Civic Assembly on Youth Homelessness wraps up its final discussion, preps proposed solutions for leaders to consider

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) -- An innovative new way for Central Oregonians to weigh in on one of the region's most pressing issues wrapped up its fifth and final day Sunday, preparing proposals for area officials to consider.

The Civic Assembly on Youth Homelessness gave a representative sample of 30 Deschutes County residents a direct line to local government. People of all walks of life researched and discussed potential solutions to the issue of youth homelessness. 

Members of the Central Oregon Youth Action Board were on hand at OSU-Cascades to receive the citizen assembly's recommendations. Later on, delegates from the assembly will deliver their resolutions to the Central Oregon Intergovernmental Council, Deschutes County commissioners and the Bend City Council. 

 Organizers said they hope the initial exercise will set the stage for future civic assemblies to address other pressing topics and strengthen civic engagement. 

The Assembly is a part of the Central Oregon Civic Action Project (COCAP), a first-of-its-kind collaboration between Deschutes County, the City of Bend, the Central Oregon Intergovernmental Council, Oregon State University Cascades, and the nonprofits Healthy Democracy and DemocracyNext, supported by Ford Family Foundation, Brooks Resources, Omidyar Network, Quadrivium, and the Rockefeller Foundation, as well as the MIT Center for Constructive Communication.

Josh Burgess, executive director of COCAP, said, "The delegates have heard from members of government, subject matter experts, service providers, and very importantly, people with lived experience with youth homelessness to learn in-depth about what's been tried, what hasn't been tried, what's worked and what hasn't to build solutions."