State policy contributes to mentally ill Oregonians falling into homelessness, Multnomah County says A letter from five county commissioners urges state officials to change what they described as a discriminatory policy I am working to build out the County’s ability to assist Oregonians experiencing mental illness and homelessness but need the State to allow us to access the programs only it can provide: long-term services and supports. Oregon has one of the lowest rates of access to mental health treatment in the country. (Getty Images)

From: oregoncapitalchronicle.com/2026/04/14/s...

#MultCoD1

Anyone who wants a #PFA sign can pick one up at the Multnomah Building front desk, 8:30am - 4:30pm, Monday - Friday.

If you want a sign up but cannot pick one up, email me at district1@multco.us.

PFA applications are open the entire month of April. Apply at pfa.multco.us. Link in bio.

ICE Banned from County Property Today, the Board passed my Sanctuary County amendment that extends the County’s ban on ICE presence to all County facilities, including parking lots. ICE has no place in Multnomah County. The dangerous and deadly actions by ICE are a threat to our community.

Visit multco.us/info/constit... for resources and support related to ICE. #MultCoD1

Yes we do.

PFA Signs Available for All Want a Preschool For All sign? Ask the front desk at the Multnomah Building! Lawn stakes available. Address: 501 SE Hawthorne Blvd

Anyone who wants a #PFA sign can pick one up at the Multnomah Building front desk, 8:30am - 4:30pm, Monday - Friday.

If you want a sign up but cannot pick one up, email me at district1@multco.us.

PFA applications are open the entire month of April. Apply at pfa.multco.us. Link in bio.

#MultCoD1

For every $1 free preschool spends, it generates $13 in earnings. Preschool For All gives back to the community far more than it costs and supports the labor workforce beyond mothers. PFA is economic development.

PFA applications are open the entire month of April. Apply today at pfa.multco.us

Preschool For All applications are open the entire month of April! Learn more and apply today at pfa.multco.us

Video guides in 10 different languages and other helpful information is available at multco.us/info/video-g...

#PFA #MultCoD1

Happy Transgender Day of Visibility! I am proud to be sponsoring Transgender Day of Visibility at Multnomah County and proud to be an ally to the transgender community 🏳️‍⚧️🏳️‍⚧️🏳️‍⚧️ #TransDayOfVisibility #MultCoD1

To all the children who are experiencing a learning disability:
Can you be president of the United States? Yes. But more importantly, can you be a better president than Donald Trump? Most certainly. #MultCoD1

Keeping PFA full day options universally available regardless of income maximizes economic impact and accessibility for all families.

Let all families choose up to 10 hours of free preschool Free, expanded-day preschool increases parent earnings by 22%. While means-testing seems straightforward, it ironically makes PFA harder to access for our lowest income families. All families struggle to afford preschool or make enough to pay the PFA tax. Everyone should be offered full PFA.

The Board heard from Preschool and Early Learning (PEL) staff that PFA means-testing and limiting access to 10-hour days will not save money and will hurt low-income families. In addition, the Technical Advisory Group (TAG) considered but declined to recommend this policy for the same reasons. They also noted that PFA taxpayers would not receive the full day PFA benefit for their own children.

PFA means-testing and cost sharing: The juice is not worth the squeeze Means-testing Preschool For All (PFA) and limiting access to full day preschool will hurt low income families and reduce economic benefit.

The Board heard the costs of implementing a requirement to limit full day/full year free preschool to families earning over the self-sufficiency level (~128k for family of 4).
When it comes to means-testing and limiting 10 hour days, the juice is not worth the squeeze.

multco.us/info/case-ma...

Commissioner Singleton's and My Plan to address CEI Hub Risks Moves Forward YouTube video by Commissioner Meghan Moyer, Multnomah Co, Dist 1

@shannonsingleton.bsky.social's and my plan to address CEI Hub risks moves forward #MultCoD1

www.youtube.com/shorts/1XJ7g...

Read the resolution here: multnomah.granicus.com/MetaViewer.p...

The Multnomah Sanctuary Fund application has been EXTENDED to February 20! #MultCoD1

BACKGROUND: MULTNOMAH SANCTUARY FUND In December 2025, the Multnomah County Board of Commissioners approved Budget Modification-002-26, allocating $75,000 in one-time-only funds to support community organizations not currently contracted with the County. This funding opportunity, known as the Multnomah Sanctuary Fund, is intended to address the unique needs of groups impacted by immigration policy changes and federal immigration enforcement activities. The program prioritizes equitable distribution across diverse linguistic, ethnic and cultural communities, especially those that have not recently received similar emergency government funding.

