Policy & Funding

NeighborImpact Points to Prevention as Central Oregon Homeless Count Falls 19.1 Percent

BEND, Ore. — NeighborImpact congratulates Central Oregon’s housing and homelessness providers on a measurable regional reduction in homelessness following the release of the 2026 Point-in-Time Count, which reported a 19.1 percent decrease from the previous year. A total of 1,706 people were counted as experiencing homelessness on a single night in January 2026, compared with 2,108 people counted in 2025. The reduction, which represents 402 fewer people without stable housing, reflects the work of localRead More >

Letter Carriers’ Stamp Out Hunger® Food Drive Returns May 9 as Central Oregon Food Need Remains High

Central Oregonians can help restock local food shelves by participating in the National Association of Letter Carriers’ Stamp Out Hunger® Food Drive on Saturday, May 9, 2026. Participation is simple: residents are encouraged to place a bag of non-perishable food donations next to their mailbox before mail delivery on May 9. Local letter carriers will collect the donations during their regular routes and deliver them to NeighborImpact’s Food Bank, where the food will be distributedRead More >

NeighborImpact Responds to Local Need with Gift Cards Supporting Unpaid TSA Workers

Central Ore.—When paychecks stop, the impact is immediate. NeighborImpact responded with more than $5,000 in gift cards to help local TSA officers and their families keep groceries on the table and everyday essentials within reach while pay remains disrupted. At Redmond Municipal Airport, a partial federal government shutdown affecting the Department of Homeland Security has meant TSA officers continue reporting to work without pay—putting pressure on everyday expenses like groceries, gas, and housing. Redmond MunicipalRead More >

You Met the Moment

When uncertainty around SNAP benefits began affecting families across Central Oregon, you responded. Between November and January, donors gave $1,352,560 to support NeighborImpact and its Food Program—ensuring that when need increased, our community was ready. Because of your generosity, no pantry in our network of 56 partners had to close its doors due to a lack of food. Together, the network brought in 482,490 additional pounds of food compared to the previous quarter, with NeighborImpact’sRead More >

NeighorImpact Provides More Than 1 Million Services

Central Oregon, January 26, 2026— Central Oregonians came to NeighborImpact for services more than a million times last year, according to new data published by NeighborImpact analyzing annual impact. The organization recorded 1,011,391 individual services provided to Central Oregonians assisted during the 24-25 program year—more than double the 460,802 services provided 5 years ago. Individual services are counted each time a person receives a service from NeighborImpact, and individuals who access more than one program are counted forRead More >

NeighborImpact Head Start Grant Renewal Brings Stability for Central Oregon Families Amid Child Care Uncertainty

Central Oregon, January 7, 2026—As child care providers across the country await clarity amid delayed and frozen federal funding, NeighborImpact has received confirmation of a renewed federal grant that will enable its Head Start program to continue serving families in Central Oregon for the next five years. While NeighborImpact continues to assess how ongoing child care funding uncertainty may affect other programs, this renewal provides continued, reliable early learning and care for families enrolled inRead More >

SNAP Benefits Restored: Oregon Acts Swiftly to Avert Crisis

Central Oregon—NeighborImpact applauds the State of Oregon for its bold and decisive action to ensure full November SNAP benefits for Oregon families. Acting overnight on the authority of a federal court order, Oregon submitted and secured full federal funding, redeploying benefits to recipients’ cards by Friday morning. Thousands of Central Oregon families awoke today to find their grocery budgets restored. “This is a tremendous relief for the 750,000 Oregonians who depend on SNAP to eat,”Read More >

NeighborImpact Mobilizes to Ease Hunger Amid Federal SNAP Funding Pause

Central Oregon—Following the federal government’s announcement that Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits will not be distributed in November, NeighborImpact is preparing for a potential surge in hunger across Central Oregon. As the regional food bank serving Deschutes, Crook and Jefferson counties and the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs, the organization is taking immediate steps to ensure that families, seniors, and individuals do not go without food in the weeks ahead. “Since 1980, the governmentRead More >

NeighborImpact Hosts Listening Sessions to Shape Strategic Plan

The NeighborImpact Board of Directors is excited to announce a series of listening sessions taking place throughout August to gather valuable input for the organization’s upcoming two-year strategic plan. These sessions are open to all community members and stakeholders who want to share their perspectives, ideas, and suggestions about how NeighborImpact can best serve low- and moderate-income residents across Central Oregon. NeighborImpact encourages in-person participation but also offers a virtual option via Zoom for thoseRead More >

NeighborImpact Cuts Distributions as Food Supply Drops 25 Percent

Central Oregon—Continuing to respond to a shrinking food supply, NeighborImpact has announced cancellation of two food distribution programs in the region. A mobile pantry distribution in Redmond currently based at the American Legion and providing food to an average of 277 individuals monthly will cease after May 29. A second produce distribution program, Fresh Express Home Delivery, will also end June 27. That program feeds 380 homebound individuals each month. NeighborImpact previously announced that reductionsRead More >