Mountain View Fellowship Church will host a public conversation on ways to address the growing homelessness crisis in Redmond at 7 p.m. on Thursday, Jan. 19.

The conversation will feature Redmond Police Chief Devin Lewis, REDI Director Steve Curley, City Attorney Keith Leitz, Safe Parking Program Director Rick Russell, Homeless Outreach Services Supervisor Colleen Thomas and Kara Pileggi, the Redmond School District liaison for homeless student services.

“Homelessness is a problem that everyone seems to see differently,” said James Cook, the vice-chair of proposed transitionary shelter Oasis Village and one of the event’s organizers. “Part of the hope is that just bringing those diverse perspectives to the table will start a conversation across the barriers that seem to exist.”

Cook said it was rare to get such an abundance of voices together in the same room and that the diversity of thought would be needed to have a meaningful conversation about how to address the growing issue.

Cook, a former county commissioner candidate, said he was immediately struck when he was running for office that every organization seemed to use different language and acronyms.

“Hopefully we can break down some of that and figure out a way to communicate in a way that everyone understands,” Cook said.

The event is sponsored by the Rotary Club of Redmond, the Redmond Spokesman and the Bulletin.

Those interested in providing questions will be able to submit them at letstalkredmond.com before, and during, the event.

Tim Trainor, editor of the Redmond Spokesman, and Louise Kaplan, host of the Wednesday Point on KPOV, will moderate the conversation.

The conversation is open to the public and will be live-streamed for remote viewing at www.redmondspokesman.com and www.bendbulletin.com.