MULTNOMAH SANCTUARY FUND DUE FEB 18TH! Information is available in English: La información está disponible en Español: Macluumaadka waxaa laga heli karaa Af-Soomaali: Інформація доступна українською мовою: Информация доступна на русском языке: 相关信息提供中文版本。 WWW.MULTCO.US/FEDERAL

ELIGIBILITY: MULTNOMAH SANCTUARY FUND Nonprofit organizations, Tribal governments, organizations with fiscal sponsors, and governments not currently contracted with Multnomah County working to address the human and legal service needs of underserved residents impacted by immigration enforcement are eligible to apply for these funds, but must meet the following criteria: • All grant funding must serve, and is limited to, Multnomah County residents. • The organization must have a demonstrated track record • The organication must have documett son of 501(c)(3) status or other documentation that can be verified with the Oregon Secrețary of State business registration site. Please note that organizations with a fiscal sponsor are eligible to apply under their fiscal sponsor's qualifying documents. • The organization must operate in alignment with Multnomah County's Mission, Vision and Values. • The organization must have evidence of insurance coverage through their own organization or the fiscal sponsor. The insurance must cover funded activities. *The organization must have evidence of insurance coverage through their own organization or the fiscal sponsor. The insurance must cover funded activities.

The Multnomah Sanctuary Fund application is open until February 18! Learn more and apply at multco.us/federal #MultCoD1

Commissioner Moyer holding a portrait of herself, with a nametag in the corner that says "Erika."

I recently visited Bienestar and Erika gifted me this amazing portrait of me. Erika painted this beautiful art piece in a Bienestar kids art class. I now proudly display it in my office. Thank you Erika! #MultCoD1

Multnomah County’s deflection program is fragmented. As a result, it is harder than needed to deflect someone from jail to gaining stability and housing. Streamlining and organizing our deflection program will save the County money and help more people off the streets. Here’s my plan to do that:

Build Direct Service Connections - Integrate care coordination and onsite assessments, so individuals are quickly connected to the services they need. - Assign every individual in deflection a care coordinator so they are supported and held accountable. - Eliminate “cracks” in the deflection program by providing warm handoffs between services.

Close Service Gaps - Ensure all individuals are checked into our homeless services trackers, so we can sync information, track success, and provide services tailored to need. - Make all shelters access points to services, so we can help those already connected with Multnomah County. - Build out service capacity from detox to recovery housing, so we can serve people every step of the way to stabilization and housing.

Streamlining and organizing deflection operations will enable our program to stabilize and house more individuals for less dollars. But a better deflection program also requires accountability. Stay tuned to learn my plan to upgrade deflection program requirements.

Stay tuned for my next post: my plan to upgrade deflection program requirements.

Reforming our Deflection System My plan to organize and streamline deflection operations.

To build an effective deflection system, we need to streamline and organize operations. Here's my plan to do that. #MultCoD1

Read my full plan for deflection reform here: mailchi.mp/multco.us/ou...

We’re building the best free preschool program in the nation. Tomorrow I will be leading conversations about 2 topics that will help the County continue to improve PFA. Here’s what we will be talking about:

Paying providers based on true operating costs: We will discuss the merits of basing PFA rates on the actual costs of providing preschool rather than using outdated, inaccurate market rates. Supports for providers serving high-needs children: We will hear from providers about the challenges of serving high- needs preschoolers without proper training, support, or information about children's needs.

We're building the best free preschool program in the nation. Tomorrow, January 27 at 10am, I will be leading discussions on how we can keep improving Preschool for All.

Tune in at www.youtube.com/MultCoBoard or watch in person at the Multnomah Building.
#MultCoD1 #PFA

"If you are not breaking a law we do not care in Oregon. That is what the [Oregon] Health Authority is telling us."

"And please make the connection that we cannot solve unsheltered homeless without a functional behavioral health system that is not solely focused on prosecuting people." #MultCoD1

"Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere. We are caught in an inescapable network of mutuality, tied in a single garment of destiny. Whatever affects one directly affects all indirectly." Martin Luther King, Jr.

Happy Martin Luther King, Jr. Day. Whether in Minnesota or Multnomah County, we must stand up and work toward the justice we want to see. #MLKJr #MultCoD1

Today I'm hosting a town hall on #deflection!

Read about my plan to reform Multnomah County's deflection program here:
mailchi.mp/multco.us/ou...

