Multnomah County is pausing new housing placements for hundreds of homeless residents after adjusting its budget to address the loss of state funding it had expected to receive.
The Multnomah County Board of Commissioners voted 3-2 October 30 to approve funding for 1,051 people to continue their housing process through rental voucher programs. But it also paused rapid rehousing programs—including those that move people directly from shelter into housing—after approving a budget modification to accommodate for a $4.5 million Homeless Services Department funding gap.
The city and county have long had disagreements about what to prioritize in homelessness spending, and the latest budget woes add to the tension between both parties over whether to invest in the city’s temporary shelters or use limited dollars for direct housing efforts…