Homelessness in Central Oregon: A Fair Housing Perspective 

July 2, 2025

Emily Hammond, Central Oregon Education and Outreach Coordinator

A Note on Language

Hello blog readers! Emily Hammond joining you with a Central Oregon perspective for this posting. The topic of today’s blog post focuses on homelessness and how to support our unhoused neighbors through a Fair Housing lens. This comes at a critical time in Central Oregon as  hundreds of unhoused neighbors are becoming displaced due to Forest Service land closures as an attempt to address forest health and fire mitigation. Additionally, our local Continuum of Care, the Homeless Leadership Coalition, completed an annual 2025 Point in Time count, the results of which have been released, so we have lots of juicy new information to unpack. Understanding the intersection of homelessness with Fair Housing law is crucial for developing equitable and effective solutions that respect folks all along the housing continuum. 

 I want to start out with some definitions so that we can be on the same page. Homelessness is the condition of lacking a stable, safe, and adequate nighttime residence. This can include sleeping in shelters, on the streets, in cars, or in temporary accommodations like hotels or with friends. The term “houseless,” which is rising in popularity, is sometimes preferred by advocates to avoid the stigma associated with the term “homeless,” which may imply a lack of belonging or community, beyond just the absence of shelter. Often this term is used interchangeably with “homeless,” though some people use “houseless” to specifically describe individuals who lack a physical structure (a house) to live in, while recognizing that they may still have a sense of home through community or personal relationships. The term emphasizes that while a person may not have a house, they still deserve recognition of their humanity and dignity. I will use both terms throughout this post. 

The Current Landscape: Recent Data and Trends 

The 2024 Oregon Home Needs Analysis highlights crucial insights on homelessness across the state, including Central Oregon: 

• Annual Increase: With the beauty and desirability offered by Central Oregon, there has been a massive population growth over the last several years. It is estimated that to meet this trend, Central Oregon will need to build 58,401 more homes over 20 years, or approximately 3,000 new homes per year. This represents a significant and urgent need for affordable, accessible housing. People may lose their homes as leases end, and they are unable to find other affordable housing options.  

• Housing Instability: The Oregon Housing Needs Analysis notes that housing affordability remains the number one driver of homelessness, compounded by limited housing supply and rising costs. One unexpected cost could push someone into houselessness without a security net to fall into.  

• Community Profile: In Central Oregon, the majority of those experiencing homelessness are long-term residents—59% of those unhoused have lived in the region for more than 10 years, and only 12% have moved here within the past two years. This dispels the myth that recent migrants are the primary driver of homelessness; instead, long-standing local residents face persistent housing insecurity despite existing resources. 

• Population Impact: Over the past year, the region saw a 17% increase in homelessness, with 2,108 individuals identified as experiencing literal homelessness on January 27, 2025. Of these: 

• 66%  are living unsheltered in tents, cars, or on public lands, 

• 80%  have been homeless for over a year, 

• 70%  have lived in Central Oregon for five or more years, 

• 21%  are experiencing chronic homelessness, 

• There’s been a 6% decrease in homeless youth compared to 2024, indicating some progress in targeted youth interventions. 

Understanding Homelessness and Fair Housing 

Fair housing law applies to all dwellings, which according to the Fair Housing Act “means any building, structure, or portion thereof which is occupied as, or designed or intended for occupancy as, a residence by one or more families, and any vacant land which is offered for sale or lease for the construction or location thereon of any such building, structure, or portion thereof.” Thus, when talking about unsheltered folks, fair housing protections primarily govern the process of moving into and securing permanent dwellings or supporting eviction prevention This includes nondiscriminatory practices throughout the housing and tenancy processes, addressing how to write accommodations for those with barriers in their background due to disability, which is statistically higher for those who are unhoused. In contrast, the condition of being unsheltered or in an encampment on public lands is not directly protected by fair housing law because those conditions are not considered a “dwelling.” Assistance at this stage focuses on support, outreach, and connecting people to safe housing options, which must be equitable and nondiscriminatory. 

Leading up to the closure of the Forest Service area, which displaced an estimated 200–400 individuals, I had several conversations with City of Bend planners who were dedicated to handling the relocation of so many unhoused residents accurately and with respect to fair housing laws. They were concerned that focusing outreach efforts to find housing and relocation options for the China Hat residents would be considered unfair to the people living at other unsanctioned camping locations, such as Juniper Ridge. However, unsanctioned camping on public lands or in public spaces is not protected by fair housing laws. So, service providers were free to focus on the China Hat residents who were soon to be displaced and try to find housing or other areas for them to move to. 

However, once individuals begin to access housing again—such as applying for Section 8 vouchers or applying to permanent supportive housing—fair housing protections come into play. This means that while outreach efforts are made in the camps, the process of advertising any housing opportunities, application, screening, and placement should avoid discrimination based on race, color, national origin, religion, sex, familial status, disability, marital status, source of income, sexual orientation/ gender identity, or age over 18.  

While funding decisions should be equitable, prioritization must follow clear, nondiscriminatory policies. Unless a grant specifically mandates filling a unit with a specific, historically marginalized group, housing providers shouldn’t prioritize specific groups, as this may result in unintentional discrimination. Although the intention is likely well-meaning, this act could have a disparate impact and lead to discrimination against others protected class groups. This conversation came up concerning a housing project in Bend that wanted to prioritize BILAPOC, or LGBTQ+ individuals. However, without being able to find people with those identities to fill all the units, they were concerned about leaving those units empty when others were otherwise eligible for this housing. These questions and funding requirements are tricky to navigate when so many people are being relocated, and everyone deserves a safe and enjoyable space to call home.  

Solutions to Consider

In conclusion, homelessness in Central Oregon is a complex, long-standing issue rooted in local policy, housing production, federal and state funding impacts, and of course other economic and social factors. Solutions must be rooted in fairness, equity, and intend to support our unhoused neighbors who are struggling to continue living in the community they have lived in for so many years.  Fair housing law provides an essential framework to ensure that assistance and housing opportunities are accessible to all, free from discrimination. By understanding when these laws apply, social service providers, jurisdictions, and local outreach efforts can build a more inclusive and equitable response to homelessness. 

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