Multnomah County could cut 9 homeless shelters under proposal to close budget gap
KGW | February, 26 2026
PORTLAND, Ore. — Across the network of homeless shelters supported by Multnomah County, there's an atmosphere of anxiety. County officials could eliminate as many as nine shelters to balance the budget this coming year — a move that could push hundreds to either find housing fast or return to the streets.
Dave stays at the Clark Center Shelter in Portland's Central Eastside, where he hopes for a second chance.
"It helps a lot of guys that are just getting out of the joint," he said.
Dave just did time in Oregon state prison for methamphetamine possession and a stolen vehicle, he said. But the Clark Center Shelter has since helped him and others leave that life behind.
"Trying to find jobs and housing," Dave said. "This is a godsend."
Michael, another guest at the Clark Center Shelter, said he was previously in jail.
"They've helped me by giving me a base, a home base to work from," he said.
But there's a chance that home base could close come July. Facing yet another round of budget cuts, Multnomah County officials are entertaining cuts to homeless programs in order to fill a $68 million budget gap in the Homeless Services Department alone.
"I was saddened, because there is really no place else I can go to," said Michael.
"It sucked, it sucked, it was shocking," added Jeremiah, another guest at Clark Center.
In an email to county commissioners last week, the Homeless Services Department proposed closing or reducing services at nine county-run shelters, cutting a total of 585 beds. Just over 1,500 beds would remain with county support.
"I do hope you know that none of these recommendations were easy," wrote Anna Plumb, interim executive director of the agency, "but also know that our north star in all of this was to right-size and balance our investments … now that the vast majority of one-time-only funds have expired."
County officials say the cuts may be needed to continue funding permanent supportive housing, keeping 2,000 people housed. The cuts would focus on 24/7 shelters with attached services.
The city of Portland, meanwhile, has been opening up overnight emergency shelters which do not operate all day.
"The closure is going to make it harder for those who don't have the resources to be able to survive out here," said Jeremiah.
The Clark Center Shelter is one of four on the chopping block that are run by the nonprofit Transition Projects. In a statement, spokesperson Clifton Roberts called for an alternative.
"At a time when our community is experiencing historically high levels of homelessness, this proposal would significantly increase unsheltered homelessness overnight," Roberts said, in part. "We are calling on our elected officials for a plan that prevents hundreds of people from being pushed out on the streets."
If commissioners take up this plan for the next budget, those shelters would close July 1. People like Jeremiah are aware that they have four months to figure out where to go next.
"There's a new anxiety knowing it's closing, but as he said, we've been given four months," said Michael.
"Where do I think I'm going to go?" Dave mused with a rueful laugh. "God, hope not on the street again."
While the Homeless Services Department is proposing these cuts, it is also asking commissioners for $10 million in one-time funds for placing people from shelters into housing.
For now, these are only budget proposals. Between now and June, the board of commissioners will hold work sessions and meetings to determine how they will fill the budget gap, potentially by going a different direction.
In addition to the $68 million budget gap for homeless services, the county has a $10 million gap in the General Fund.