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Editor's Note:
When FORJournalism decided to undertake this special project journalism lab, we knew we were stepping into the middle of one of the greatest humanitarian, moral, political and logistical challenges that has ever faced the tri-county area of Central Oregon.
And yet, day by day news continues to flow of more resources being allocated for solutions, of new transitional supporting housing units coming online, and of individual men and women making their way out of the woods and into warm sleeping units where they can begin a new journey toward safety and stability.
Homelessness: Real Stories, Real Solutions is a journalism lab created to raise awareness, educate the public, and provide in-depth reporting on local and national housing challenges, homelessness, and policy solutions.
The FORJournalism news team, reporter David Dudley and photographer Joe Kline, and our media partner, Central Oregon Daily reporter/anchor David Klugh and video journalist Jarod Gatley are focused on offering insights into the realities leading to homelessness and the solutions to housing shortages.
To reach as many audiences as possible to share in this journey of finding the truths of homelessness, we are engaging with partners across the region, including print and broadcast media to healthcare and homelessness advocates who will publish the media packages on websites, in newsletters, or in print.
This project has also engaged an advisory board of community partners working closely with houseless community members and impacted people with lived experience. Members represent youth, social service agencies, government partners and housing providers and other organizations engaged in this important work.
This 18-month special project is funded by a $190,000 grant from the Central Oregon Health Council.
Today we begin this journalism lab with an awareness that the numbers are still daunting, but we believe in the power of storytelling to open the doors to continued progress. Over the course of the next 18 months, we invite you to follow along with us as we elevate the voices of people impacted by the housing crisis and help pave the way for new solutions to emerge.
The numbers below reflect the reality of today, but by exploring truths and learning together, we can change the outcome of this story.
BY THE NUMBERS: 2024
The following numbers were curated from the Homeless Leadership Coalition, Point-in-Time Count 2024; and the Housing and Urban Development Continuum of Care Homeless Assistance Programs Housing Inventory Count Report.
Impacted groups
1,799: People experienced homelessness in Central Oregon
1244: People were living outside or in a vehicle
91: Veterans were homeless
223: Children and youth under the age of 18 were homeless
105: Young people between the ages of 18 and 24 were homeless
Units available
719: Year-round emergency, safe haven and transitional housing beds were available
362: Permanent housing units were available (permanent supportive housing, rapid re-housing, other permanent housing)
143: Units available to veterans only
53: Units available to youth only
Homelessness: Real Stories, Real Solutions (realstoriesrealsolutions.org) is a journalism lab funded by Central Oregon Health Council under FORJournalism (forjournalism.org), an Oregon nonprofit dedicated to supporting journalism statewide. Sign up for weekly newsletters to receive updates.
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