An upcoming panel of homelessness providers and experts aims to shed light on the underlying causes and solutions to the crisis.

The discussion will take place Tuesday, Feb. 25 from 5 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at Westside Church, 2051 NW Shevlin Park Road in Bend. It’s hosted by the Central Oregon Homelessness Forum, a group formed last year by local church members to drive homelessness solutions.

“We believe that by providing a forum where people can learn more about the problems and

solutions being offered, we can work together to solve homelessness in our community,” said Ginny McKee, an event coordinator and homeless outreach project leader at the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Central Oregon.

To start the event, attendees will have a chance to speak with staff from local agencies working to address homelessness, and tour the vans that outreach workers use to deliver supplies and develop relationships with people in homeless encampments.

Then, representatives from local nonprofits including REACH, Home More Network, Shepherd’s House, Central Oregon Villages, and Central Oregon FUSE will speak about efforts and challenges to tackling homelessness. A moderated panel will also explain the continuum of care system, the framework for distributing homelessness funding, and someone will share their personal experience with homelessness.

The panel will also answer questions submitted by the public.

RSVP is requested but not required. Registration and submissions of questions for the panel may be submitted here.