Northeast Oregon Point in Time count will spotlight homelessness

Community Connection of Northeast Oregon will lead the annual Point in Time Count on Jan. 28, 2026, mobilizing volunteers and service partners across Union, Baker, Grant, and Wallowa counties to document sheltered and unsheltered homelessness. The one-day, federally required effort provides a snapshot used to guide local planning, funding, and services that directly affect Baker County residents.

The Point in Time Count is part of HUD’s continuum of care requirements for communities that receive federal homelessness funding. Local outreach teams will use surveys and outreach to estimate how many people are currently without stable housing, including those in temporary shelters, on the street, or living doubled up with friends or family. Results shape how resources such as emergency shelter slots, rental assistance, outreach teams, and behavioral health services are allocated in the region.

“We are proud to participate in this important national effort,” said Rebekah Martin, CCNO’s Energy & Homeless Programs Manager. “Accurate information about who is experiencing homelessness and where they are located helps ensure we can plan effectively and secure the resources needed to support housing stability for individuals and families throughout our region.”

CCNO will coordinate sites and times throughout the day with local partners. Specific event locations and schedules for Baker County will be posted on CCNO’s Baker County Facebook page at facebook.com/CCNOBakerCounty. County pages for Union, Wallowa, and Grant are also available for volunteers and participants. Residents can get more information, sign up to volunteer, or learn how to participate by visiting ccno.org or calling Community Connection of Northeast Oregon at 541-963-3186.

For Baker County, the count is both a data collection exercise and a public health intervention. Accurate counts help public health planners and local providers identify gaps in outreach, target mobile health clinics, expand behavioral health and substance use supports, and prioritize scarce housing dollars. In rural communities, hidden homelessness and people living doubled up or in remote locations are especially likely to be missed without intentional outreach, which can leave local families and individuals without access to services they qualify for.

The count also carries implications for social equity. Undercounted populations — including people with disabilities, older adults, veterans, and households of color — can be excluded from funding formulas if outreach does not reach them. Community Connection and local partners aim to reduce those gaps by training volunteers and coordinating with shelters, faith-based groups, and health providers.

Participation matters. Anyone experiencing homelessness, including people temporarily staying with others, is encouraged to participate so services and funding reflect Baker County’s needs. Residents who want to volunteer, need assistance, or want to know where teams will be on Jan. 28 should check CCNO’s county Facebook pages, visit ccno.org, or call 541-963-3186. The count’s results will help shape local responses to homelessness in the year ahead and influence which services come to Baker County neighborhoods next.