Metro outlines reform plan for Supportive Housing Services; Multnomah County calls for shared metrics and transparency

Metro Council President Lynn Peterson told the Multnomah County Board of Commissioners on Feb. 24 that Metro is advancing reforms to the Supportive Housing Services program (SHS) to address rising homelessness, funding volatility and uneven regional implementation.

Peterson said Metro’s review would aim to set a regional “North Star,” standardize performance measures across the three counties, and propose changes to governance and oversight. "SHS is working, changing thousands of lives," she said, while also warning that "inflow into homelessness is exceeding the ability of Multnomah County to end chronic homelessness."

The briefing focused on three linked reform strands: a data-sharing agreement to combine SHS-funded results with state and federal program data; an ordinance and possible ballot measure that could permit SHS funds to be used for affordable housing, reduce the personal income tax rate for the program, and extend the program; and a new Metro policy advisory committee on housing and homelessness to replace the current regional oversight structure and improve auditing and accountability.

Why it matters

Peterson and county officials said the reforms matter because SHS revenue is volatile and public confidence has eroded. Peterson argued that without clearer regional goals, shared definitions and stronger data, Metro will continue to struggle to demonstrate results to voters and to stabilize SHS revenue. "Until we can reform how we deliver the services to our most vulnerable, we will continue to see slower than expected growth or even outright declines in SHS revenue," she said.

What Metro proposed

- Data sharing: Peterson said Metro’s data-sharing agreement — soon to be signed by Metro’s COO — currently covers outcomes funded directly by SHS dollars and must be supplemented with state…