For the first time in at least five years, the number of people experiencing homelessness in Central Oregon has dropped significantly, according to results from the 2026 annual Point-in-Time (PIT) Count.
The Homeless Leadership Coalition announced a 19.1% decrease in homelessness across the four-county survey area: Deschutes, Crook, and Jefferson counties, plus the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs. The count took place in January 2026 and involves volunteers surveying people living unsheltered — in vehicles, tents, and outdoor locations — on a single night.
What Drove the Decline
Advocates and officials cited two primary factors behind the drop: expanded shelter capacity in the region and new housing programs that moved more people from emergency shelter into stable housing.
The decline was the first of its kind in recent years for Central Oregon, a region that had seen homelessness rise steadily through the early 2020s and become a visible challenge in Madras, Warm Springs, and surrounding rural communities.
Jefferson County’s Local Picture
Jefferson County and the Warm Springs Reservation were included in the survey area alongside the larger population centers of Deschutes County. Rural homelessness can be harder to count and harder to address, with fewer shelter beds and more limited access to services for people living in places like Warm Springs, Crooked River Ranch, or the rural stretches of Highway 97.
At a recent Warm Springs General Council meeting, Tribal members raised concerns about wages, support services, substance abuse, and housing as ongoing community priorities — a reminder that the PIT count, while positive, reflects a snapshot, not a solution.
Room for More Progress
Housing advocates caution that a one-year improvement, while welcome, does not mean the problem is solved. Oregon continues to face a significant housing shortage, and the expiration of federal housing assistance programs and rising rents could put renewed pressure on vulnerable households in coming months.
One-page summaries for each county and community’s 2026 PIT results are available at cohomeless.org.