Portland and Multnomah County will join forces to combat homelessness as part of a new $30 million annual commitment to be formally approved this week.
On Wednesday, the Portland City Council voted unanimously for a new Joint Office for Homeless Services. The Multnomah County Board of Commissioners is expected to approve the deal Thursday.
City and county officials say they'll more effectively serve the homeless by putting government employees and finances under one roof.
"How we organize the work that we do at the governmental level profoundly affects our ability to achieve the best possible outcomes for people experiencing homelessness," said Marc Jolin, who will serve as the interim director of the joint office.
Under the deal, Portland will transfer four employees and shift current contracts with homeless providers to Multnomah County. The new office, to be run out of Multnomah County, would launch July 1.
Portland will pledge at least $15 million a year for five years to Multnomah County to help cover costs. County officials would also pledge at least $15 million a year. And both agencies would increase funding by at least 2 percent each year.
Officials have talked on and off about combining city and county homelessness efforts for about three decades, with conversations gaining traction earlier this year. County Chairwoman Deborah Kafoury, a sometimes-critic to Mayor Charlie Hales, praised Hales for his cooperation and decision to move forward.
"This would not have happened without your leadership," she said.
But several key details haven't been hammered out.
As it stands, there's no money in the agreement for one of Portland's top priorities: operating the Right 2 Dream Too homeless camp at a new location on the Central Eastside. Also, no money has been identified for a new complaint-tracking service currently run from Hales' office.
And, most importantly, the city will need to find additional money. Right now, officials have budgeted just $11.5 million in ongoing money for homelessness, meaning the City Council will need to dedicate at least $3.5 million more in the 2017-18 fiscal year.
"This is the kind of idea that sounds really simple," Commissioner Steve Novick said. "But it's the kind of thing that in practice is incredibly difficult.... It is really impressive that the city and county have managed to work together to come to this commitment, and I think it'll be really good for the people of Portland."
-- Brad Schmidt
503-294-7628
@cityhallwatch