Portland Metro Council Supportive Housing Services Ballot Measure: Where Will Funding be Distributed and What are Priority Populations.

I have looked through the proposed Ordinance and related resolutions and HereTogether "Regional Policy Framework" and "Governance Framework" to better understand the funding priorities for allocation and spending revenue raised from the proposed Portland Metro ballot homeless supportive services measure. (These documents can be found in the Metro meeting package HERE).

Where Will the Funding Will Be Distributed?
The Ordinance has relevant language in Section 7. 

First, the first two years allocation of funds will be split between the counties with 21 1/3% to Clackamas County, 45 1/3% to Multnomah County, and 33 1/3% to Washington County. Then " the percentages may be adjusted to reflect the portion of Supportive Housing Services Revenue actually collected in each County. "

After the first two years (2021 and 2022), the BALLOT TITLE says clearly that the measure "Allocates funds to counties by estimated revenue collected within each county" so my belief is that the funds will be allocated in years 2022+ based on where they are raised.  (Currently there are no documents posted with projections of how many tax filers will be subject to the tax and how much revenue will be collected--the only reference is to the ECONorthwest Feb 2020 document presented previously).

Who Gets the Money- In What Order and With What Services?
Second, Resolution No. 20-5085 says that the Council "directs staff to use the attached [HereTogether] Policy Framework..and Governance Framework....for further planning and implementation with Metro, local governments, service providers and other implementers, and the community."

In the HereTogether Governance Framework paragraphs (a)-(c) of Section 6 Funding Priorities/Priority Service Populations identifies the waterfall of funding priorities and the related definitions to be used.  

Paragraphs (a)-(c) however are written in narrative form and it is difficult to determine the order of the populations served and what services apply to each priority. 

To better understand those spending priorities I constructed the chart below which is my effort to better understand these priorities and services. 

A closer look will show that there are differences based on race and marginalized status, disability status, income level, severe cost burden, doubled up status, and the kind and length of housing support. 

I do NOT think these priorities are legally binding or not subject to change, but some might disagree. I also may have misinterpreted the intended priority. 

The key point for me however is that table format like this would be useful so that all have a clearer AND common understanding of who gets priority for the funding, and in what order.

Originally created and posted on the Oregon Housing Blog.