The 2026 Point in Time (PIT) count date was Monday, January 26th, 2026.
Surveys were conducted between January 27th to February 2nd, 2026, asking folks where they resided on the night of January 26th, 2026.
What is the Point in Time Count?
The Annual Point in Time (PIT) count is the count of sheltered and unsheltered individuals and families experiencing homelessness on a single night in January. HUD requires that all Continuums of Care designees conduct an annual count of people experiencing homelessness who are sheltered in emergency shelter, transitional housing, and Safe Havens on a single night, typically in late January.
We are also required to conduct a count of unsheltered people experiencing homelessness. The Homeless Leadership Coalition plans, coordinates, and oversees the local counts annually across Central Oregon.
How is the Point in Time Count conducted?
Continuums of Care (CoCs) have the option to conduct surveys on one night only or collect data about where people stayed on a certain date over the course of a period of time, up to seven days. The one-night blitz approach is most effective in metropolitan areas with large street outreach teams. Because the our region covers almost 8000 square miles, with many hard-to-reach areas, Central Oregon utilizes the multiple day survey approach. This allows time for trusted service providers to connect with each of the ‘communities’ they regularly serve, and gives our providers enough time to cover our entire geographic area.
CoC’s strategy and execution of our PIT Count has evolved. It is important to note that the PIT survey asks very personal questions of participants. Prior to 2021, the majority of the count was conducted as large community events with volunteers and survey sites. Our most vulnerable populations would leave their camps and hide to avoid interactions with total strangers about such intimate information. The pandemic necessitated development of a new approach. Service providers coordinated through the HLC’s Street Outreach and Shelter Committees to conduct the count themselves. With this new approach, our region’s count has been more successful than ever based on trusted relationships between our houseless populations and service providers. However, this has also resulted in a sharp increase in our regional count numbers, because more folks have been willing to complete the PIT survey with a trusted community provider.
Data Breakdown by City and County:
Please follow the links below to access a one-page summary of each city and county’s 2026 PIT count.
Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs PIT Information
Deschutes County PIT Information
“Seeing the decrease feels incredibly rewarding. Over the past two years the Governor has directed investments to historically underfunded parts of the state that have high rates of housing instability and homelessness; those investments are working in Central Oregon.” – Eliza Wilson, Homeless Leadership Coalition Chair
Number of Houseless People in Central Oregon
The number of houseless people counted on a single night each January for Central Oregon’s “Point in Time” count.
*2020 sheltered count only
How accurate is the Point in Time count in capturing houselessness in our region?
It is important to remember that the Point in Time Count is a snapshot of houselessness in Central Oregon on one night of the year. Because of that, outside factors can really impact the success of the PIT count from year to year. For example, snow and ice can greatly impact the ability of service providers to travel deep into the forest to conduct surveys with folks living there.
It is widely accepted across the country that the Point in Time count is an undercount of the houseless population.
Additionally, it is important to note that the PIT count only includes individuals who meet the federal definition of houselessness. This does not include folks who are “doubled-up” or couch surfing.
Prior Year PIT Data
Key takeaways from our 2025 Point in Time count completed on January 27, 2025.
- 2025 Point in Time Count shows a 17% increase in homelessness over last year
- 2,108 people experienced literal homelessness in Central Oregon on January 27th, 2025
- 66% of people counted were unsheltered
- 70% of those counted had lived in Central Oregon for 5 years or longer
- More than 80% of those counted were been homeless for more than 12 months
- We have seen a 6% decrease in the number of youth experiencing homelessness in Central Oregon compared to 2024.
Key takeaways from our 2024 Point in Time count completed on January 23, 2024.
- 2024 Point in Time Count shows a 9% increase in homelessness over last year
- 1,799 people experienced literal homelessness in Central Oregon on January 23th, 2024
- 69% of people counted were unsheltered
- 66% of those counted had lived in Central Oregon for 5 years or longer
- More than 68% of those counted were been homeless for more than 12 months
- 10% of people chronically homeless were age 65 or older
- 35% of people chronically homeless were age 55 or older
- 18% of those surveyed were under the age of 25 (21% last year)
Key takeaways from our 2023 Point in Time count completed on January 24, 2023.
- 2023 Point in Time Count shows a 28% increase in homelessness over last year
- 1,647 people experienced literal homelessness in Central Oregon on January 24th, 2023
- 72% of people counted were unsheltered
- 79% of those counted have lived in Central Oregon for 3 years or longer
- More than 80% of those counted have been homeless for more than 12 months
- 46% of all people living unsheltered and chronically homeless were over the age of 50
- The total number of youth experiencing homelessness continues to climb
- Central Oregon continues to see that people of color experience homelessness at a greater rate than white peers*
- View the 2022 Point in Time Count Presentation presented at our May 6, 2022 General Membership Meeting.
- View the 2022 PIT Presentation (PDF)
- Read the Media Release
Takeaways
- 2022 Point in Time Count shows a 17% increase in homelessness over last year
- 1,012 people experienced literal homelessness in Central Oregon on January 24th, 2022
- 79% of people counted were unsheltered
- 65% of those counted have lived in Central Oregon for more than 3 years
- 60% of those counted have been homeless for more than 12 months
- The total number of youth experiencing homelessness continues to climb
- Central Oregon continues to see that people of color experience homelessness at a greater rate than their white peers**
The Homeless Leadership Coalition (HLC) released the results of its 2021 Point In-Time Count, which provides a snap shot of homelessness in Central Oregon the night of January 20, 2021. This survey queries people experiencing homelessness, in transitional housing or at-risk of becoming homeless in Deschutes, Crook, and Jefferson counties and the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs. It is a part of a state and national effort to understand the scope of the crisis, the reasons for homelessness and the barriers people experiencing homelessness face in finding appropriate and adequate housing.