When: Wednesday, January 14, 5:15-6:30pm
Where: 801 SW 10th Ave, Portland, OR 97205. Central Library, Community Room 1A.

I hope to see you there! #MultCoD1

Deflection Town Hall. Wednesday, January 14. 5:15 - 6:30pm. Central Library, Community Room 1A

Wednesday, January 14, I will be hosting a town hall on Multnomah County’s #Deflection program.

I will be:
Discussing my plan to reform Deflection and next steps,
Listening to your thoughts on Deflection,
Answering your questions about Deflection,
And discussing community ideas on Deflection.

⬇️⬇️

Yesterday I voted to extend an emergency declaration to mitigate harm caused by ICE activity. Only hours later, ICE agents shot 2 Portlanders. As of the last update I received, both Portlanders are alive. This is more than we can say about Renee Good, shot and killed by ICE only 1 day earlier in Minnesota. ICE is making our community more dangerous. ICE is bringing violence into our neighborhoods. I am proud to vote for Multnomah County’s emergency declaration and to strengthen our sanctuary county status. But there is more work to do. I will not stand by while ICE recklessly endangers Multnomah County residents. I stand with and encourage every Portlander to peacefully protest against the cruelty ICE brings to our community. ICE needs to get out of Multnomah County.

In its first year of operation, less than 2 people per day were referred to our deflection program. Deflection is underused and weshould change that. This is my plan to expand our deflection program so that we can help more people permanently exit homelessness.

Expand Deflection Eligibility - Allow all homeless services, outreach, and shelter providers to refer their clients to deflection. - Allow referrals from other social service agencies and health care providers. - Expand what charges are deflection eligible with charge-specific completion requirements. - Once we have proven results with the current deflection population, expand diversion in partnership with the DA.

Expand Service Capacity - Build emergency shelter beds for those waiting for their slot in detox or treatment to open up. - Change occupancy to allow over 23 hours of service and expand contracted emergency clean and sober shelter beds. - Fund and coordinate a team of assertive engagement outreach workers who can meet officers in the field and bring people to the deflection center for assessment.

Expanding deflection service eligibility and capacity will enable our deflection program to serve far more individuals. This is a crucial first step in building an effective deflection program. But there is more work to do. Stay tuned to learn my plan to organize and streamline deflection operations.

Stay tuned for my next post: my plan to organize and streamline deflection operations. #MultCoD1

Reforming our Deflection System. My plan to expand deflection eligibility and capacity

To build an effective deflection system, we need to expand deflection eligibility and capacity. Here's my plan to do that.
You can read my full deflection plan here: mailchi.mp/multco.us/ou... #MultCoD1

The Trump administration is threatening to freeze childcare funding. This is on top of state cuts to preschool programs! Multnomah County’s free Preschool for All is addressing affordability for families as our state and federal governments abandon children.

Preschool for All: - Investing in children, families and small businesses. - Increasing jobs, business productivity and school readiness. - Preschool for All is critical to affordability and prosperity in Multnomah County.

The economic benefits of Preschool for All are 3.1x higher than its costs. Taxpayers are expected to reap significant benefits via higher tax revenues and lower spending on education, health care, and the criminal justice system. A graph showing the costs of Preschool for All totaling $430m and Benefits totaling $1,338m.

Preschool for All fills gaps as Trump abandons kids. Multnomah County is addressing affordability with free preschool. #MultCoD1

Multnomah County began its deflection work with the best intentions: to deflect people away from jail and onto a pathway that ends with being sober, stable, and housed. But, a year in, it is clear that we need to significantly redesign our approach. Current deflection outcomes do not justify the level of money expended or meet our public safety needs.

This week I proposed a series of changes to improve our deflection system. My reforms focus on 3 topics: - Expand deflection eligibility and capacity. - Organize and streamlinedeflection operations. - Upgrade deflection requirementsand definition of success.

My reforms prioritize changes we can rapidly enact, providing near immediate improvements to our deflection program. After these initial improvements, we will work on longer-term projects that require permit and certification changes and a higher level of government coordination. In our upcoming budget cycle, I will bring forward recommendations that prioritize our most effective methods to stabilize and house individuals.

My next post will discuss how we should expand deflection eligibility and capacity. Stay tuned to learn how Multnomah County can expand our deflection program to serve more people.

This is the first in a series of posts explaining my plan to reform our deflection system.

Next post: How we should expand deflection eligibility and capacity.