The City of Portland and Multnomah County have kicked off a recruiting drive for community members to shape and support the response to homelessness in the region. This action follows the approval of a three-year intergovernmental agreement meant to evolve their joint approach to combating homelessness. As reported by Multnomah County, the newly formed Homelessness Response System is seeking participation for two new committees, the Steering and Oversight Committee and the Community Advisory Committee, that will guide and oversee its strategic efforts.
Members of the community interested in playing a more active role in the strategy for addressing the homelessness crisis have until August 14 for the Steering and Oversight Committee and August 21 for the Community Advisory Committee to submit their forms, as per Multnomah County. This initiative is pivotal, as the Homelessness Response System seeks to add accountability and transparency through detailed goals and metrics, transparent budgeting and reporting, as well as a revamped governance system. Among the roles to be filled are a non-voting behavioral health expert not affiliated with the city or county, and a payer of the Supportive Housing Services tax who lives within Multnomah County but outside of the Portland city limits.
Leading the Steering and Oversight Committee will be five voting elected officials, including Multnomah County Chair Jessica Vega Pederson and Portland Mayor Ted Wheeler. Applications for two non-voting members are currently open to interested community representatives who aim to set strategy and ensure alignment with the Homelessness Response Action Plan, as detailed by Multnomah County. Another figurehead in the committee, though without a voting right, will include representatives from local commerce chambers, CEOs from Health Share Oregon, and Home Forward, all pending approval from official city and county authorities.
