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Family Promise tells Tualatin council region faces thousands of children in housing instability; asks for short-term eviction-prevention funds
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Summary
Family Promise told the council that McKinney‑Vento counts show about 3,000 school‑age children in Washington County experiencing homelessness and urged local leaders to back flexible short‑term funding, shelter diversion and case management to prevent family homelessness.
Elise, a representative of Family Promise, told the Tualatin City Council on Nov. 24 that homelessness among families in Washington County remains “a huge issue” driven largely by housing affordability and a shortage of eviction‑prevention resources.
Elise said McKinney‑Vento counts show about 3,000 school‑age children experiencing homelessness in the county and—when preschoolers and parents are added—estimated “about 11,000 folks” in households with children who would be affected by these conditions. She said most families are in doubled‑up living situations that meet McKinney‑Vento but not HUD definitions of homelessness.
The Family Promise representative described the agency’s 70‑room non‑congregate shelter in Tigard, on‑site services including a commercial kitchen and pantry, and case management that follows many households for two to four years after placement. "It's far more cost‑effective to keep someone housed than to shelter and then rehouse them," she said.
Elise highlighted several near‑term gaps and requests: reduced eviction‑prevention dollars, limited emergency hotel or flex funds for shelter diversion, scarce utility‑assistance funding (a leading cause of eviction for families), and fewer FEMA EFSP eviction‑prevention grants than in prior years. She urged partners to prioritize funding for short‑term interventions and for expanded case management, which she said can prevent the cycle of repeated shelter stays.
Council members thanked Family Promise, asked about housing outcomes after the roughly four‑month average shelter stay, and heard that case managers often continue to support households for years to improve long‑term stability. Elise also invited councilors and community members to volunteer and to support the nonprofit’s fundraising via the Willamette We Give Guide and a Giving Tuesday match (match up to $5,000, fundraiser target stated in the presentation as roughly $30,000–$35,000). She provided a donation link: familypromiseoftv.org/donate.
The council did not take formal action on the presentation but acknowledged the organization’s needs and local resources available for referral, including the city’s utility bill forgiveness program.
The council moved from the report to its scheduled public hearing without further action on Family Promise.
