Give us your feedback.
Tell us what you think about our website or reports, or suggest an audit or investigation.
Although you can submit an anonymous comment, if you provide us with your name and telephone number we can follow up in case we need more information. We welcome all of your comments and suggestions.
We are starting to audit the following topics
What should we ask? What do you want to know?
Supportive Housing Services: In 2020, Metro voters passed the Supportive Housing Services measure that created funds for supportive housing services for people who experience or are at risk of experiencing homelessness. Since then, there has been a robust public discussion about the extent to which local governments are using SHS funds effectively. At the county, the majority of SHS funds are spent out of the Joint Office of Homeless Services, the Health Department, and the Department of County Human Services, particularly the Youth & Family Services Division. The county’s SHS plan for fiscal year 2024 noted populations that should benefit from SHS programming, including Black, Indigenous, Latine, Asian, Pacific Islander, and other people of color; families with children; youth; domestic violence/sexual violence survivors; and people with behavioral health issues. This audit will answer questions including how the county has spent SHS dollars and the extent to which those expenditures align with criteria for using SHS dollars.
Countywide trans and gender expansive inclusion: Nationally, legislation perpetuating danger for trans and gender expansive people is leading to a probable influx of these groups to Multnomah County in search of a safer and more inclusive environment. Basic Rights Oregon and many others have observed inequities in housing, employment, imprisonment, and other outcomes for trans and gender expansive people, especially if they are also Black, Indigenous, or other people of color. This audit will assess whether county departments are responsibly gathering Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity data (SOGI), offering facilities, methods of equitably conveying pronouns, medical and mental health support, and other resources that meet the specific needs of this population. The audit will also assess whether county operations internally are adequately addressing needs and barriers that trans and gender expansive people face as employees.
Health Department - Corrections Health: Our office’s 2022 audit on jail conditions found that circumstances were worse for adults in custody who are Black and/or have mental health conditions. Seven in-jail deaths occurred between May and October 2023. In April 2024 the Oregon Nurses Association issued a letter stating that 95% of corrections nurses surveyed said their workplace conditions hadn’t improved in the past four years, and 97% gave a no confidence vote in current leadership. These issues combined demonstrate the need for a deeper look into Corrections Health.
Department of Community Services – Bridges: One of the county's critical functions is operating many of the bridges in our region. Our bridges are a key part of the region's transportation system. After the Baltimore's Key Bridge deadly collapse, the public began to ask questions about how we can prevent similar incidents and whether our bridges are safe. An independent evaluation of the potential risks could help address the public's concerns. In the Baltimore bridge collapse, six of the people who died were immigrant construction workers, working these dangerous jobs without a safety net, highlighting potential equity considerations for the workforce that builds and maintains bridge systems. Since the county operates many bridges, this could be a narrowly focused audit to review the bridge system's safety procedures and ensure we are following safety best practices. In addition, it could provide insight into how our bridge systems operate, the workforce behind the work, and possibly insight into other current bridge projects.
Addictions Services - Behavioral Health Division: With Measure 110 passed and now reformed, the landscape for addictions services has changed. The audit will evaluate the county's role and performance. Access to treatment, detox, and crisis services is a health and safety issue and is important for those needing services and their families, as well as the larger community. This includes access to culturally specific services. People who need addictions services could also face mental health, housing, or legal challenges.
Reparations special study: The complex context for government in our nation and county includes the government’s role in the displacement and genocide of Indigenous communities and the enslavement of Black people for the benefit and financial gain of Western European settlers. Our history also includes Oregon being founded as a Whites only state; the 1857 state constitution prohibited Black people from entering the state, and prevented Black people who already lived in Oregon from owning property or making contracts. It wasn’t until 1925 that voters removed these exclusions. Additionally, during World War II, Oregonians of Japanese descent were incarcerated in American internment camps. These and other historical acts of colonization, exploitation, and discrimination continue to cause harm to BIPOC community members through systemic racism, significant socio-economic disadvantages, and multi-generational psychological trauma. Acknowledging past and present harms is a first and necessary step toward Multnomah County becoming a more equitable and just community for everyone. This report will provide information on what other jurisdictions have done in regard to reparations and land back movements, and can inform frameworks of micro-reparations for under-resourced communities of color.