A measure to raise at least $250 million for homeless services could appear on the May ballot, depending on a vote Tuesday.

A coalition of nearly 50 organizations and elected officials are expected to decide by consensus Tuesday whether to gather signatures to qualify for the November 2020 ballot -- when there will be a higher voter turnout but also other high-dollar asks -- or to allow Metro to refer the measure to the May ballot.

Here Together, the campaign to raise revenues to fund increased social services to complement two current affordable housing bonds, has received wide support in theory, but struggled to find a governmental body to carry it forward.

The campaign was originally imagined to mirror Metro’s landmark $652.8 million bond to build nearly 4,000 units of affordable housing. A large number of those units are intended be permanent supportive housing -- homes that come with services, such as mental health and addiction treatment and job training.

But no local government currently has the funds to pay for those services.

Metro’s councilors have pushed back on taking on the measure, saying that aiming for November was too quick. In a presentation to the Multnomah County board just two weeks ago, Here Together staff and board members said they would launch a signature gathering drive rather than wait for Metro to take on the cause.

But then Metro officials reversed course this week and indicated they would refer the measure if it went in May.

The campaign’s polling suggests that voters in Clackamas, Washington and Multnomah counties see homelessness as their top priority by far.

That is encouraging to many who would prefer to place a $250 million to $300 million measure on a May ballot, which would mean that voters wouldn’t see it alongside Metro’s proposed $3 billion transportation package that is slated for the November ballot. It would also mean that the Here Together partners wouldn’t have to figure out how to gather enough signatures in three counties, and then decide who would administer the funds if the measure passes.

But so far the coalition has not decided on a funding mechanism, though there are a few likely candidates, including a tax on high-income earners. The partners are also still figuring out how to make distribution of funds equitable and who would oversee the implementation.

Katrina Holland, a Here Together board member and the director of Community Alliance of Tenants, said those issues are starting to be ironed out. The May vote would shorten the timeline to do so considerably, though, and she anticipated coalition members will disagree on the best course.

She said that she expects them to come to consensus Tuesday, and underlined the urgency of getting a measure on the ballot this year.

“No doubt having more time to talk about the specifics are beneficial,” Holland said. “At the same time, we’re dealing with a very serious issue. Our homeless crisis is not going away. It continues to grow. There’s a benefit to many that potential funds can get to people who need them much faster.”

-- Molly Harbarger

mharbarger@oregonian.com | 503-294-5923 | @MollyHarbarger

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