Civic assembly presents 60+ recommendations on youth homelessness; commissioners discuss next steps

Delegates from a randomly selected civic assembly presented more than 60 recommendations to the Deschutes County Board addressing youth homelessness, and asked elected officials and local agencies to respond with next steps.

Josh Burgess, director of the Central Oregon Civic Action Project, described the process: “On day 1, 30 people showed up from across the county… the group perfectly mirrored the demographics of the county,” he said. Burgess said the assembly deliberated for five full days, heard from more than 30 experts and service providers, and ultimately produced a set of recommendations that the delegates approved by a 75% super-majority threshold.

Delegates and presenters highlighted a small set of items the assembly sees as immediately actionable by county staff and elected leaders. The group identified fixing foster care gaps as a top concern (presenters reported a 92% consensus that foster-care reforms matter), creation of a central hub for information and referrals, prioritized funding for youth mental-health services, and advocacy for regional youth psychiatric inpatient capacity.

During discussion, Commissioner Chang said several recommendations are within county scope and named two priorities he supports: the central hub concept and regional youth psychiatric inpatient centers. He noted a multi-year state legislative effort to create regional youth psychiatric inpatient facilities and said the county can advocate for a bill that would fund 3–4 regional centers; he described the effort as dependent on the state legislative process and potential federal support.

County and city staff and assembly members asked for formal responses. The presenters said they want to know which recommendations jurisdictions will act on: “We are very, very hopeful, and the delegates are asking on a daily basis, when are we gonna hear back from the various jurisdictions here on what's gonna be done with our recommendations?” Burgess said. Commissioners discussed preparing a letter identifying the recommendations the county will advocate for and implement, and some commissioners asked that the assembly hold elected officials accountable for responses.

Why it matters: the assembly’s recommendations are intended to guide multiple jurisdictions — cities, school districts, regional bodies and the county — on a complex problem affecting youth and families. The assembly emphasized youth-focused interventions, school attendance protections tied to McKinney-Vento eligibility and the need for a coordinated hub of services.

Ending: Presenters requested formal feedback and follow-up from the county and other agencies; county commissioners signaled support for advocacy on select items and discussed drafting a county letter describing which recommendations the county will pursue and which require other jurisdictions.