The Central Oregon Homeless Leadership Coalition is conducting a one-day count Jan. 24 of people in Deschutes, Crook and Jefferson counties who are homeless or in transitional housing.

The annual count is part of a national effort to identify the number of people without appropriate or adequate housing, to better serve them through local agencies and programs.

The homeless count will take place at sites including Trinity Episcopal Church in Bend, Bend’s Community Center, Central Oregon Community College Campus Center’s Office of Student Life, the Bend-Mosaic Medical Center, the La Pine Community Kitchen, the Redmond Fire Department, Jericho’s Table in Redmond and the Kiwanis Food Bank in Sisters. The locations will offer food, blankets, propane, and pet food at various times during the day.

Those living in weekly motels, shelters, transitional housing or cars, or who are doubled up with other families, qualify as being homeless. If you or someone you know should be included in the count, please contact 541-280-1137, or visit the nearest count site on Jan. 24 to complete a confidential and anonymous survey.

— Bulletin staff report