In the heart of Hillsboro's city hall, a pivotal discussion unfolded as city council members gathered to address the pressing issue of housing affordability and homelessness in the region. The meeting, held on December 3, 2024, featured insights from Andy Shaw, the director of government affairs at Metro, who outlined a comprehensive plan aimed at tackling these challenges.

Shaw began by acknowledging the city of Hillsboro's significant contributions to housing initiatives, including financial investments in shelters and collaborations with county officials. He emphasized the importance of community engagement, revealing that Metro had spent 2024 gathering feedback from a diverse array of stakeholders, including city and county officials, community organizations, and business leaders. This extensive outreach aimed to address the looming gap in funding for affordable housing.

The discussions revealed a consensus on the need to expand the uses of existing supportive housing services taxes to include capital investments for building more affordable housing. However, the conversation also highlighted the complexities surrounding accountability and governance within the supportive housing services program. Shaw noted that while agreement on funding solutions was relatively straightforward, establishing public trust and effective oversight proved more challenging.

As the meeting progressed, Shaw presented a series of proposed actions designed to enhance the region's housing strategy. Key proposals included asking voters to approve an expansion of the supportive housing services tax to allow for capital investments, creating a city investments program, and establishing a simplified oversight structure to streamline governance. These measures aim to ensure long-term stability in funding and improve the effectiveness of housing initiatives.

The council is now poised to consider these proposals, with a timeline that could see a potential ballot measure in May. Councilor Gonzalez reiterated the urgency of the situation, emphasizing the need for a robust response to homelessness that makes it "rare, brief, and non-reoccurring."

As the meeting concluded, the council members were left with a sense of purpose, ready to engage with their constituents and refine the proposals that could shape the future of housing in Hillsboro and beyond. The discussions not only highlighted the challenges at hand but also the collaborative spirit that drives the community's efforts to create lasting solutions for its most vulnerable residents.