Clatsop County authorized $1.83 million intergovernmental agreement to coordinate statewide shelter program

The Clatsop County Board of Commissioners authorized the county manager to sign an intergovernmental grant agreement with the Oregon Housing and Community Services Department (OHCS) naming Clatsop County as the regional coordinator for the statewide shelter program and providing $1,826,531 in funding for fiscal year 2026–27 on a reimbursement basis.

Monica Steele, introduced in the meeting as assistant county manager, told the board the regional coordinator designation is for a five-year agreement through 2031 but that funding before the board was for a single fiscal year; she emphasized the funds are pass-through reimbursement dollars that must be spent on shelter program activities. Steele said the county will reimburse local providers after they spend funds and submit reimbursement requests to OHCS.

Board members asked whether the statewide agreement terms were negotiable and whether the county would need additional staff if the state added more requirements. Steele and other staff said the statewide contract language is generally consistent across regional coordinators, there is no required local match, and that current county staff already perform many coordinator duties; oversight is provided through a monthly MAC group of providers, cities, law enforcement, emergency-room representatives and county staff, with fiscal monitoring by OHCS.

The board voted to authorize the county manager to sign the agreement and any amendments in the stated amount.