Regional Government Metro Will Weigh Referring a Much Smaller Homeless Services Measure to Voters - Willamette Week

The staff of regional government Metro will today recommend sending voters a smaller-than-expected measure to fund homeless services: $175 million a year.

That's 30 percent less than the $250 million a year that advocates have been seeking.

Today is the first time the smaller figure has been mentioned, but Metro defended the proposal.

"This will be the largest single investment in addressing homelessness in the history of our state," says Metro spokesman Nick Christensen. "This is a huge step forward, but there's more work to do—work that the counties and the state can pick up."

Metro staff's recommendation will be a for a marginal tax on high-income households making $250,000 or more (and individuals making more than $125,000)—specifically a 1 percent tax on any income above those thresholds.

Metro Council is expected to hold a work session on the issue today and to refer a measure by Thursday.

But advocates appeared surprised by news of the shrinking size.

A new report by EcoNorthwest, commissioned by the proponents of the measure, has estimated that at least $369 million a year would be needed to fund services for chronic homelessness and aid those at high risk of becoming homeless in the region, and who have a disability or another factor making them likely to need additional services.

The report also cautions that much more than the region needs to do more on housing than fund homeless service through a measure.

"A comprehensive response to the crisis—an effort to end homelessness—would require a broader set of solutions, including the acceleration of housing construction at all price points, an increased supply of rent-restricted affordable housing, and additional rent subsidies," reads the report.

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Regional Government Metro Will Weigh Referring a Much Smaller Homeless Services Measure to Voters - Willamette Week
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