In 2018, voters across Clackamas, Multnomah and Washington counties approved bond funding to build affordable housing throughout the region. Thanks to voters, nearly 5,000 affordable homes have been created or are in development as of January 2024. This bond will soon be coming to an end. Meanwhile, implementation of regional Supportive Housing Services funding has made a big difference in thousands of lives, yet faces its own expiration in a few years.
Yet the need remains. Homelessness and the rising gap between incomes and housing costs continues to be a daily struggle for people and families across greater Portland.
Metro is hosting a conversation on how the region can keep working together to create affordable homes as well as providing services that keep people housed. Throughout 2024, hundreds of community members, housing and service providers, local elected officials and staff, and others with direct experience have shared their thoughts about priorities, opportunities and lessons learned in the implementation of regional funding for affordable housing and supportive services.
On Thursday, Oct. 17, the Metro Council adopted a resolution providing direction on principles and policies to implement an integrated and expanded regional funding program for affordable housing and supportive housing services. The resolution includes several potential policy actions that will be further developed and discussed by the Metro Council through the rest of 2024.