Testimony to Multnomah County Board - Oversight of JOHS Vendor Success

Today I would like to discuss the County’s lack of oversight with their vendors, most of which fall under the Joint Office of Homeless Services.

Chair Vega Pederson, we were thrilled to hear about you forming a new Data Task Force and that you have included Commissioners Meieran and Stegmann in that effort.

We believe the Multnomah County is best situated to collect the critical data needed to solve the homeless crisis. The implementation of the Built for Zero program is exactly the tool we need to accomplish that goal.  

We deserve complete transparency from nonprofits performing complex social services to our most vulnerable residents. These organizations are receiving tens of millions of dollars each year from taxpayer-funded county grants and contracts. We demand regular audits and oversight. We insist that there be expectations and metrics. These organizations must show the public how they have spent these funds and what progress they have made carrying out their assigned tasks. We insist that any nonprofit receiving public dollars be up to date on all tax and government filings, and if they are not, the county must put them on an immediate remediation plan and cancel their contract if not resolved.

This is the most basic of government functions and yet in our County, it is not happening. 

We expect the county to follow existing transparency codes and statutes, and that the board enact and implement additional mandates to ensure the following: 

• Chair Vega Pederson immediately reinstate the Central Community Budget Advisory Committee and provide them with complete autonomy and the resources they need to perform their job as mandated by CODE.

• The County must require twice-annual reports from all contractors, showing how dollars were spent and the results the programs

• Any individual or organization receiving county funds be up to date on all required tax and/or government filings and be required to submit those documents to the county auditor annually;

• That any individual or organization that is:

• out of compliance with such filings;

• Using county dollars for exorbitant salaries and/or administrative costs; or

• Is not producing viable results,

…is put on a six month action plan to revamp their services and complete any missing filings. Their contract is canceled if issues are not resolved.  WE NEED ACCOUNTABILITY.

The Built for Zero program is a great place to start this process. You cannot solve a problem without data and continuous improvement methodology. 

Thank you.