The Portland metro region may soon see significant changes to its Supportive Housing Services (SHS) program, a vital initiative in our community’s fight against homelessness.
Metro, our regional government, is contemplating bringing the SHS measure back to voters in May 2025. This potential vote offers an opportunity to strengthen the program and address evolving community needs.
HereTogether, along with many other stakeholders, has been an active participant in Metro-led discussions about possible changes to the regional Supportive Housing Services program.
Why the Change?
The goal of revising our Supportive Housing Service measure is to create stable, continuous funding for deeply affordable housing, outreach, shelter and wrap-around services.
Key recommendations made to the Metro Council include:
1. Affordable Housing Funding: A key motivation is to dedicate a portion of SHS funds to construct and acquire deeply affordable housing. This would help address the critical housing shortage for our most vulnerable neighbors.
2. Program Improvements: Metro is considering changes to enhance the program’s governance and oversight, ensuring more effective and transparent use of resources.
3. Long-term Stability: Extending the program’s sunset date would provide the long-term certainty needed to leverage SHS rental vouchers with affordable housing construction, maximizing the program’s impact.
4. Tax Rate Adjustments: Metro is exploring ways to ensure the SHS tax remains focused on those with the highest ability to pay. Currently, the tax is paid by about 10% of households in the region. Proposed changes include adjusting the income threshold to maintain this focus on high-income earners. Additionally, Metro is considering a modest reduction to the personal income tax rate to address concerns some stakeholders have raised about the overall personal tax rate in our region. However, it’s crucial to note that any potential tax rate reduction must be carefully balanced against the ongoing need for affordable housing and services in our community.
What Could This Mean?
If approved, these changes could significantly boost our region’s ability to address homelessness comprehensively. By allowing SHS funds to be used for affordable housing, we could create more permanent solutions for those experiencing or at risk of homelessness. However, we cannot emphasize enough how important it will be to prioritize the core goal of SHS – services, including rental subsidies that allow people to find and maintain housing.
The proposed governance changes aim to improve accountability and ensure that the program effectively meets its goals. Meanwhile, extending the program’s lifespan could provide the stability needed for long-term planning and investment in solutions.
What’s Next?
As these discussions unfold, HereTogether is committed to bringing diverse voices to the table. By working collaboratively, we can shape these potential changes to serve our community’s needs best.
We encourage you to stay connected with us to be informed about these developments and to share your thoughts. Together, we can work towards our shared goal of making homelessness rare, brief, and one-time in our region.
Stay tuned for more updates and opportunities to engage in this important conversation.