BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — The Homeless Leadership Coalition, Central Oregon’s Continuum of Care, will be kicking off the annual Point In-Time Count in Central Oregon on Tuesday, Jan. 24.
The count is a part of a state and national effort to identify the number of individuals experiencing homelessness and greatly impacts the available funding for homeless services to our region and provides a snapshot of the growing housing and homelessness crisis in our region.
The Point In-Time Count is the only source of nationwide data on sheltered and unsheltered homelessness and is required by the US Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) of all jurisdictions receiving federal funding to provide housing and services for individuals and families experiencing homelessness. .
This information helps the federal government to better understand the nature and extent of homelessness nationwide and helps to inform communities’ local strategic planning, capacity building, and advocacy campaigns to prevent and end homelessness.
The Point In-Time Count attempts to capture data on both sheltered and unsheltered individuals experiencing homelessness to provide a snapshot of homelessness in the United States. In addition to the total number of sheltered and unsheltered individuals experiencing homelessness, information is gathered on a wide range of characteristics of those experiencing homelessness including age, gender, race, ethnicity, veteran status, and disability status.
Individuals and families counted through this effort include people living in:
- Shelters
- Transitional housing
- “Doubled up” or precariously housed with families/friends
- Camping, sleeping outdoors or in cars or RV’s without full hookup
- Other places not designed for human habitation
Locally starting on Tuesday, January 24th and ending on January 31st, the HLC will be working with community partners to assist in conducting the confidential and anonymous surveys in La Pine, Bend, Sisters, Redmond, Prineville, Madras, and Warm Springs.
The HLC has organized a service-based count, leveraging already existing partnerships and services to those experiencing homelessness. Additionally, J Bar J Youth Services will offer expanded Point In Time Count access via telephone. Individuals can call 541-630-2533 to be counted between 9am and 5pm. A Bilingual English/Spanish speaking staff member will answer this phone number.
If you have any questions about this year’s Point in Time Count please email [email protected] .
As the 2023 Point in Time Count quickly approaches, we want to express our gratitude for the efforts of all who continue to work together to serve our neighbors who are experiencing housing insecurity. Your service to our most vulnerable neighbors is life saving and hope giving. Together, we remain committed to a vision of Central Oregon where everyone has a safe, stable place to call home.
In partnership,
Lindsey Stailing, Vice-Chair, Homeless Leadership Coalition
Eliza Wilson, Chair, Homeless Leadership Coalition
| Steps to participate in the PIT Count
Step 1: Register for a PIT training (links below)Point In Time Count Training Shelter Providers Point In Time Count Training for Outreach/Service Providers Step 2: Complete the mandatory pit confidentiality waiver click here Step 3: Plan your strategy- How will your agency or volunteers maximize their count efforts during Point in Time? Step 4: Outreach providers pick up incentives from your designated local contact (Check who your local contact is below) Step 5: Reserve an iPad if needed on loan from NeighborImpact (See info below) Step 6: COUNT! *Miss a training? Visit the HLC’s website to watch a recording of a training* |