A recent poll indicated that only 46% of likely November voters support the renewal of a regional homeless services tax designated to aid Multnomah, Washington, and Clackamas counties. The tax is designed to fund outreach, shelter, and housing aimed at addressing homelessness in the region. Conducted in late May and early June, the poll found that an additional 6% of respondents were undecided but leaned toward supporting the tax renewal.
The regional tax, initially approved by voters in 2020 with nearly 58% approval, is assessed on businesses and high-income households. At that time, supporters promised to “end our homelessness crisis” by increasing expenditure on services. However, the situation appears to have worsened, with more individuals becoming homeless each month in the Portland area than those being placed in housing.
Despite calls from officials in all three counties that the tax revenue has helped mitigate homelessness by providing shelter and housing for thousands, public support seems to be waning. The recent poll results suggest that the push to renew this tax—scheduled for November 2025—faces an uphill battle.
According to FM3 Research, which conducted the poll on behalf of Metro regional government, voters’ increasing skepticism regarding the tax’s effectiveness poses a significant challenge. A third of those surveyed expressed doubt about whether the services funded by the tax were delivered as promised, a notable rise of 10 points since a similar survey conducted in fall 2023.
Christian Gaston, a political consultant for Metro, stated that the future of the tax measure is uncertain. “You could see this winning and you could see this facing a difficult path depending on how the votes line up,” he noted, highlighting the polarizing views among voters.
Perceptions of local governments appear to influence attitudes toward the tax. Only 41% of respondents viewed Metro favorably, while Multnomah County fared even worse, with only 29% expressing a positive opinion. In contrast, Clackamas County had a favorable view from 62% of its residents, while Washington County’s approval rating stood at 51%.
The poll, which included responses from 822 likely voters, carries a margin of error of plus or minus 4%. Given the findings, the Metro Council is scheduled to meet to discuss potential amendments to the tax that might mitigate some concerns by tying the income threshold for tax liability to inflation. This measure would aim to reduce the financial impact on middle-income households, who are currently affected by a tax level set back in 2019.
While Metro can implement the income adjustment without voter approval, extending the tax will require public support. The council may also deliberate on the overall future of the tax measure and its viability for the November ballot, considering the current public sentiment.
Multnomah County, which has the highest homeless population among the three counties, receives the largest share of the regional tax revenue. However, it receives less money per homeless individual compared to its counterparts.
As the timeline approaches for voters to decide on the tax renewal, officials are left grappling with the challenge of demonstrating the tax’s effectiveness in tackling homelessness in the face of rising skepticism among the public. The Metro Council’s forthcoming discussions will be crucial in determining whether the future of the regional supportive housing services tax is sustainable or faces inevitable decline.
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