Oregon lawmakers have added $5.2 million to the state’s 2017-19 budget to cover the rising costs of emergency housing and homeless shelters.
Gov. Kate Brown requested the extra money.
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Multnomah County will receive close to half the one-time funding — $2.4 million — to maintain shelter capacity and create housing placement for homeless families.
In the Portland area, the number of homeless families trying to get into shelters roughly doubled over the summer of 2017. To keep children off the street, Multnomah County paid to house many of the families in motels.
That costs about $3,000 a month per family. By the time winter came, the county had already spent the money it had set aside for family shelter for the year.
The Legislature’s extra funding will keep Multnomah County from having to kick more than 200 parents and children out of the shelter system, according to Brown.
Other parts of the state, including southern, northeast and central Oregon will receive new money for emergency shelter.
In Central Oregon the number of homeless people living outside is rising, and cold winter temperatures in the high desert put many people who outside at risk of freezing to death.
Below is a list of how legislators have directed the $5.2 million will be distributed.
- Multnomah County: $2,373,351
- Clackamas County Mobile Housing Services: $782,107
- Washington County Community Action: $571,973
- Lane County Human Services Division $498,399
- Central Oregon Neighborhood Impact: $319,485
- Jackson County Community Action Agency (ACCESS): $228,202
- Mid-Willamette Valley Community Action Agency: $50,000
- Community Connection of Northeast Oregon Inc: $141,483
- Options for Homeless Residents of Ashland: $35,000