Shannon Singleton, whose human-centered work took her from the top offices at Portland and Multnomah County housing and homeless services agencies to the governor’s office, was sworn in Tuesday, Dec. 3, as the Multnomah County Commissioner for District 2.
Commissioner Singleton was elected Nov. 5, 2024, and took office immediately upon certification of the election results on Dec. 2. She replaces Interim Commissioner Jesse Beason. Beason was the Board-approved alternate who was sworn in in November 2023 after Commissioner Susheela Jayapal resigned to run for Congress. Singleton’s term will run through Dec. 31, 2026.
County Attorney Jenny Madkour administered the oath of office in a short, enthusiastic ceremony in the Boardroom immediately before Singleton participated in her first formal briefing as a Board member, about work she had done as a front-line social services worker: rapid rehousing.
"Growing up around Philly, I never thought this would happen," Singleton said. She said she had long worked in the politically charged air around homelessness, but had never served in a political office until she joined Gov. Kate Brown’s administration as her housing policy advisor in 2019. Gov. Brown later appointed Singleton to lead Oregon’s Racial Justice Council.
"We worked through the pandemic, through the wildfires, through Donald Trump and mourning George Floyd, trying to find reason in this world," Singleton recalled at the ceremony. "It was hard, but I learned if you want to change the world, you have to start at home."
Portland has been home for Singleton, and her husband, Titus, since 2007. A social worker who spent years serving survivors of domestic violence, youth in foster care, and people experiencing homelessness, Singleton earned a master’s degree from Portland State University.
She began working in homeless services at the former Salvation Army SAFES shelter in downtown Portland. She then worked at the Portland Housing Bureau, and later led JOIN, a nonprofit provider that helped hundreds of people leave homelessness, many directly from the streets, for housing.
In addition to her work for Gov. Kate Brown, Singleton served as an interim director of the Joint Office of Homeless Services and, most recently, worked for a Black-owned consulting firm in Portland that specializes in equity and community engagement.
Community member Perlia Bell, a longtime colleague of Singleton’s, said she would try not to cry as she recounted Singleton’s impact on her career and on the community.
"Shannon is a powerhouse," Bell said. "You guys picked the right one for this job. She is a visionary. She is a leader. She cares about community, not just the homeless, she cares about everything and everybody."
Singleton said she was excited to be serving on the Board alongside “four incredibly talented women’’: Chair Jessica Vega Pederson, and Commissioners Sharon Meieran, Julia Brim-Edwards and Lori Stegmann.
She acknowledged the atypically short timeframe between the election and replacing Interim Commissioner Beason, she really had to hustle to take her seat.
"Just kidding," she added after a pause. "I was ready last week."
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