In Central Oregon, the needs of those experiencing homelessness are growing more urgent and complex. This vulnerable population is in crisis; some are temporarily unhoused, many are in the grips of addiction, and others are chronically unsheltered.
A few years ago, I wouldn’t have imagined myself serving our homeless neighbors. I used to see someone on the street with a shopping cart and think, “Someone should do something about these people.” I viewed these folks as a “nuisance,” and they honestly made me feel uncomfortable. Until I was invited to “Come and See.”For over a year now, I’ve served at the SHARE van every Wednesday. What I’ve learned is this: “These people” are not a problem. They are names and faces, each with their own unique story. This experience has changed me.
Mark Wickman
Board Member and SHARE Van Volunteer
Freddie Avila
A practical, solutions-focused guide to addressing homelessness through collaboration, accountability, and long-term systems change. Avila explores affordable housing strategies, integrated support services, and policy tools that help communities move from crisis response to stability.
Jonathan Bach
Using Bend, Oregon as a case study, Bach examines how housing shortages, remote work, and rapid growth have reshaped Western cities. The book highlights the human cost of rising housing prices and explores possible paths forward, including community land trusts and “missing middle” housing.
Andrea Elliott
This Pulitzer Prize–winning narrative follows eight years in the life of a young girl experiencing homelessness in New York City. Through deeply reported storytelling, Elliott exposes systemic failures while illuminating resilience, family bonds, and hope amid hardship.
Elliot Liebow
A compassionate, first-hand account of women experiencing homelessness in Washington, D.C. Liebow centers their voices, dismantling stereotypes and revealing the complex realities behind poverty, survival, and resilience.
Chris Lester, The Flaw
A historical overview of homelessness in the United States, tracing policy decisions, cultural shifts, and economic forces that have shaped the current crisis.
WHYY News
Explores the experiences of young people navigating homelessness and the gaps in systems meant to support them.
Fresh Air, NPR
A conversation examining how economic inequality and housing shortages have contributed to modern homelessness.
Back from the Abyss with Craig Heacock, MD
A thoughtful discussion on the overlapping challenges of mental health, addiction, and housing instability.
