Oregon Public Broadcasting

Oregon added more homeless people to its population than any other state, according to a report released Thursday by the Department of Housing and Urban Development. Kristian Foden-Vencil reports.

The count was conducted in January so it compares 2007 figures to 2008.

Researchers found that more than 3000 Oregonians joined the ranks of the homeless during that time. That’s a 17 percent increase.

Other states, like Mississippi and Montana saw bigger percentage increases, but not as many people.

HUD secretary, Shaun Donovan, says the nation is making inroads into the chronically homeless population, but more and more families are being hit.

Shaun Donovan: “We saw over a 50 percent increase in homeless families in suburban and rural areas in this count. So I think what that tells us is that the economic crisis is forcing more families, who had previously been well housed, into homelessness.”

Donovan used the report to announce the country will spend another $1.2 billion in federal stimulus money to help tackle the problem.

Oregon will receive about $15 million to be spent mainly in Eugene, Portland, Salem, and both Clackamas and Washington Counties.