Clackamas County outlines mounting shortfalls in housing and homelessness funding
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Summary
County staff told commissioners that federal and state reductions and rising costs are creating structural gaps: HUD flat funding has produced a roughly $1 million shortfall for the voucher program, the Emergency Housing Voucher program is ending early (39 households, ~$500,000), state SHS funding declines reduce eviction prevention and rapid rehousing, and inflow to the homelessness system averages 582 people per month with only 332 exiting, leaving a monthly delta of ~250.
County staff briefed the Board of County Commissioners on March 3 that Clackamas County faces widening fiscal pressure across the housing and homelessness response system.
Mary Rumbaugh, director of Health, Housing and Human Services, said federal, state and local revenue sources are flat or declining while program costs and community need continue to rise. Shannon Callahan, the Housing Authority executive director, told the board the Housing Choice Voucher program serves more than 2,300 families and that HUD provided flat funding while program costs to maintain current service are rising by an estimated 3.69 percent — a gap Callahan characterized as about $1,000,000 for the coming year.
Callahan also said HUD has notified housing authorities that the Emergency Housing Voucher program will end early. Clackamas County currently serves 39 households on that program (34 of them elderly or disabled), representing roughly $500,000 in annual rent assistance. Staff said they have informed affected households and are working to transition elderly and disabled households to project‑based units coming online, such as Hillside Park.
Vahid Brown, deputy division director for Housing and Community Development, reviewed state-level reductions to supportive housing services (SHS) funding: a $3.6 million drop in eviction prevention, $1 million reduced outreach and shelter funding, and $2.7 million cut from rapid rehousing. Brown said SHS ongoing revenue is fully committed (FY 25–26 forecast cited at about $64,320,000) and that the county’s one‑time SHS carryover of $108,750,000 has also been committed to capital and limited-duration programs, leaving little flexible capacity.
Brown presented system flow numbers: an average monthly inflow of 582 people entering the county homelessness services system versus 332 people exiting into permanent housing, leaving an average monthly delta of about 250 more people entering than exiting.
Commissioners asked for demographic breakdowns and for precise shortfall figures; Brown said the precise shortfall versus prior forecasts is under $12 million and committed to follow up with exact numbers. Commissioners and staff discussed policy responses already in place, including pausing issuance of new regional long‑term rental assistance vouchers, the “housing for success” program to support economic independence for some households, and efforts to integrate Medicaid waiver funding (the 1115 waiver) to expand supportive services.
Commissioner West pressed staff on shelter strategy and said capital funds should aim for low‑barrier shelter that can safely serve difficult‑to‑engage populations and act as a feeder into the broader continuum. Staff agreed the county is planning shelter models intended to reduce hoteling costs and improve exits to longer‑term solutions.
The briefing was informational. Staff will return to the board with additional data and policy proposals as they refine budget options and program priorities.