HOOD RIVER — Each year, a federally-mandated Point-in-Time (PIT) homeless count takes place across the country. The count for 2023 occurred in January and showed a 16% decrease in homelessness in the Mid-Columbia region.
Kenny LaPoint, executive director at Mid-Columbia Community Action Council (MCCAC), reported PIT findings to Hood River City Council in October. He shared that MCCAC uses various community partnerships to get an accurate, inclusive count. The data specifies between sheltered versus unsheltered homelessness, meaning people staying in public housing versus living outside, in a tent, or car.
LaPoint speculated on reasons for the decrease, listing MCCAC’s services and shelters that have helped people into long-term housing, such as The Annex and retention teams. He also mentioned both the high housing cost and lack of year-round shelter in Hood River as factors that can contribute to people leaving the region.
The high overlap of mental illness and substance use disorders among the unsheltered population makes the PIT Count difficult, especially when people are “service-resistant.” The 2023 report shows 149 people moved out of homelessness and into permanent housing in the region, 57 of whom were within Hood River County.
LaPoint thanked MCCAC’s partners for their work and his staff for being understanding in applying their lived experiences to their job. He said staff comes at their work with their hearts instead of their minds, and are aware that everyone is just a few steps away from experiencing homelessness.
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This is an ongoing story and will be featured in future additions of Columbia Gorge News.
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