Deschutes County commissioners voted to allocate a combined set of one-time funds to support homeless-response projects and authorized advancing the East Redmond managed camp construction.

The board approved reallocating $567,963 in ARPA-designated funds, authorized up to $270,000 from unused economic development funds, and moved $108,597 from the project development fund for a suite of projects that include a managed camp in East Redmond, safe-parking support and other transitional housing work. The motion to allocate the funds passed 2–1.

Why it matters: Commissioners said the allocations respond to an expected increase in food and housing insecurity and to cost increases for the managed camp construction. County staff and city partners had worked to revise a funding matrix and to secure Redmond’s commitment to share the camp cost overage.

Details of the package and board action
- Reallocated ARPA funds: $567,963 (motioned and approved)
- Unused economic development funds: up to $270,000 (board direction to use available balance and ARPA to cover any shortfall)
- Project development funds (Fund 090): $108,597
- Safe parking: $75,000 was included for Mountain View’s request per board direction

Commissioner Chang and Commissioner Dyer voted in favor of the funding package; the chair cast the opposing vote. The board directed staff to return budget adjustments on consent so the transfers can be completed.

Separate, targeted food grants
Following the broader allocation, commissioners made an explicit motion to provide immediate one-time grants of $35,000 each to Neighbor Impact and to The Giving Plate to address short-term food needs. The motion was moved, seconded and approved unanimously. County finance staff said the grants can be issued quickly once standard grant paperwork is prepared and signed.

Managed camp procurement
The board also approved a notice of intent to award a construction contract to Taylor Northwest LLC for the East Redmond managed camp. Deputized staff said the city of Redmond voted to cover half of the project’s cost overage at its meeting, enabling the county to proceed. The notice of intent to award passed unanimously.

What commissioners said
Deputy County Administrator Jerry Crabb explained the notice of intent followed recent discussions and the city’s commitment to share added costs. Multiple commissioners expressed urgency about immediate food needs while noting the limits of one-time funds and the need for longer-term sustainable funding for shelter and supportive services.

Next steps and implementation
Staff will draft grant agreements and, where permitted by county signing authority, begin issuing checks to the food providers immediately. Budget adjustments required to move funds between accounts will return on a future consent agenda. The construction contract award process will proceed per procurement rules and the county’s standard contract forms.

Votes at a glance
- Allocation of bundled homelessness funds (ARPA $567,963; up to $270,000 econ dev; $108,597 project development): Passed 2–1 (Commissioner Chang: yes; Commissioner Dyer: yes; Chair: no).
- One-time grants to Neighbor Impact and The Giving Plate ($35,000 each): Passed unanimously.
- Notice of intent to award contract to Taylor Northwest LLC for East Redmond managed camp: Passed unanimously.

Funding sources and limits
The board directed staff to prioritize use of residual economic development funds before drawing further ARPA-designated dollars; staff and the CFO will finalize exact transfers and maintain a modest contingency balance in the economic development account per commissioner guidance.

Provenance
Topic intro: "Item number 10, application funds to support and homeless initiatives." (transcript excerpt: "Good morning, commissioners. I'll kick this off, and then I'll, move it over to Cam. Just as background, on October 15, staff brought a matrix ... to be spent on homeless initiatives.")

Topic finish: "I move approval of allocating funds for homelessness response initiative projects as follows..." (transcript excerpt: board motion language and roll call vote).