The League’s Housing Committee is planning work on two important and exciting projects.
Finding effective ways to reduce our homeless population continues to be challenging. While various programs are in place, point-in-time counts show a modest but persistent increase in the number of individuals without shelter. In 2025, the total count for Benton County was 550 individuals, with the following breakdown:
- Sheltered: 289 | Unsheltered: 261
- Homeless youth (0–24 years old): 92 (16.7%)
- Domestic violence survivors: 82 (14.9%)
- Chronically homeless: 151 (27.5%)
- Serious mental illness and/or substance use disorder: 148 (26.9%)
- Veterans: 17 (3%)(1)
One project is a joint effort with 1000 Friends of Oregon to identify strategies other Oregon communities have used, or are currently using, to reduce homelessness. The goal is to create a single, shared site that gathers information and allows communities to learn from one another.
Our second project focuses on understanding where and how Corvallis is likely to expand. This work will include examining potential expansion within the Urban Growth Boundary, identifying opportunities for increased infill, and considering where it makes sense to build up rather than out. Land is a scarce and valued resource, and as we work to meet state housing goals, it is important to be intentional about where development occurs and how it supports livability, transportation, and walkability in our community.
If you are interested in working on either of these projects, please contact me – Karyle Butcher ([email protected]).
(1) Community Services Consortia. “2025 Point In Time Count Shows Shifting Trends in Tri-County Homelessness.” August 8, 2025.