The number of homeless students in Oregon grew by nearly 14% during the last school year. The high unemployment and foreclosure rates in the state are showing up as an increase in the number of students who don’t have a place to call home. According to the Oregon Department of Education, at least 18,051 students were homeless at some point during the previous school year. Spokesman Jake Weigler says they have a network of homeless liaisons to help the students succeed.

Jake Weigler: “It’s always a challenge for these students to remain focused on school and achievement when they have so much other challenges in their life happening. But that’s the work we do through our local liaisons to try and assist them as best we can.”

Since the state first began counting homeless students in 2003, the number has risen 122%. In Lane County, about 1,800 students were without adequate housing. Multnomah County had the most with more than 3,100.