As a community, we can do more to address houselessness.

First, we need a better view of this crisis. We also need to acknowledge what we get wrong about houselessness so we can find the right solutions. We need to get more creative and disrupt some of the systems that block our progress. And we need to take action and work together as a community.  

OTHER CAUSES OF HOUSELESSNESS:

The pandemic.

For many families in Deschutes County, that “large event” was the start of the pandemic in 2020. Service workers in retail, food and hospitality were greatly impacted. According to Sandy Schmidt, Homeless Liaison for Bend-La Pine Schools, “Many of our lower-income families, including our houseless families, either lost their jobs or had work hours cut due to COVID-related illnesses, lack of adequate daycare, and other pandemic stressors. This has made it even harder for those families to find stable housing.”

Poor health or disability.

People with serious health issues are especially vulnerable to becoming houseless.

Older adults and those suffering from extremely poor health or significant disabilities may be unable to work and rely on social safety net programs to make ends meet. But disability, Social Security, and Medicaid benefits are not adjusted for areas with a higher cost of living. As local housing costs continue to rise, these individuals and families are getting priced out.

Lack of family or social support.

When someone is in crisis, a lack of support can quickly lead to houselessness.

Not everyone has a support system or extended family to rely on in times of need. For someone suffering from PTSD, depression, addiction, or parental neglect or endangerment, there is a gap where family or social support might otherwise offer protections against houselessness.

What does houselessness look like?

WHAT YOU’VE SEEN IS NOT THE WHOLE PICTURE.

The most visible houseless people—the individuals and families living in vehicles or makeshift outdoor camps—are an incomplete picture of the realities of houselessness in Central Oregon.

There are many more houseless people checking into short-term shelters, youth living on the streets and hiding out of sight, and an untold number of young adults couch surfing with friends or relatives. Solving this crisis requires a better understanding of the four different types of houselessness.

Transitional houselessness:

The most common form of houselessness is also the briefest. 

Catastrophic events such as wildfires or floods can make anyone suddenly houseless. Young people are also more vulnerable to sudden life changes, like losing a roommate or losing a job, which can result in a short spell of houselessness. With quick interventions and guidance, those who are transitionally houseless can get back on their feet. 

Episodic houselessness:

When forced out of the family home, youth often experience frequent bouts of houselessness.

Youth houselessness looks different, explains Eliza Wilson, Program Director for J Bar J Youth Services. “Some kids leave home as an act of self-preservation. They may be suffering neglect or abuse, or the home is downright dangerous, with drug dealing or domestic violence.” According to Wilson, “some youth are forced out through no fault of their own.” More than half of youth residents of the LOFT (a transitional living facility run by Cascade Youth & Family) identify as LGBTQIA+, and say they were kicked out because of their sexual identity. 

In these situations, a young person can become suddenly houseless. Youth tend to slip in and out of houselessness because they have little savings, work experience, or important life skills. They tend to work in low-paying service sector jobs. They may not have access to health insurance or reliable transportation.  

According to Wilson, “Young people living on the streets are especially vulnerable to violent crime and trafficking. They risk becoming chronically houseless, which increases their long-term cost to society,” says Wilson. “The sooner we can help them, the better.”

Chronic houselessness:

Poor health or severe disability can keep a person houseless for years.  

Individuals who fall into the “chronically houseless” category are typically older, and either have a disabling condition or long-term health issues. They may have complex barriers to stability and a long history of houselessness, making it difficult for them to obtain stable housing. 

This group is the most vulnerable and the most visible. People who are chronically houseless often sleep on sidewalks, in parks, or encampments. Accessing basic necessities like running water, electricity, toilets, or showers is a daily challenge. Because of their visibility, the chronically houseless tend to be “the face” of houselessness. Central Oregon has one of the highest rates of unsheltered houseless people in the nation. According to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD)’s 2019 Point-in-Time Count, almost 70% of our houseless are living outdoors (double the national average).

Outreach services, such as Relationship Empowerment Action Compassion Heart (REACH), Shepherds House S.H.A.R.E., Central Oregon Veterans Outreach (COVO), Deschutes County Behavioral Health, The Helpers, and Mosaic Medical mobile clinic meet individuals where they are to offer food, basic services, and healthcare.

“Living in the dirt takes years off your life,” notes Bob Bohac. (17.5 years shorter on average.) Living unsheltered for years in dire conditions can lead to poor health and deepen a person’s trauma, which makes them even more vulnerable to severe sickness, violence, and even death. People who are chronically houseless often endure robbery and assault, suffer during periods of extreme cold or heat, have a higher risk of suicide, and have a decreased life expectancy

The hidden houseless:

An unknown number goes unreported and unhelped. 

