My response Chair Vega Pederson’s comments

I, and many other dedicated people here at the city, have been focused on making real progress on homelessness for years now. I have been consistent on this since day one, and today’s vote was not about abandoning the county—it was about a reset in our relationship that centers accountability after years without the changes I have been asking for.

I’ve asked for a clear definition of roles between the city and county to avoid duplication of efforts, housing vouchers for people exiting SRVs and TAS sites, and up-to-date data on who is living on our streets and using our services so that we can reduce reliance on the PIT count, and target our response more efficiently. These are basics we need to get people housed and off the streets. And yet, every single time, I have been met with resistance and hesitancy. Clear goals need good data, good data needs a clear plan, and a clear plan needs effective partnership, and we don’t have that right now.

This isn’t about “stunts,” I supported this because it feels like the only way to move this issue forward. Let’s be clear: we need a county that’s serious about partnering with the city to move the needle. More tents than ever is not a solution.

I’m still committed to working with the county because that is what we have to do—there’s no world where we fix this crisis without cooperation. But Portlanders are tired of words. They are tired of vague and unmeasurable goals. Ultimately, they are tired of us not learning from our missteps.

We need real solutions, not just the same process year after year.

It’s time for a reset.