Current Initiatives
Innovative Solutions to Homelessness
Learn about Homeless Services Department (HSD) initiatives that solve homelessness in our region.
Built for Zero
In late 2021, Portland, Gresham and Multnomah County joined Built for Zero, a national movement of more than 90 cities and counties in the United States working to measurably and equitably end homelessness.
Since then, the HSD and Community Solutions (Built for Zero) focused on improving Multnomah County’s data quality — creating a by-name list tracking people entering and exiting from chronic homelessness. They also partner with providers and people with lived experience to enhance street outreach data collection.
Village-Style Shelters
What are village-style shelters?
They are an alternative to traditional/congregate shelters typically made up of a group of tiny homes with shared services and amenities. In addition, they fill a key gap in the homeless services system.
While congregate shelters work well and provide stability for many people, not every unsheltered person is able to live in a congregate shelter environment.
Because of this, the HSD has been funding alternative, village-style shelters since Kenton Women’s Village first opened in 2017, and now funds or provides services at 11 alternative shelter sites.
Frequent Users System Engagement (FUSE) Pilot
Based on a 2018 to 2020 analysis, the FUSE pilot focuses on people experiencing chronic homelessness who frequently engaged with homeless services, criminal justice and healthcare systems.
In a collaborative effort between the Health Department, the Department of Community Justice, Health Share of Oregon, and the Homeless Services Department, FUSE will provide up to 40 individuals with permanent supportive housing during the pilot.
A Tri-county Program
Regional Long-Term Rent Assistance (RLRA)
The RLRA is a program across the tri-county area, which includes Multnomah, Clackamas, and Washington counties. As a result, it significantly increases the availability of affordable housing.
Through the RLRA, low-income tenants are able to secure affordable rent and benefit partnerships with private landlords in the tri-county area. Furthermore, the program is funded through the Metro Supportive Housing Services measure.
Past Initiatives
FY 2024 Initiative
Oregon All In
An Oregon Rehousing Initiative
A statewide push for increasing shelter, housing, and eviction prevention services. led Multnomah County and the City of Portland to rehoused, sheltered, and prevented evictions for hundreds of households using their share of statewide emergency funding.
On Jan. 10, 2024, the City and County announced that they had met or exceeded a series of goals set by Gov. Tina Kotek’s office. However, the work isn’t stopping there, and will continue through FY 2025 with new goals from the state called the Oregon Rehousing Initiative.
FY 2024 Initiative
Housing Multnomah Now
A local pilot program launched in 2023, HMN focused on urgently rehousing hundreds of people experiencing unsheltered homelessness. Due to this work, the HSD exceeded its goal, housing 311 households before June 30, 2024.
FY 2022 Pilot Program
Move-In Multnomah (MIM)
Throughout Multnomah County, work was already underway to help thousands of people more into homes annually. To accelerate that work and expand the impact, MIM, offered incentives and support to landlords who made housing units available to people exiting homelessness.
As a result, HSD successfully housed 214 people in four months. Housing Multnomah Now uses elements of MIM to guide its work.
