David Dudley, ForJournalism Lab
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Decorated Marine Corps Veteran who’s Homeless, Braces for Change

Andrew Couture has lived in the forest east of Redmond for more than a decade
by David Dudley, ForJournalism Lab

Andrew Couture sat on a lawn chair, puffing a cigarette, as rain clouds swirled over “the dirt,” a growing encampment east of Redmond. Couture’s dog, Octavia, a 5-year-old pitbull, bull mastiff, lay in the powdered dust at Couture’s feet. The 57-year-old tilted his chin, gesturing toward a generator humming behind his fifth-wheel camper. “I can’t […]

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After Living for Two Years in Forest, Bend Man Finds Home

With a U.S. Forest Service sweep scheduled for May 1, Mark Jenkins found an apartment just in the nick of time, with the help of service providers
by David Dudley, ForJournalism Lab

Up until a few months ago, Mark Jenkins didn’t consider himself lucky. The seventh child born to Floyd and Willie Lee Jenkins, he was born on the seventh day of the seventh month. “And I was all of seven pounds when I was born,” Jenkins told FORJournalism on a rainy afternoon in early March. “The […]

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If You Want to Help Homeless People, Listen

ForJournalism reporter David Dudley offers lessons learned from his mother’s personal experience with homelessness, and shares that for those who want to help, the first step should be listening
by David Dudley, ForJournalism Lab

The message arrived on a Tuesday morning, around 10:30am. It was early October 2021, and that year’s exceptionally hot weather had finally broke in St. George, Utah, where I was working. “A woman called to let you know that your mom has been evicted,” said Joseph Witham, my editor at the time. “She said your […]

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Central Oregon Transgender Woman Strives to Escape Homelessness in Face of Mounting Barriers

Patricia Griffith has made her share of mistakes in life. At 60, she’s trying to help others, and herself, get out of The Junipers.
by David Dudley, ForJournalism Lab

Patricia Griffith lived on and off in the juniper forest just east of Redmond for 20 years. On a recent cold February afternoon, Griffith, who was previously known as John, drove a white Honda Civic through a network of dirt roads buried beneath six inches of fresh snow. The snow didn’t stop the 60-year-old from […]

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For Campers Living East of Redmond: ‘Every Day Is a Struggle’

Kim Moss has lived in the encampment for more than a decade. She wants to find a permanent home, but due to housing scarcity and high cost, it remains elusive.
by David Dudley, ForJournalism Lab

Kim “Tattoo Kimmy” Moss visited a cross that stands in the middle of a large encampment to the east of Redmond on a recent afternoon in February. Heavy snowfall from the previous night blanketed the area with about 4 inches of snow. The bright afternoon sun reflected off the snow, making the light exceptionally bright. […]

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In Bend, Shepherd’s House Provides Home and Care for Man Battling Terminal Illness

While the need for advanced medical care is high among the homeless population, it’s also elusive for those living unsheltered
by David Dudley, ForJournalism Lab

Sam Adams begins each morning the same way. He rolls out of bed and walks over to the west-facing window in his Rainbow Motel studio. He parts the curtains and then raises the blinds to let the light in. Then, he tilts his head and eyes up toward the sky. “And I say, ‘Good morning, […]

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Key Oregon Housing Voucher Program Faces Uncertain Future

Despite the low odds of receiving a Housing Choice Voucher, thousands apply each year. That’s not likely to change anytime soon, as the number of applications surged this year.
by David Dudley, ForJournalism Lab

Mike Charlton visited the Housing Works office in Redmond on a recent morning in January. The 41-year-old was there to apply for a Housing Choice Voucher (HCV). Charlton was eventually joined by his wife, Marina. They have five kids between them, aged eight months to 16 years. Charlton said this would be the fourth consecutive […]

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Redmond Man Finds Family, Home through BIRCH Program at Bethlehem Inn

Emilio Sanchez was lost when a volatile situation compelled him to flee his mother’s home for a shelter. But he found more than he expected.
by David Dudley, ForJournalism Lab

Emilio Sanchez knew he had to leave his mother’s Redmond home about eight months after his younger brother had moved in. Sanchez said the two had argued consistently, and the conflict had become increasingly volatile. “I knew I had to get out,” said Sanchez, a 43-year-old double amputee. “I didn’t feel safe there. And I […]

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