Local officials want landlords and property managers to come up with 40 rental units for homeless families in a "Home for the Holidays" campaign.

Portland Mayor Ted Wheeler and Multnomah County Chairwoman Deborah Kafoury plan to personally appeal to property owners and managers around the region to sell the idea. They hope to house 40 families who are currently in shelter by Jan. 15.

Multifamily NW, an apartment industry association that represents property agents throughout the region, committed to boosting the call throughout its networks.

In exchange, landlords will get publicly acknowledged for offering affordable housing to homeless families. The city and county will provide financial assistance to cover missed rent payments, security deposits and move-in costs among other social services to make sure families are successful at staying in the apartment.

Officials are looking for units that have up to four bedrooms and are $600 to $1,600 per month. The families who would move in are working or have vouchers that would pay part of the rent.

According to the Joint Office of Homeless Services, a city-county agency, families remain in homeless shelters three times as long as they used to, because they can't find anywhere to use their housing vouchers.

Human Solutions, one of Portland's largest shelter operators, reported that families stayed an average of 23 days in a shelter three years ago. Now, it's 65 days.

There are 500 people in Human Solutions' family shelter this fall. That number grew from a previous record of 300 in August.

There are more than 4,000 homeless people in Multnomah County, according to a 2017 count. Officials and advocates only expect that to rise as the city's affordable housing crisis continues.

People who don't own properties can contribute by donating new or lightly used household items and furnishings to Community Warehouse, 3969 NE Martin Luther King Jr Blvd.

-- Molly Harbarger

mharbarger@oregonian.com

503-294-5923

@MollyHarbarger