Hidden houselessness describes individuals who are “couch surfing” and families who are “doubled-up” with friends, family, or near-strangers. Sheltered for the time-being, the hidden houseless may be forced to move on at a moment’s notice and may have few prospects for stable housing. This population is considered ‘hidden’ because they are unknown to service providers, which also means they are not accessing services and resources.

According to Zavi Borja, Community Relations Manager for the City of Bend, houselessness in the tight-knit Latino community tends to fall in this “hidden” category. Some multi-generational households have grandparents, parents, and children living under one roof and struggling with housing instability.

One unfortunate outcome of the pandemic: many local children joined the ranks of the hidden houseless. During remote learning, teachers and other school personnel found it more difficult to identify kids coping with unstable housing. According to Sandy Schmidt, Bend-La Pine School District’s homeless liaison, “Houseless kids would mask their situation by keeping their cameras turned off in virtual classrooms.”

What keeps people houseless?

BARRIERS, TRAUMA, AND A LOSS OF HOPE.

Becoming houseless is akin to falling into quicksand. Everything gets harder…and for many, life become hopeless. 

Invisible barriers.

Barriers rarely feel like barriers for those of us with housing. As Stacey Witte of REACH explained, “Imagine getting a good night’s sleep, showering and getting dressed for work. You leave your house and lock the door. You get in your car. You drive to your job. But for a houseless person, there is no restful sleep, no shower, no clean clothes, no house to store your possessions, and no lock to keep your belongings from getting stolen while you go to work.”

Many of the barriers Witte describes are intrinsic to the state of houselessness. Other barriers are ingrained in state or federal systems, like long waitlists and application processes for housing vouchers and disability benefits, or requiring a photo ID to complete a W4 for your workplace. These seemingly simple requirements can unfortunately conspire to keep people trapped without housing. People with disabilities or extremely poor health face an even greater number of barriers.

Says Witte, “We try to understand the barriers houseless people face, so we can help them overcome those barriers and gain some ground.”

They face multiple barriers in their effort to secure stable employment.

Houselessness creates a cascading series of hurdles when it comes to finding and keeping stable employment. 

Houseless people face many barriers when they try to apply for a traditional job. For example, a houseless person may not have a mailing address, email, or phone number to list on a job application. 

The interview process poses fresh barriers: washing clothes, showering and grooming, getting to the interview, and stowing personal possessions so they won’t be stolen. If their ID has been stolen, they can’t complete a W2 form. Transportation can be an ongoing challenge, especially for shift workers, because buses don’t run all night.

The houseless face many barriers to healthcare.

Many barriers prevent people living with disabilities or chronic health conditions from getting proper care. 

The chronically houseless, who often have disabilities or are in very poor health, have a harder time getting to appointments. They may lack reliable transportation. They may not be able to walk several blocks to get to a bus stop. They may feel too ill or weak to get to appointments.

They also have high medical needs, but struggle to afford prescriptions and medical supplies. They may need special equipment like wheelchairs. 

According to Elaine Knobbs-Seasholtz, Mosaic Medical Director of Strategy and Development, “One of the biggest barriers we see is a lack of trust in the healthcare system. Many houseless people have had horrible experiences, either emotionally or financially, and that lack of trust is a huge barrier to overcome.” 

Living with trauma…

Houselessness can add to a person’s trauma and profoundly impact their mental health.

For mental health professionals serving houseless community members in our region, one word comes up often: trauma. “When someone enters houselessness for the first time, it’s usually connected to some kind of trauma,” explains Colleen Thomas, Homeless Services Supervisor for Deschutes County Behavioral Health. It could be a recent traumatic event, such as a job loss, death of a spouse, or the breakdown of a family—or it could be rooted in the more persistent trauma of childhood abuse, domestic violence, or PTSD. According to Thomas, it can be incredibly hard to resolve someone’s trauma in the space of five weeks, which is how long they typically have in an emergency shelter. After the five weeks is up, living on the street is usually their only option.

Houselessness is its own traumatic experience. Living on the streets, traumatic experiences can snowball. Our houseless community members endure verbal and physical aggression from the public. Single women may seek the security of a relationship only to become victims of domestic abuse. Once a person starts living on the streets, they are at greater risk for sexual assault, trafficking, and other violent crimes. By the time the system catches up with them, the cumulative trauma can be acute. People with this kind of lived experience become more isolated, more distrustful, and more prone to trauma-induced mental illness.

