Committee moves roughly $20.7 million in unspent rental fees toward eviction prevention and emergency vouchers

The Portland City Council Homelessness and Housing Committee voted on Dec. 9 to forward a resolution to full council recommending that about $20.7 million in unspent rental-registration fees be used to prevent homelessness and stabilize housing.

Chair Candace Avalos introduced Item 4 after staff told councilors the Rental Services Office had identified roughly $20,700,000 in unspent funds held in the city’s Housing Investment Fund. "The discovery of these unspent funds gave us the perfect opportunity to act with urgency and fiscal responsibility," Avalos said.

Sponsors and staff presented a recommended allocation package. Jamie Evenstar, chief of staff for Chair Avalos, outlined staff recommendations: approximately $9,000,000 for direct rent assistance across three buckets (before, during and after eviction), $9,000,000 for emergency housing vouchers to cover 426 households and about $2,700,000 for stabilization efforts including a right-to-counsel pilot, tenant education, portfolio stabilization and down-payment assistance.

"This resolution is about dignity, fairness, and keeping our neighbors housed," Councilor Loretta Smith said while urging support for the proposal.

Home Forward's Christina Dirks, who testified in support of an "off ramp" fund for the Emergency Housing Voucher (EHV) program, said the housing authority currently serves 426 households with EHV and that HUD has signaled an end to EHV funding; she warned those households are among the most vulnerable and would benefit from a local off-ramp.

Public testimony was heavily in favor of immediate deployment: providers and advocates urged prioritizing eviction prevention, legal defense and rapid rehousing; several providers warned of immediate budget cliffs and shelter-to-housing placement pauses unless current-year dollars are released. A number of people with lived experience recounted eviction and housing search barriers and called for rent assistance and wraparound services.

Councilors debated trade-offs and oversight. Councillor Zimmerman questioned the per-household cost of the Home Forward dedication, noting vacancy levels and asking whether $9,000,000 would deliver adequate outcomes for 426 households. Other councilors pressed for clearer accountability metrics and a city-led resource map that includes Multnomah County and state partners before committing multiyear funds.

Councilor Jamie Dunphy moved and Councilor Murillo seconded a motion to send document 2025-478 (the "Slow the Flow" resolution) to full council with a recommendation that it be adopted. The committee voted 3 ayes and 2 nays; the motion carried and the resolution will go to full council for consideration.

Next steps: the committee forwarded the resolution and sponsors and staff indicated they will continue consultations about timing, vendor capacity and performance measures before the full council vote.