Clatsop County expands rapid-rehousing dollars; more than 50 households rehoused so far

Clatsop County staff told the Human Services Advisory Council that the Board of Commissioners approved a contract expanding rapid-rehousing funds by about $1 million to continue rental assistance through June 2027.

Monica, county staff member, said, “So through 05/06/2024, we have rehoused over 50 households to date,” and reported the county has already submitted more than $500,000 in rental-assistance reimbursements tied to the earlier $1,600,000 allocation.

The council heard that the additional million augments earlier emergency funding (referred to in the meeting as “Emergency Order 23 02 funding”) that initially supported shelter operations including the Columbia Inn and the Lifeboat shelter. Monica said the rehousing dollars are limited to people who already meet federal definitions of homelessness, including people fleeing domestic violence or living in places not meant for human habitation, and that other services remain available for households that are housing-unstable but not literally homeless.

Amy Baker, a provider who gave the regular provider report, described several local housing efforts connected to rehousing work. “Half the building is gonna be, health care workforce housing and and then, 17 units are permanent supported housing,” Baker said of the Hawks Eye/Red Lion project in Seaside, a hotel conversion slated to open in September. Baker said the project is hiring a live-in resident manager and two daytime staff and that the program’s wait list is beginning to fill.

Monica said a portion of the rehousing funds is reserved for landlord incentives — for example, paying a year’s rent in advance in some cases to persuade landlords to accept tenants they otherwise might not — and that the county is working to engage more landlords to expand housing availability.

Council members asked for an update on the Lifeboat shelter’s elevator/chairlift project; Monica said the county advanced about $62,000 for installation and that roughly $20,000 of that advance had been spent to purchase the lift to date while engineering, permitting and coordination with the city continue.

The council was also told that Esperanza Village modular units are being scheduled for installation and that project leaders have given an optimistic target of August for onsite work, though staff cautioned the date has been moved previously.

The council did not take a formal vote on housing policy during the meeting; the contract expansion described by Monica was reported as already approved by the Board of Commissioners.