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County accepts $11.38M in state funds for shelter operations and adjusts supportive housing budget
Summary
The Joint Office of Homeless Services received board approval to increase federal/state appropriations by $11,384,732 (SB1530 awards) and reduce supportive housing fund appropriations by $4,190,523 to reflect timing and carryover spending; the vote passed 3-1 with Commissioner Myron opposed.
The Multnomah County Board approved a budget modification that recognizes $11,384,732 in federal and state funding awarded to the Joint Office of Homeless Services (JOHS) for FY2025 and reduces a supportive housing fund appropriation by $4,190,523.
Dan Field, JOHS director, said the item is primarily an accounting adjustment driven by two timing issues: (1) final spending and carryover figures for the prior year showed the county spent more of its carryover than budgeted, and (2) the state distributed shelter funding late in the budget cycle. JOHS staff said the adjustment allows state award funds (Senate Bill 15 30 and related earlier allocations) to cover operational gaps for identified shelter providers and avoids creating a local budget deficit.
Deanna Negrete and Antoinette Payne walked through the purpose of SB1530 and explained OHCs/OHCS (the transcript spells the agency as OHCs/OHCS) identified shelters and funding needs. The JOHS presentation referenced 13 shelters (800 beds) across the two waves of awards and said the state funds would be used for ongoing shelter operations that had been sustained by the county pending state allocations.
Public commenter Charles Johnson questioned whether additional funding increased shelter capacity beyond the cited 800 beds and asked for clearer reporting on how funds translate into services for people living unsheltered.
Commissioners asked for lists of providers who will receive funds and clarification on one-time vs. ongoing uses. JOHS staff said the funds support ongoing shelter operations but acknowledged continued uncertainty about future state allocations; the JOHS said further budget modifications will be presented in January to close remaining gaps.
The budget modification passed on a roll-call vote: Commissioner Myron voted no; Commissioner Brem Edwards and Commissioner Stegman voted yes; Vice Chair Beeson voted yes. The board approved the modification to allow JOHS to apply expected state funding to shelter operations without creating a budget shortfall.
