C.O ‘Point in Time’ homeless count set for this week

The Homeless Leadership Coalition is getting ready for the annual Point in Time count of Central Oregon’s homeless, taking place later this week.

The coalition’s tri-county effort begins on Wednesday, a mandate from federal Department of Housing and Urban Development.

That data is then used to help determine which areas receive funding and resources for the region to help combat homelessness.

Colleen Thomas, chair of the Homeless Leadership Coalition, said Monday that this count and better awareness surrounding homelessness are things that will lead to solving the problem in Central Oregon.

“I’m seeing more folks come together, more collaboration, and more communication because we all have the same goal of ending homelessness,” Thomas said. “And so I think that we, especially the Homeless Leadership Coalition, are working really hard to bring organizations together, to come up with a solution, to get to that final end goal of ending homelessness.”

Thomas said it’s hard to say how the results will turn out, but she expects that the numbers will be up for this year’s count.

She added that the count is also completely voluntary and totally confidential.

One group in Central Oregon is working to give back to those who participate in that process.

The Bend Notre Dame Americorps put together hygiene kits to be passed out during the point in time survey.

Each kit contains hand warmers, shampoo, soap, conditioner, a toothbrush and toothpaste.

The director of the Bend Americorps, Celeste Goulding, said it’s an important way to say “thank you” to those who decide to participate in the survey.

“Generally it’s a pretty cold interaction. You go up to somebody you think is experiencing homelessness, you ask them to fill out the survey with you, there usually aren’t supplies to offer them anything in return for taking that time for you,” Goulding said.

“So it’s really a way to honor the time for people experiencing homelessness by being able to provide them with this kit in exchange for the information that they are giving.”

All of the kits were created from donated supplies, and the group was able to put together 200 kits in about 45 minutes Monday evening.

For more information: https://www.cohomeless.org/agency-tools/point-in-time-count/