…and living in crisis mode.

“People enter houselessness in fear,” says Thomas. “They are living in crisis mode. And when you’re just trying to survive, trying to find your next meal, trying to find some place to rest, you don’t have the capacity to pull yourself up by your bootstraps.”

The cumulative effect:

Struggling to survive, ostracized and traumatized, people lose hope.   

People who are houseless may have their few possessions destroyed or stolen. They may witness violent crimes or experience assault. And they are shunned, ridiculed, or made to feel unwelcome. Faced with so much public opposition to their very existence, houseless people often hide in isolation, which has its own negative impacts, explains Colleen Thomas.

Bob Bohac has spent years serving houseless encampments on the outskirts of Redmond. “None of these people have any hope left,” he says quietly. “They are out there trying to survive, but they’ve stopped looking to the future because their experience has taught them nothing is going to change.”

Many are working to end houselessness.

HERE ARE THE CHALLENGES THEY SEE.

There are 66 groups serving houseless people in our region—providing meals, shelter, transportation, and outreach. With boots on the ground, they have a clear view of what needs to change.  

Our community’s effort to serve our houseless community members is truly inspiring. “People say, ‘No one’s doing anything,’ but there are so many actions happening behind the scenes,” says Bend City Councilor Megan Perkins. Faith-based groups like Sisters Community Church and Trinity Christian Center open their doors when the temperature drops. Shelters like Bethlehem Inn and Shepherds House offer warm beds and also deliver food and clothing. Several organizations and nonprofits offer hot meals: Family Kitchen, Sisters Kiwanis, and Jericho Road, along with informal Facebook groups like Bend Food Angels. FAN Advocates gather clothing, food, and other necessities for houseless students in the Sisters, Redmond, and Bend-La Pine school districts. School district Homeless Liaisons ensure houseless students attend the same school throughout the year, regardless of where they are forced to move. Nonprofits like Central Oregon Veterans Outreach (COVO) gather donations of propane, tents, and sleeping bags for veterans living without shelter. The nonprofit, Relationship Empowerment Action Compassion Heart (REACH), offers outreach and creates safe parking spaces for people living in their cars. Mosaic Medical, runs a mobile medical clinic and brings healthcare directly to houseless people. Deschutes County offers mental and behavioral health services to the houseless population. The City of Bend supports nonprofit service providers with funding and partners with developers of affordable housing and can make code changes and policies that impact the cost of housing. HousingWorks is increasing the supply of affordable apartments for people experiencing houselessness in Bend and Redmond. The Helpers deliver food, heaters, propane, sleeping bags, and vehicles to houseless community members living outdoors in Bend, Redmond, and Madras. The list is extensive.

We should be making more headway on this issue. Instead, the number of houseless people in our region continues to grow.

A recent survey asked a number of houseless-serving organizations what they perceive as the greatest challenge in solving the crisis of houselessness. Here’s what they said.

A solution is within reach.

HERE’S HOW WE’RE GOING TO ADDRESS HOUSELESSNESS.

The Emergency Houselessness Task Force is laying the groundwork for a new, community-wide strategy.

In the summer of 2021, the City of Bend and Deschutes County convened an Emergency Houselessness Task Force, joined by a collaborative team of agencies and service providers long-dedicated to serving houseless people in our region. The Task Force was charged with developing a Strategic Plan to prevent and end houselessness in our region.

Facilitator Brittani Manzo helped the Task Force study the unique aspects of houselessness in Deschutes County and develop the Strategic Plan. What became clear, according to Manzo: “People experiencing houselessness right now need community support and services that just don’t exist to the extent that folks need them. Service providers have given so much of themselves to support their houseless neighbors—but there has not been enough invested in resources, programs and affordable housing to meet the need.” Even still, there is cause for hope. “Seeing elected officials launch the Task Force and rally around providers to ask ‘What more can be done?’ has been powerful to witness in the face of such a devastating crisis.”

The Task Force has met with partner organizations, “boots on the ground” volunteers, and outreach professionals to gain a clearer view of the crisis and make sure solutions are based on facts, not assumptions. 

The end result of all this work: the Task Force is wrapping up a Strategic Plan based on facts and informed by the experience of the dozens of entities serving the houseless. The plan considers what’s working elsewhere in the country and embraces some creative problem-solving. We finally have a roadmap for how to address this crisis.

Next: The Plan to Address Houselessness >