*Authorize Intergovernmental Agreement with Portland State University Homelessness and Research Action Collaborative for program evaluation of Portland Street Response in the amount of $213,426

The City of Portland ordains: Section 1. The Council finds: On November 21, 2019 City Council approved a report on recommendations for launching the Portland Street Response pilot in Portland Fire and Rescue and the pilot began taking 911 dispatched calls in February of 2021. Because Portland Street Response is currently in its pilot phase, program evaluation will be key to its ultimate success and ensure transparency to the community in the evolution of the pilot. Evaluation services that will enhance this transparency and support the pilot’s ultimate success include determining the overall effectiveness of the pilot, providing suggestions for program refinement and adaptation throughout the pilot year, and providing recommendations for scaling the program up city-wide. The evaluation will be comprehensive and include feedback from a variety of stakeholder groups, including people who are unhoused; PSR staff; Portland Fire & Rescue and Portland Police Bureau staff; businesses, neighborhood associations, and other organizations in Lents and surrounding neighborhoods; and emergency callers. Portland State University’s Homelessness and Research Action Collaborative’s research team is uniquely qualified to partner in this work because of their research focus on houselessness, their promotion of positive reciprocal relationship between academic and community stakeholders, and their extensive work in this area with other local housing and behavioral health service providers. NOW, THEREFORE, the Council directs: The Commissioner-in-Charge is authorized to execute an intergovernmental agreement in substantial conformance to Exhibit A in the amount of $213,426. The Commissioner-in-Charge is authorized to execute amendments, approved as to form by the City Attorney, to the scope of the services or the terms and conditions of this Agreement, provided the changes do not increase the City’s financial risk. Section 2. The Council declares that an emergency exists because a delay would unnecessarily delay the City’s ability to perform the activities authorized by the grant; therefore, this Ordinance shall be in full force and effect from and after its passage by the Council.