Questions (and Answers) about the Homelessness Response System

Q1: What is the homeless response system? What does that mean?

A1: The homeless response system is a collection of organizations and resources intended to support people experiencing homelessness, help people exit homelessness, and prevent homelessness from ever occurring.

Q2: What are the organizations, people, and resources that make up the homeless responses system?

A2: The homeless responses system is made up of lots of pieces. The continuum of care (CoC) is one big player. Shelters and shelter providers are another big piece. Outreach workers, case managers, and peer support specialists are all important as well. Other organizations that are not specific to homelessness are also involved in the homeless response system, like local government and local services like sanitation and utilities. 

Q3: How is homelessness response funded?

A3: Money for homelessness response comes from a lot of places. Public funding sources can include HUD, a state budget, county or regional budgets, and city budgets. In the Portland metro area, as of 2024, there is a regional source of money for addressing homelessness called the supportive housing services fund that exists because voters passed a ballot measure authorizing a new tax. Homeless response also gets funding from private sources, like religious organizations, private foundations, and individual donations. The City of Portland and Metro Regional Government each had affordable housing measures that produced new or acquired housing. 

Q4: What is the supportive housing services measure/tax?

A4: The supportive housing services measure (SHS) is a revenue measure passed by voters in the tri-county area in 2020. The measure, administered by Metro Regional Government, provides funding to the counties to pay for services for people experiencing homelessness, such as rent assistance, mental health services, and education supports.