PORTLAND, Ore. (KATU) — Both Portland and Multnomah County leaders acknowledged that one-time homeless services funding has been heading toward a known financial cliff for years, but what became abundantly clear in their joint meeting Tuesday is that the edge of that cliff is now here.
“When one time money for homelessness stuff expires, the only pot of money we can use to make that up is the general fund, and in the city the general fund mostly goes to police fire and parks,” said Councilor Steve Novick.
He and other councilors and county commissioners pointed out that no one wants to make cuts to much needed shelter services, but they pointed out that residents are also unlikely to want to make cuts to other general fund buckets…