The Joint Office of Homeless Services (JOHS) has released its recommendations on how Multnomah County should spend an expected $55 million in new tax revenue reserved for homeless services. This funding comes from a new 1 percent income tax on high-income households in Multnomah, Clackamas, and Washington counties, which was approved by voters in May 2020. The revenue, which is dispersed by Metro among the three counties, is specifically meant to bankroll "supportive housing"—or affordable.
SALT LAKE CITY Utah s 2021 legislative session marked milestones in investments in affordable housing and sweeping changes to the homeless governance system, all meant to enact measurable improvements in two of the Beehive State s biggest issues.
The Legislature approved $50 million in funding to affordable housing initiatives and homelessness, which advocates described as a record in the state. Leaders with the private philanthropy community announced Wednesday those funds will be multiplied through private donations and investments to $730 million. Good things are taking place, and we re deploying innovative solutions and seeing positive impacts, Utah philanthropist and homeless advocate Gail Miller said.
Homeless system restructuring
Utah Legislature made sweeping changes to homeless, housing systems deseret.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from deseret.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
Opinion: Homelessness crisis needs urgent public health response that focuses on reducing harm
Updated Mar 07, 2021;
Meieran is an emergency medicine physician and Multnomah County commissioner for District 1. She lives in Portland.
There is a humanitarian crisis facing us in Multnomah County. Thousands of people are living outside in unsafe and unhealthy conditions, with inadequate shelter or medical care. Only weeks ago
, a man in a makeshift shelter burned to death while trying to keep himself warm. Homeless encampments, which posed health and environmental risks prior to the COVID pandemic, have grown substantially in number, size and impact over the past year. The current situation is unacceptable from a health, safety and human decency standpoint.
| Updated: March 4, 2021, 4:08 p.m.
The state Legislature will put an additional $50 million toward housing and homelessness this year the bulk of which will be spent on preserving existing units of housing affordable for low-income individuals.
[
For more Utah political news, sign up for The Rundown newsletter:https://www.sltrib.com/the-rundown/]
Clark Ivory, CEO of Ivory Homes, said Wednesday that it was impossible to overestimate the importance of that funding in “giving more Utahns an opportunity to have safe and affordable housing.”
“In my opinion, this is the biggest commitment our Legislature has ever made toward homelessness and housing our most vulnerable,” he said during a news conference on the steps of the Utah Capitol. “What a powerful statement that is.”