A coalition of frontline providers, a faith leader and shelter operators told the Portland Homelessness and Housing Committee on Oct. 21 that the city's current emphasis on expanding shelter capacity must be balanced with increased resources for housing placement, eviction prevention and long-term supportive services.

Speakers at the committee's public comment segment said shelter is necessary but insufficient on its own, and urged the committee to prepare for federal and state funding reductions that will make prevention and placement resources more critical. Multiple testifiers warned that expanding shelter capacity without ensuring exits to permanent housing will create longer shelter stays, bottlenecks and higher costs.

Sarah Fisher, an Episcopal priest who pastors an outdoor congregation of people living outside, said she feared city policy that relies on weather to push people into shelters and urged the council to use its budget authority to defend people living on the streets. Phil Berlin, homeless housing supervisor at Self Enhancement Inc., said the local system is misaligned: shelter, placement and retention services are not working in tandem and that HUD policy changes — described in testimony as shifting federal funding in a way that could reduce placement resources — heighten the need to reallocate local funds toward permanent housing placements and retention services.

Andy Miller, executive director of Our Just Future and a shelter provider in East Portland, said his agency supports shelter as part of a continuum but cautioned against rapid shelter expansion without matching investments in placement, eviction prevention and standards for trauma-informed shelter. Brandy Tuck, executive director of Path Home, and Anna Kranitsky of Community Warehouse urged a housing-first approach that couples rapid moves into permanent housing with rent assistance and long-term supportive services; Tuck said shelter itself "ends homelessness for exactly 0 people" unless placement out of shelter is available.

Laura Gallino de Lovato of Northwest Pilot Project added that shelters must include on-site case management and that the city should coordinate more closely with Multnomah County to avoid duplication of effort. Several speakers highlighted recent state-level cuts to eviction-prevention funding and the potential for upcoming HUD changes to further reduce placement resources, calling on the city to prioritize prevention and retention to avoid higher downstream costs and harm to people experiencing homelessness.

Committee members acknowledged the testimony and noted the mayor's shelter plan goal for Dec. 1; members said the committee must examine what happens after that date. Staff committed to bringing additional materials and data, and councilors asked providers to continue presenting operational detail and recommendations to the committee. Several testifiers asked for clear standards for new shelter programs, including domestic-violence screening and trauma-informed practices.

Ending: The committee closed public testimony after six speakers and said it will consider the testimony and follow up with staff briefings and data in future meetings as the city advances shelter and housing plans.