Bend officials outline shelters, temporary safe-stay area and funding for houseless services

Amy Franley, the city of Bend’s senior program manager for Houselessness Solutions, told the Business Development Advisory Board that Central Oregon counted 1,811 people experiencing houselessness in 2024 and that Bend’s total was about 959, a decrease compared with prior counts.

The city has about 537 shelter beds available as of the presentation; 226 of those are designated as low-barrier beds, Franley said. “Low barrier doesn’t mean no rules,” Franley said, describing low-barrier shelters as sites where people can bring pets, enter with family members and are not screened for sobriety or for some background issues before admission.

Franley reviewed recent city-led purchases of shelter properties and partnerships. The city used ARPA and other local funds to acquire the Stepping Stone Shelter (formerly Bend Value Inn) for $2,970,000; that building provides 56 beds, she said. The Navigation Center, a converted thrift-store site…