Portland-area officials OK new approach to curtail homelessness; it could fall apart in 3 months

Portland-Multnomah County homeless services new leader Dan Field announced

Multnomah County approved a rekindled partnership with Portland to reduce homelessness Thursday. If the new strategy doesn't meet certain benchmarks by October, city officials might end the agreement for good.Beth Nakamura/The Oregonian

Multnomah County and Portland officials have finally reached a deal on a joint approach to reduce homelessness in the coming three years. But their partnership nevertheless remains on rocky ground.

On a 4-1 vote, county commissioners on Thursday passed a new version of a “homelessness response system” agreement that county leaders proposed and City Council members subsequently tweaked — with Sharon Meieran voting no. The vote solidified the partnership and an ambitious plan linked to it to cut the number of people living on the street in half by 2025.

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