Committee forwards Gresham-nominated Teresa Carr to full council for Home Forward board amid vacancy and behavioral-health questions

The Homelessness and Housing Committee on Jan. 13 voted to send the Gresham-nominated appointment of Teresa Carr to the Home Forward Board of Commissioners to the full Portland City Council for confirmation.

Teresa Carr, identified in the meeting as the Port of Portland’s director of business development and properties, introduced herself and described a regional real-estate background; the committee moved the nomination to the council under resolution document number 2026-017.

Why it matters: Home Forward is Portland and Multnomah County’s public housing authority and the region’s largest affordable-housing provider. Committee members pressed agency leaders for detail after recent media coverage showing double-digit vacancy rates in Home Forward’s portfolio.

During public testimony, David Stroud said he did not oppose Carr but urged that the Home Forward board include behavioral-health expertise. “A behavioral wellness person would ask, are we visiting these places? Are we doing spot checks? Are we looking to see that the people in them are doing well?” Stroud said, arguing that housing production must be paired with services.

Home Forward CEO Ivory Matthews told the committee the vacancy numbers include units temporarily offline for comprehensive renovation and units that came out of service after a major weather event; she also noted the agency recently purchased two communities that added “a couple of 100 units” to the portfolio. “We don’t receive mental-health dollars,” Matthews said, adding that Home Forward relies on partners who control those resources to provide behavioral supports.

Councilors pressed for follow-up and oversight. Councilor Ryan asked whether Measure 110 funds could be used to support services; Matthews said Home Forward’s policy team is engaging partners and that the agency has three policy FTEs focused on state and local advocacy and resources. Councilors requested additional briefings on vacancy reductions and program strategies.

The vote: The committee voted to refer resolution document number 2026-017 to full council with four ayes and one absent. The referral does not yet confirm Carr; the full council will act at a later date.

Next steps: The appointment will be considered by the full council. Committee members said they expect continued updates from Home Forward on vacancies and how the agency coordinates behavioral-health services with partners.