Washington County reports bond, supportive-housing programs exceeded several production goals

Washington County housing officials told the Board of Commissioners on Aug. 19 that the county’s voter‑approved affordable housing bond and the Supportive Housing Services (SHS) program exceeded a set of production and placement goals for the year.

“For the record, my name is Molly Rogers, and I'm the director of housing services,” Rogers said as she opened a quarterly update on the county’s voter‑approved resources. She said the department “sustained almost 5,000 households in housing programs, exceeding our original goal of 4,650,” and that the county “housed 833 formerly homeless households, exceeding our goal of 750.”

The board was given a production summary for the $118 million in regional affordable housing bond funds allocated to Washington County. Assistant Director Jill Chen said the bond funded 12 projects in the county, 10 of which are already in operation and “providing 813 homes to our low‑income Washington residents.” Chen said the bond work partnered with seven development organizations and local housing authorities.

Rachel Duke, executive director of Community Partners for Affordable Housing (SEPA), described how SEPA and other developers combine multiple funding sources to complete projects. She said Planbeck Gardens includes 66 units of supportive housing and Woodland Hearth will include 22 supportive units among its 62 apartments; Meadowlark Place is a senior housing project that will set aside 30 units for older adults exiting homelessness.

Chen also told the board that, across the bond portfolio and related projects, production totaled about 958 units and “exceeds every single metric that we agreed with Metro in terms of total units produced, number of family size units, number of very low income units … and permanent supportive housing.” She noted the 958‑unit figure covers the $118 million in Metro bond funds and does not include separate Metro funds allocated later for permanent supportive housing.

Jess Larson, who presented the SHS update, said staff have deployed one‑time SHS capital funds into 16 projects representing more than $87 million of investment, including upgrades to create or sustain more than 400 shelter beds and to develop access centers placed in four corners of the county. Larson said the county is also developing more than 100 units of transitional housing with partners and is preparing a “housing resolutions fund,” a streamlined pooled resource to provide one‑time interventions to help people move into or avoid losing housing.

On program finance, Larson said staff expect to hit the year’s reduced revenue forecast for SHS. She said the board had an “authorized budget of 146,000,000” that includes expected revenue and one‑time funds, and that staff preliminarily estimate spending will be roughly $130 million as they finish closing the books.

Chen and Rogers told the board there are two pending amendments to an intergovernmental agreement related to permanent supportive housing funds: one amendment would authorize the use of funds for site acquisition, and a second would add nearly $5.5 million for existing and pipeline projects; staff said those additional funds were not included in the 958‑unit production total.

Commissioners asked staff to track outcomes and data as the county shifts more toward one‑time diversionary supports and attrition‑based openings in permanent supportive housing and rapid rehousing slots. Commissioner Fey asked for clear performance data on whether the new one‑time interventions are effective; Larson replied the county will continue to monitor and report results.

The presenters also described partner and program supports: enhanced invoicing procedures to streamline payments to providers, new communications training and storytelling support for frontline staff, expanded outreach to non‑English speakers and Asian American communities where data show access gaps, and a forthcoming local implementation plan update for years 5–10 of the SHS program.

Staff flagged two near‑term next steps: a board work session (staff said likely in October) to present a one‑time funding framework for remaining SHS funds, and an upcoming procurement decision to select the operator for daily and programmatic services at the Cornell Road recovery site (a hotel purchased by the county).