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

Brian Bull
/
KLCC

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. 

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.

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.

Brian Bull is an assistant professor of journalism at the University of Oregon, and remains a contributor to the KLCC news department. He began working with KLCC in June 2016.   In his 27+ years as a public media journalist, he's worked at NPR, Twin Cities Public Television, South Dakota Public Broadcasting, Wisconsin Public Radio, and ideastream in Cleveland. His reporting has netted dozens of accolades, including four national Edward R. Murrow Awards (22 regional),  the Ohio Associated Press' Best Reporter Award, Best Radio Reporter from  the Native American Journalists Association, and the PRNDI/NEFE Award for Excellence in Consumer Finance Reporting.
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