Metro officials brief Wilsonville council on proposed extension and reforms to Supportive Housing Services measure

Metro Council President Lynn Peterson and staff briefed the Wilsonville City Council on Jan. 23 about a draft proposal to extend and reform the region’s Supportive Housing Services (SHS) program. The presentation described a package of changes Metro officials say are intended to stabilize funding for shelter and services while also allowing investment in affordable housing.

Peterson and Metro staff described the existing SHS program — a 10‑year tax measure originally passed regionally — and said that funding will begin to lapse if the program is not extended. Metro presented a multi‑part proposal that would: extend the measure to 2050 (adding 20 years); explicitly add affordable and permanent supportive housing as allowable uses; bring cities into program implementation as formal partners; strengthen oversight and accountability with a new governance structure that includes elected officials, technical committees, a North Star and key performance metrics; require signed data‑sharing agreements across counties and providers; and provide tax‑relief language such as indexing the high‑earner threshold to protect middle‑income households.

Peterson said Metro’s public polling shows growing familiarity with the program but also declining support unless reforms and improved accountability are in place. Staff said Metro will split council action into two ordinances — one to send a ballot measure to voters and another to start operational preparations in case voters approve the measure — and that Metro has agreed to delay sending a measure to the ballot until the November election to allow more time to build coalition support and resolve governance questions.

Councilors asked about accountability, data sharing and oversight. Metro staff acknowledged shortcomings in data agreements and said they plan to complete data‑sharing agreements and define performance metrics before a final ballot measure goes forward. Lynn Peterson said the goal is to make funding more predictable for counties and service providers and to give cities a role in implementing and monitoring outcomes.

Metro also emphasized that, without action, shelters and services funded by SHS could face a cliff as money winds down. Councilors indicated support for stronger oversight and requested staff follow up with the council on how Wilsonville-specific needs and projects could be integrated into Metro’s planning.