County pursues new access center and data sharing while awaiting HUD update on $5M funding

Jess Larson, assistant director overseeing Homeless Services, outlined quarterly implementation improvements for the Supportive Housing Services measure and said the county has launched a procurement for a Central County access center, likely in Beaverton. "We are receiving, as we speak...applications for potential partners to bring us an access center," Larson said.

Larson said staff updated the county’s pre-qualified provider list to simplify procurement for contracted providers and described a plan to renew multi-scope contracts (which bundle outreach, shelter and housing services) on an annual basis so providers receive timely payments. She also told the board the county is "waiting for an update from the administration" on federal Continuum of Care changes and is preparing to protect approximately $5 million in competitive HUD funding.

On program operations, Larson described a new eligibility-check procedure for shelter and transitional housing programs located near where children congregate; the board directed staff to begin implementing the checks next month. Staff also announced a new data-sharing agreement with Health Share to align housing and health-system data to better evaluate outcomes.

Commissioners praised the operational work and asked staff to continue outreach and to report back on procurement timelines and how eligibility checks will be implemented.