*Authorize Intergovernmental Agreement between Multnomah County Joint Office of Homeless Services and the Portland Housing Bureau to implement an emergency rent assistance program

The City of Portland ordains: Section 1. The Council finds: On December 15, 2022, Multnomah County Commission approved budget modification #JOHS-001-23 for $28.6 million in Supportive Housing Services (SHS) funding, of which $15 million was allocated to the emergency rent assistance program administered by Multnomah County (“County”) and the City of Portland, Portland Housing Bureau (“City”). As part of the emergency rent assistance program provider network, the County has allocated $5 million to the City’s Expanded Partner Network (EPN) to distribute rent assistance to culturally specific communities. The amount budgeted to EPN consists of $4,200,000 in rent assistance, administered by Home Forward, the program’s centralized payee. The remaining $840,000 is for program administrative costs, including outreach, intake and application assistance, for EPN partners and the City. The City is designated as manager the of the EPN rent assistance contracts. The County and City desire to enter into an agreement, to compensate the City for the service of contracting and managing the program administrative funds for the EPN related to the emergency rent assistance program. NOW, THEREFORE, The Council directs: The Commissioner-in-Charge is hereby authorized to enter into an intergovernmental agreement with the County, substantially in accordance with the agreement attached as Exhibit A. The City is hereby authorized to receive payments in the amount of $840,000 from the County. Section 2. The Council declares that an emergency exists because the program funds must be obligated within required timeframes; therefore, this Ordinance shall be in full force and effect from and after its passage by Council.