UPDATE Aug. 12, 2024: This post has been updated to reflect that the deadline to apply for the Steering and Oversight Committee has been pushed to Aug. 16, 2024.
The City of Portland and Multnomah County are recruiting community members to serve on two new committees that will guide the work of the newly formed Homelessness Response System — and help shape and support those efforts.
Increased community engagement and leadership has been a cornerstone of recent changes in the shared response to the region’s homelessness crisis.
The recruitment follows the recent approval of a three-year intergovernmental agreement between the City of Portland and Multnomah County.
That agreement evolved the governments’ shared homelessness response beyond what was just one downstream agency, the Joint Office of Homeless Services, and created an entire Homelessness Response System to broaden and unify the work by adding stakeholders who are all accountable for addressing homelessness and its root causes.
That work will happen through the Homelessness Response Action Plan, a two-year roadmap that commits to pursuing detailed goals and metrics; more transparent budgeting, data sharing and financial reporting; in addition to a new governance system.
That newly formed system will be overseen by three oversight and advisory groups: the Steering and Oversight Committee, the Community Advisory Committee, and the Implementation Committee.
Two members are sought for the Steering and Oversight Committee, and up to 16 members are sought for the Community Advisory Committee.
Recruitment for the Steering and Oversight Committee will be open through Friday, Aug. 16. Recruitment for the Community Advisory Committee will be open through Wednesday, Aug. 21. Those interested in joining the committees should fill out the relevant interest form(s) at multco.us/homelessness-response-system/committees.
Two members sought for Steering and Oversight Committee
The Homelessness Response System is overseen by the Steering and Oversight Committee. That group is seeking two community representatives who are interested in serving as non-voting members alongside other local leaders to set strategy and ensure alignment to achieve the goals outlined in the Homelessness Response Action Plan.
The committee will be led by five elected officials who will be the committee’s only voting members: Multnomah County Chair Jessica Vega Pederson, Portland Mayor Ted Wheeler, Gresham Mayor Travis Stovall, District 4 County Commissioner Lori Stegmann, who represents east Multnomah County, and Portland Commissioner Rene Gonzalez.
The two positions being recruited will be non-voting members of the committee. They are:
- Behavioral health expert. This person must NOT work for an organization currently contracted with the City of Portland or Multnomah County.
- A payer of the Supportive Housing Services tax. This person must live in Multnomah County but NOT be a resident of the City of Portland.
These position requirements were outlined in the finalized intergovernmental agreement.
Other non-voting members will include: one business sector representative (nominated by any chamber of commerce located in Multnomah County), the CEO of Health Share Oregon and the CEO of Home Forward. All positions will be subject to approval by the Portland City Council and the Board of County Commissioners.
Members must commit to one-year terms. More information can be found in the position descriptions linked above or at this link. Those interested in either of the two open positions must complete a brief interest form. Recruitment is open through Friday, Aug. 16.
Up to 16 community members sought for Community Advisory Committee
Community members are also encouraged to apply for positions in the Community Advisory Committee. That group will identify emerging issues and trends and help the community meet the goals and objectives of the Homelessness Response Action Plan.
The committee may include up to 16 members, including but not limited to people with lived experience of homelessness, and people representing related industries and sectors, including members of the business community, people representing labor groups, homeless service providers, affordable housing providers, street outreach/navigation team members, health care providers, and more.
More information can be found in this position description. Those interested in applying must fill out a brief interest form. The committee will convene in September and meet monthly. Members are asked to commit to one-year terms. Recruitment is open through Wednesday, August 21.
