More than $700 million was spent last fiscal year to tackle homelessness in the Portland region, yet the crisis only deepened, according to a new report from the research group ECOnorthwest. Multnomah County, home to Portland, saw a staggering 26% increase in homelessness from January 2024 to early 2025 despite massive public and private investment.
The report, titled Sources and Uses of Resources to Address Homelessness in the Portland Region, examined over 500 distinct uses of taxpayer and private dollars across Portland, Metro, and surrounding counties. Nearly half of the funding came from Metro’s Supportive Housing Services tax, with additional contributions including $100 million in federal funds, $70 million from Multnomah County, $66 million from the city of Portland, and $39 million from the state of Oregon. Private philanthropy also played a significant role.
A breakdown of expenditures shows $250 million spent on what’s categorized as “safety on and off the streets”—a term that covers shelters, outreach, and homeless camp cleanups. Another $219 million went to supportive housing programs, $141 million toward housing placements, $64 million on access and assessment systems, and $46 million on administrative overhead.
Despite the enormous budget, the system appears inefficient and lacking transparency. ECOnorthwest policy advisor John Tapongna described the funding ecosystem as “complex,” warning that the disjointed nature of government and nonprofit involvement makes it difficult to track spending and outcomes.
Tapongna also warned that continued funding at these levels is unlikely, especially with the Trump administration’s intent to reduce federal spending through the “Big Beautiful Bill.” This raises serious concerns about the sustainability of Portland’s homelessness spending model, which has already produced limited results.
With public trust eroding and homelessness rising, questions continue to mount over whether Portland’s leadership has a viable plan—or simply a bloated budget with no measurable success.
