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Multnomah County to Reduce Homeless Services Budget by $87 Million Despite Rising Need News By Diane Megaw On Feb 12, 2026 FILE - Homeless Camp, Portland, Oregon MULTNOMAH COUNTY, Ore. — Despite increasing homelessness, Multnomah County officials anticipate $87 million less for shelters, rent assistance, and eviction prevention in the next fiscal year, as bottlenecks due to overloaded caseworkers continue to keep sheltered people out of homes. Multnomah County Homeless Budget Reduced By $87 Million As of November, over 17,000 people were homeless in Multnomah County, with more than 8,000 living outside or in vehicles. The monthly rise in homelessness has outpaced the number of people getting housed for several years. County Commissioners reported a 26% reduction in the $334 million budget for the homeless services department, formerly the Joint Office for Homeless Services. This cut will likely result in job losses and reductions in county-funded homeless services, including shelters. The county has missed previous goals, with only 16% of shelter residents transitioning to permanent housing last fiscal year, despite a larger budget. Additionally, federal funding, crucial for the region’s homelessness efforts, is at risk of being cut if threats from the Trump Administration are enacted. A judge has temporarily blocked new federal rules affecting funding for Portland nonprofits. Detailed plans for how next year’s budget allocations are due out tomorrow. Shift From Shelter To Homes More Difficult As Multnomah County Homeless Case Managers Increasingly Overloaded A recent Portland City Auditor report found shelter case manager caseloads ranged from 6 to over 37 people per case manager, pointing to staffing capacity as a potential barrier to keeping people in shelters and out of permanent housing. Tidings Data Snapshot Shelter case manager load / reported ranges County survey caseload range Lower end : 6 clients per case manager 6 Upper end : 37 plus clients per case manager 37 plus Provider staff to participant ratios Lower load : 8 or 9 participants per case manager 8 or 9 Higher load : 25 participants per case manager 25 Source: Portland City Auditor report on shelter staffing and caseloads, plus Multnomah County survey figures cited in that report Dailytidings.com The report analyzed shelter providers that reported staff-to-participant ratios from 8 or 9 participants per case manager or housing specialist to 25. A County survey indicated that caseloads for adult and family shelters ranged from six to over 37 participants per case manager. A separate in-depth review of 24/7 adult shelters conducted by the Homeless Services Department, analyzing costs and performance from July 1, 2024, to June 30, 2025, found that the number of 24/7 shelter beds had more than doubled, with nearly 3,000 24/7 shelter beds open at the time. Tidings Data Snapshot 24/7 adult shelters FY 2025 / key metrics 6,731 Unique individuals served 33% Chronically homeless 88% Average nightly occupancy $98M Total cost for 31 programs 841 Exited to permanent housing $47K Average cost per bed or unit Source: Multnomah County Homeless Services Department / Adult Shelter Review FY25 Dailytidings.com The report suggests that decreasing the number of 24/7 adult shelter units could reallocate costs toward rent assistance and services for people currently staying in shelters. Shelter capacity has expanded fast, even as budgets tighten. Year or fiscal year Shelter beds What the source says 2015 521 Year round shelter beds reported by Multnomah County 2022 2,053 Year round shelter beds reported in the city audit FY 2024 3,220 Shelter beds budgeted by the Joint Office Jan 2026 Nearly 3,000 24/7 adult shelter beds currently open This could house an equal or greater number of people without increasing the cost. Multnomah County Share Twitter Facebook ReddIt WhatsApp Pinterest Email