Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Homelessness Funding topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Residents, service providers urge Clatsop County to restore Lifeboat shelter funding
Summary
Dozens of public commenters — including Lifeboat executives, shelter staff and people who use the shelter — told the Clatsop County Board of Commissioners the county—unding formula cuts would effectively shutter Lifeboat, the county's only low‑barrier, drop‑in shelter, and asked the board to revise allocation criteria.
Dozens of community members urged the Clatsop County Board of Commissioners on Tuesday to reconsider a new county funding formula that Lifeboat Services and other speakers say reduces the shelter—unding award by three‑quarters.
Dr. Michael Avila, who identified himself as a member of Lifeline Services' board of directors, said the county's new formula "cut Lifeboat support by 82% of its baseline" and asked commissioners, "Where is the evidence‑based logic in a formula that defunds our highest volume shelter provider?" He told the board Lifeboat serves hospitals and police by stabilizing people in crisis and said cuts would increase homelessness countywide.
Aaron Carlson, associate director of Lifeline Services, said the organization has served 782 unduplicated people over three years and that the county ward of $112,000 would not sustain shelter operations at contracted capacity. "If this county does not have a drop‑in option for unhoused community members, you will see the sidewalk camping problem and visibility issue escalate," Carlson said.
Lizard Orrick, executive director of Lifeboat Services, told commissioners Lifeboat staff and board members repeatedly sought county engagement and said "not one of our county commissioners has ever visited our shelter since we began full operations." Orrick and other speakers alleged limited outreach by county staff during formula development and asked for transparent, collaborative revisions that include number of people served and bed utilization as metrics.
Several speakers said other local providers receiving increased awards are referral‑based or have different eligibility criteria and warned that redirecting money from a low‑barrier drop‑in program would leave people with urgent needs without safe options. "Drop‑in shelter is important and we've already done the difficult legwork to create it," Caitlyn Seifried said, asking the board to "take into account availability of low‑barrier, truly low‑barrier, shelter beds" when allocating funds.
County staff and commissioners said the allocation decision is still under consideration and that an FAQ sheet on the county website is being updated with responses; staff told the board the vote on subrecipient agreements was moved to the July 8 meeting to allow further review. Assistant County Manager confirmed staff will continue outreach and update documentation on the county website.
The board did not take a final vote on funding during the meeting; several commissioners acknowledged the stakes and asked staff to clarify metrics and the process ahead of the July 8 meeting.
