way,” Sanders said.

“That’s probably one of the things that helps them get out of a homeless situation is having that hand up,” he added.