Multnomah County in Oregon has seen a substantial boost in its fight against homelessness, thanks to the voter-approved Supportive Housing Services (SHS) Measure. An annual report highlighted by Multnomah County reveals the measure's effectiveness over the past year, with marked increases in individuals transitioning from homelessness to housing and the expansion of related support services.
In the fiscal year stretching from July 1, 2023, to June 30, the measure has been credited with supporting 2,322 people in their journey to secure housing—a sharp 76% increase from the prior year. Besides underpinning such transitions, the SHS Measure fortified behavioral health, substance use, and day services. It facilitated more than 90,000 additional visits to day service providers, as Multnomah County's announcement reported. Amidst these achievements, challenges about revenue forecasts and staffing, which had previously hampered spending, were effectively surmounted last year.
Concerns about future funding stability have been raised. However, contemplated changes to the SHS Measure by Metro are creating potential uncertainties. Multnomah County Chair Jessica Vega Pederson asserted that despite looming challenges, the advances in spending and performance are impactful. "I’m proud the Joint Office continues to make such strong gains in performance and spending and we’ve been successful in increasing the urgency and accountability of this critical work," Vega Pederson stated, as per Multnomah County press release. The Joint Office of Homeless Services also commented on the measure's efficacy. Director Dan Field proclaimed, “This measure is working and is making a difference in our community, right now."
The behavioral health and substance use sectors have notably benefitted, with around $15 million of SHS funds earmarked for addiction treatment service expansion. This injection increased recovery-oriented, stabilization, and transitional housing beds. Various culturally specific providers have been beneficiaries, including Juntos NW and Miracles Club, catering to Latino/a/x and Black/African American individuals, respectively. In terms of spending and exceeding goals, the Joint Office ensured that the $143.5 million in SHS funding was fully utilized, aligning spending with unexpected revenue increases.
