PORTLAND - Gov. Ted Kulongoski issued an executive order Tuesday creating a statewide council to eliminate homelessness.

At any time, more than 10,500 Oregonians are homeless and seek assistance at a shelter. But roughly 25 percent are turned away because the shelters lack space or funding to support them.

“This has (typically) been looked at as a local community issue,” Kulongoski said. “I think it's time we as a state step up and do everything we can.”

The 24-member council includes government, public, private and faith-based representatives. Kulongoski said the council will be able to better coordinate the services available to homeless people and avoid duplication of efforts.

The council will meet regularly to discuss how to coordinate services that range from mental health, job training and housing as a united effort.

“A lot of these problems are inter-related,” Kulongoski said. “You can't just address homelessness without addressing hunger, addressing health care or addressing joblessness.”

The Oregon Housing and Community Services said it's crucial all these groups work together because multiple issues cause homelessness. And unlike 20 years ago, families more than individuals make up the homeless population, which demands the need for multiple types of assistance.

“No matter how desperate, no matter how traumatized...people can go through a transformation and regain human dignity,” said Ed Blackburn, director of health and recovery services at Central City Concern, a nonprofit organization that provides services and housing to help the homeless become independent.

The organization is supposed to develop a 10-year plan to end homelessness.

“We have many valuable programs,” Kulongoski said. “We need to build on what we've already accomplished.”