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Report: 2018 HUD Data Puts Eugene First Among U.S. Cities For Homelessness

A homeless camp set up near the Park Blocks in downtown Eugene (file photo).
Brian Bull
/
KLCC
A homeless camp set up near the Park Blocks in downtown Eugene (file photo).

The unhoused population in the Eugene area has put the city first in the U.S. for homelessness, according to a new survey that used last year's federal data. 

A homeless camp set up near the Park Blocks in downtown Eugene (file photo).
Credit Brian Bull / KLCC
/
KLCC
A homeless camp set up near the Park Blocks in downtown Eugene (file photo).

A homelessness point in time count conducted in the Washington D.C. area in 2013.
Credit U.S. Housing and Urban Development Dept. / Flickr.com
/
Flickr.com
A homelessness point in time count conducted in the Washington D.C. area in 2013.

The website, Security.org, used the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s point in time homelessness count data for its report.  It shows Oregon ranks fourth for homelessness, with Eugene as the top American city, after adjusting for population.

Eugene ranks first for homelessness according to a new Security.org report, ahead of Los Angeles and New York.
Credit Security.org
Eugene ranks first for homelessness according to a new Security.org report, ahead of Los Angeles and New York.

Jason Dedrick is the city’s policy analyst.  He says he’s not surprised at the findings, and adds that the data actually reflects a county-wide, rather than city-wide, issue.

“The city however, does have a strong role with building affordable housing," Dedrick tells KLCC. 

"We’ll be working with property managers of existing multi-unit, multi-family facilities to help folks that may have a federal voucher, provides for housing.

"The city is also going to be taking an active role in working on a 75-bed emergency shelter.”

Dedrick adds there’s no definite answer as to why Eugene has such a large homeless population.

Copyright 2019, KLCC.

Copyright 2019 KLCC

Brian Bull joined the KLCC News Team in June 2016. He is a 20-year reporter who has worked at NPR, South Dakota Public Broadcasting, Wisconsin Public Radio, and ideastream in Cleveland. His reporting has netted dozens of accolades, including three Edward R. Murrow Awards and the Ohio Associated Press' Best Reporter Award in 2012.