Oregon Public Broadcasting

The homeless population in Clackamas County has grown over the last two years. And as Kristian Foden-Vencil reports, homeless youth saw the biggest spike.

Every other year, social services staff at Clackamas County go out at night to count how many people are sleeping outside -- that’s families in their cars and people under bridges.

The count even includes kids staying on the sofa in someone else’s house.

The county director of social services, Brenda Durbin, says they saw a two percent increase over 2007, but there was an 80 percent jump in the number of kids living away from their families. Still, she’s hopeful.

Brenda Durbin: “We’re very fortunate in that we’re going to receive a little over a million dollars in federal stimulus funds. That will allow us to increase our rental program, which keeps people from becoming homeless.”

The agency also hopes to expand its shelter services and is getting additional money from the United Way Community Relief fund.