Juan Carlos González
Gonz Lez serves as a Metro councilor for District 4, which encompasses Bethany, Cornelius, Hillsboro, Beaverton, and Forest Grove in northern metropolitan Washington County.
Five years have passed since voters in the Metro area launched a coordinated, regional strategy in greater Portland, marking a significant milestone in combating chronic homelessness.
The proposal was ambitious: over ten years, the Portland area would spend roughly $250 million annually to help those in need by providing homes and services. For people and families experiencing severe difficulty, the program also offers eviction prevention programs and rent support.
However, the funds from that Supportive Housing Services program, which is financed by a regional tax on major corporations and higher-income households, disappear after only a few years. This successful, ongoing work is already forcing providers to consider how to cut down spending when financing expires.
More than 1,800 shelter beds have been established or kept up in Multnomah, Clackamas, and Washington counties as a result of voter support. There are currently around 6,000 households residing there. More than 15,000 times, we have provided eviction prevention aid. Additionally, in Clackamas and Washington counties, where services were previously unavailable, we have stepped up and extended programming.
Although thousands have benefited from our endeavor, we are aware that much more has to be done to make the misery on our streets uncommon, transient, and nonrecurring. It would be devastating for our attempts to address chronic homelessness and give our fellow Oregonians stability if we ended this program.
Instead of discontinuing the supportive housing program in 2030, the Metro Council is debating a plan to stabilize, expand, and enhance it. Additionally, it would extend for a another 25 years Metro’s excellent affordable home creation program, which is coming to an end. By updating the current system, the idea would also reduce the tax burden on individuals and families. Above all, it would expedite and enhance monitoring and accountability to guarantee that every dollar is spent prudently with more urgency and transparency.
I am currently in discussion with my fellow Metro councilors over how to finalize this idea. After that, we would place it on the ballot for people to choose.
Although we are proud of the progress made thus far, we have also heard loud and clear that in order to gain the confidence of the electorate and continue the program, we must modify it.
Above all, everyone wants to see more responsibility and monitoring. By strengthening our regional planning and prioritizing, we want to address that.
Additionally, we must ensure that the intended task is completed efficiently. For this reason, the proposal calls for a more efficient and accountable supervision structure, the development of a regional strategy and defined metrics, and the requirement that all implementation partners comply and take remedial action if expectations are not fulfilled.
Second, we must have the adaptability to allocate our resources where they are most needed. Funding for the development and purchase of affordable housing, which is essential to our plan to assist families and people in establishing stability and preventing homelessness, is currently running low in our region.
It merely makes sense to broaden the Supportive Housing Services program’s purview to include the use of money for the construction and purchase of more affordable housing units.When it comes to creating affordable housing, Metro has a track record of keeping its word. With the construction of almost 5,100 units, the region’s 2018 Affordable Housing Bond has surpassed its targets by 30%.
Third, we have a chance to offer tax relief and continue this program.Middle-class households that have enjoyed inflation-driven income rises are increasingly being impacted by the tax on high-income earners and major corporations, which has been criticized for its implementation. In order to prevent inflation from inadvertently forcing families to pay taxes they cannot afford, we can raise the income threshold at which individuals are required to pay taxes. At the same time, we can promote our region’s economic recovery by reducing taxes where feasible.
In a time when working remotely is easier than ever, this is even more crucial. Although our standard of living is appealing, other cities are catching up and, in certain cases, have significantly lower living expenses. To be competitive, we need to reduce our tax burden.
Although it may seem like a lot to ask, I think we can do all of this while making sure that in five years, there are still shelters and unsupportive housing units in our area. We can actually accomplish this and ensure that the system we have established will continue to benefit our area for many years to come.
Since 2020, a lot has changed. However, one thing is certain: this is a chance for our area to demonstrate that we can collaborate and accomplish significant goals, giving us all hope and a road to a secure home. My Metro Council colleagues and I will present voters with the comprehensive details of a serious plan in the coming weeks that will help us better address the greatest challenge of our day and assist those in most need.
I implore you to support this crucial measure and join us in our endeavor.
