HOMELESSNESS: REAL STORIES, REAL SOLUTIONS J-LAB

In fall of 2024, FORJ received a $190,000 grant from the Central Oregon Health Council for an 18-month special project called Homelessness: Real Stories, Real Solutions, which has produced 31 multimedia packages exploring the real causes and solutions to homelessness in Central Oregon for distribution across a dozen regional journalism outlets.

The project is staffed by a contract editor, reporter and photographer with video produced by partners at Central Oregon Daily News. Content is shared out on a main site, and also on the platforms of partners and bi-monthly newsletters.

The project website has received more than 8,500 unique visitors since launch, and regional media partners have reported more than 75,000 content views. A community-wide quiz will soon be offered to gauge learning on the issue and to offer an additional opportunity for education and reporting.