Year two data shows the Joint Office of Homeless Services is making progress in delivering Supportive Housing Services goals

Marking the close of the second full year of the Supportive Housing Services Measure, Metro on Thursday, Aug. 24, shared fourth-quarter progress reports from Multnomah, Washington and Clackamas counties.

In fiscal year 2023, Multnomah County served a total of 6,698 people with Supportive Housing Services funds, rehousing 1,318 individuals with those funds across all housing types — meeting 98% of the County’s overall goal for people housed with Supportive Housing Services funds. This year’s total exceeded last year’s total of 1,129 individuals.

Housing placement outcomes:

However, the Joint Office far exceeded its workplan goal to provide eviction prevention services to 800 households this year. Through community partners, the County delivered eviction prevention resources to 5,380 people in 2,067 households with Supportive Housing Services dollars.

And with only two years of implementation complete, the Joint Office has already met 44% of its 10-year goal to bring online 2,235 supportive housing units, with 417 new units made available in fiscal year 2023.

The Joint Office significantly increased the amount of resources able to make a difference and serve people in the fourth quarter of FY 2023, showing work to overcome challenges that led Metro and the County to develop a corrective action plan to address. This quarter, the Joint Office spent $42 million — more money than in the previous three quarters combined (Q1: $8.6 million, Q2: $13.2 million, Q3: $18.1 million = $39.9 million).

And, by the fourth quarter of fiscal year 2023, Multnomah County doubled its SHS goal of initiating contracts with at least five new culturally specific community based organizations, bringing on 10 new providers throughout the year. Multnomah County also exceeded its goal of creating 400 new shelter beds in FY 2023, creating a total of 460 beds.

Read the full report here, and a letter from Chair Jessica Vega Pederson about the Joint Office’s progress here: August Update on Housing and Homelessness (123.53 KB) A more-detailed annual report on fiscal year 2023 is due to Metro in the fall.