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Council to consider code changes that bar scoring preferences for ‘housing first’ in county-funded solicitations
Summary
Ordinance 26-019 would add code language preventing solicitations for county-funded housing projects from giving priority or penalties based on minimal-entry programs or sobriety requirements; staff said the change is mostly policy-setting and moved the item to the GLS May 20 agenda to set a public-hearing date.
Ordinance 26-019, introduced May 12, would add a new section to county code that prohibits solicitation materials, scoring metrics or subrecipient agreements from (1) requiring or favoring providers that offer housing with minimal entry or no conditions and (2) discouraging or deprioritizing applicants who include sobriety, treatment or drug-testing requirements. The proposal contains a carve-out for state or federal grants when compliance with the new section would cause the county to lose funding.
Sponsor Councilmember Nehring said the goal is to "restore balance" between different housing and recovery approaches and to ensure a level playing field in county solicitations. Critics warned the code change could add bureaucratic complexity and make application processes more cumbersome for housing developers that already piece together multiple funding sources. Council and staff characterized the operational impact as minimal now because the county does not currently mandate bonus points for housing-first projects; staff said they are neutral on the proposal.
After discussion about whether the language creates new red tape or simply locks in policy, the committee moved the ordinance to the May 20 General Legislative Session agenda to set a time and date for public hearing. Committee members asked staff to clarify operational impacts and to ensure consistent application across future solicitations.
