🏠Counties say Metro's homeless services tax is meeting housing goals, even as more people lose homes

If you've wondered what the Metro homeless services tax buys, new reports released Tuesday have answers. Multnomah, Washington and Clackamas counties all say they're meeting or exceeding their goals five years into the 10-year measure voters passed in 2020.

• Rehoused this year in Multnomah: over 1,400 people, 147% of target
• Permanent supportive housing, still housed at one year: 93% (goal: 85%)
• Kept from homelessness by prevention programs: 1,711 people (1,147 households)
• Shelter: 4,434 people used 1,871 SHS-funded beds and units

The catch: annual reports show that every year since at least 2020, more people have become homeless than have become housed. Washington County spokeswoman Emily Roots put it plainly.

“For every person that we house in Washington County, we see three more come in with a need for housing services.”

Andrew Hoan, president of the Portland Metro Chamber and an architect of the original tax, told OregonLive earlier this year, “It is not meeting its goal.” Clackamas County Commissioner Ben West says his county isn't seeing that pattern because it runs a recovery-oriented model. About 96% there stay in supportive housing.