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The Metro Council is weighing possible changes to its supportive housing services program. They include adjusting the tax rate, governance structure and allowable uses of funds. Changes would be made through council action or possibly a referral to voters.

In May 2020, Portland-area voters approved Measure 26-210 to fund services for people experiencing homelessness or at risk of it. The money goes toward shelter beds, rental assistance and other services addressing homelessness in Multnomah, Clackamas and Washington counties.

The Multnomah County Board of Commissioners on Thursday received an update on the Metro Council鈥檚 recent resolution that impacts Supportive Housing Services (SHS). The council directed Metro staff to deliver a package of policy proposals to remake SHS in December. These include offering a regional program, expanding allowable use, and consolidating governance authority.

Multnomah County has engaged in discussions and negotiations with Metro on this issue in recent months, Multnomah County Board of Commissioners Chair Jessica Vega Pederson said. The council has sought to keep the board aware of potential impacts on the county.

A change to the SHS personal income tax would include indexing the income tax thresholds beginning in tax year 2025 as well as reducing the tax rate.

As for governance, the council is looking to eliminate the current SHS Oversight Committee and Tri-County Planning Body and replace them with a new Housing and Homelessness Policy Advisory Committee, said Jeston Black, director of government relations for Multnomah County. The committee would have about 21 individuals, including a Metro councilor as chair along with elected county and city officials, representatives of state agencies, business leaders and community members from across the region.

The governance change would limit the county board鈥檚 decision-making ability to direct policy and budget around SHS, Black said. Metro would become the authority for SHS funds. It would also allow Metro to withhold funds until a local implementation plan is approved at a county level. The board was not in favor of this change.

Currently, Metro is looking to expand the use of funds to construction and acquisition of affordable housing and permanent supportive housing units. The council is also looking to create a program for cities to fund supportive housing services and affordable housing, as well as expanding allowable use for other programs.

Metro has discussed allocation of a dedicated percentage of funds to capital investments for affordable housing.

鈥淛ust to put that in context, a five percent set-aside (for example) for affordable housing would mean $18 million for affordable housing for one year in the region,鈥� Black said.

Metro currently spends about $60 million-$80 million per year on affordable housing, Black said. While Metro鈥檚 resolution does not list a specific set-aside amount, the council has previously discussed one in the range of 5 percent to 25 percent, he said.

Needs and solutions can be vastly different for each county and existing infrastructure calls for a more localized approach, Commissioner Lori Stegmann said. A dedicated amount for affordable housing would best be discussed county by county, Black added.

Changes to Measure 26-210 would likely result in a new intergovernmental agreement between Multnomah County and Metro. Pederson has asked the council to provide information on any changes to the IGA. Pederson said the board also intends to be engaged in the conversation and has asked for further details about the impact on services currently being provided in Multnomah County.

The council is scheduled to decide on possible changes in December.