*Transfer responsibility for the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Homeless Management Information System grant to the Multnomah County Joint Office of Homeless Services (amend Ordinance 191363)
The City of Portland ordains:
Section 1. The Council finds:
- Through Ordinance 187843, the Council authorized the formation of the Joint Office of Homeless Services (JOHS), based at Multnomah County, with primary responsibility among jurisdictional partners for funding, policy and planning efforts for homeless services.
- In the same Ordinance, the Joint Office of Homeless Services was empowered to oversee and submit our community’s annual Continuum of Care (CoC) collaborative application to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).
- This application includes one grant to the City of Portland renewed annually for $245,666 for the administration of the regional Homeless Management Information System (HMIS).
- This year’s HMIS grant was awarded to the City of Portland and was accepted in Ordinance 191363.
- Part of the primary responsibility for providing funding, policy and planning efforts for homeless services is the responsibility of administering the regional HMIS.
- The Joint Office of Homeless Services has now contracted with a software company to provide the software required and funded with this grant.
- The City of Portland and Multnomah County agree that they wish to transfer this responsibility and the HUD funding from the City to the County.
NOW, THEREFORE, The Council directs:
- The Portland Housing Bureau is authorized to work with the U.S. Agency for Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to transfer the balance of the current HMIS grant as of September 18, 2023 to the Multnomah County Joint Office of Homeless Services.
- The Portland Housing Bureau Director is authorized to execute all necessary transfer agreements related to the grant assignment, substantially similar to Exhibit A, including but not limited to any assignment required by HUD.
- The Joint Office will apply for the HMIS grant funds going forward in the annual Continuum of Care collaborative application as the primary grantee.
- These funds were already appropriated in PHB’s FY22-23 and FY23-24 Adopted budgets. The reduction in funding for the City of Portland will be implemented during the Fall Budget Monitoring Process.
Section 2. The Council declares that an emergency exists because a delay would unnecessarily delay the City’s and the County’s ability to perform the activities authorized by the grant and required by statute; therefore, this Ordinance shall be in full force and effect from and after its passage by the Council.
Official Record (Efiles)
An ordinance when passed by the Council shall be signed by the Auditor. It shall be carefully filed and preserved
in the custody of the Auditor (City Charter Chapter 2 Article 1 Section 2-122)
Passed by Council
Auditor of the City of Portland
Simone Rede
Impact Statement
Purpose of Proposed Legislation and Background Information
Portland Housing Bureau has managed the HMIS, HMIS Lead role, and HMIS grant on behalf of the OR-501 Portland/Gresham Multnomah County Continuum in response to the 2001 Congressional Directive that HUD report on data and analysis on the extent of homelessness and effectiveness of the HEARTH programs.
In 2023 Multnomah County secured software to meet HMIS compliance, and the OR-501 Portland/Gresham Multnomah County Continuum elected Multnomah County Joint Office of Homeless Services (JOHS) to serve as the Continuum's HMIS Lead Agency in this new implementation. This new HMIS implementation is expected to go live 9/18/2023 and all providers and users within COC participation expectations will transition to the new implementation.
The HMIS grant is limited to the HMIS Lead Agency and is limited to support of COC work. Since the COC providers and users will no longer participate in PHB's implementation and the COC has other wise designated JOHS as the HMIS Lead, Portland Housing Bureau is in favor of assigning the balance of the HMIS grant on 9/18/2023 to Multnomah County JOHS with full grant responsibilities.
Financial and Budgetary Impacts
The HMIS grant is a HUD Continuum of Care competitive grant, not a formula grant. The entirety of the HMIS grant is $245,666 (this is the grant amount $229,595 plus Admin of $16,071) with a required match amount of $61,417. The HMIS grant has historically paid for staffing and licensing. Other funds have been designated for staff costs and we will no longer have eligible licensing costs.
We estimate transfer amount will be $145,870.30 with a required match of $36,468.00
Community Impacts and Community Involvement
- No Impact to the community at large
100% Renewable Goal
- No Impact to renewable energy use
Financial and Budget Analysis
Analysis provided by City Budget Office
The entirety of the HMIS grant is $245,666, with a required match amount of $61,417. PHB estimates the transfer amount to the County will be $145,870 with a required match (by the County) of $36,468. PHB will adjust its budget for the transfer during the FY 2023-24 Spring Budget Monitoring Process.