Among the grim statistics in a recent housing report released by the state of Oregon, one sticks out as the most sobering: Oregon ranks first in the nation for unsheltered homelessness among families with children. While the statistics are striking, homeless advocates say they are likely a vast underestimate of a problem that can be difficult to quantify.
According to the report, “State of the State’s Housing – Oregon Housing and Community Services,” Oregon’s rate of unsheltered homelessness among children is 19.9 for every 10,000 kids, which relied on point-in-time survey data, a census count conducted on one night.
The second-ranked state, Hawaii, had a rate less than half that of Oregon, with 7.2 of every 10,000 kids experiencing unsheltered homelessness. The national average was just 1.4 out of 10,000.
Source: OHCS Tabulation of Point-in-Time Survey Data, 2007-2023.
This article appears in Bend Nest Summer 2025.
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