8.13.26 Regular Meeting

The Multnomah County Board held a virtual regular meeting on August 13, 2026, primarily featuring public testimony on various community issues including universal preschool funding, jail conditions, hybrid work mandates for county employees, and environmental concerns related to BLM land management. A significant portion of the meeting was devoted to discussing the impact of a federal court ruling that voided the 2026 HUD Continuum of Care (CoC) funding competition, which affects approximately $38.6 million in federal funds for homeless services in the county. County officials provided an update on the legal challenges and uncertainties surrounding the CoC funding, emphasizing the potential risks to permanent supportive housing and the need for alternative funding strategies. The board also discussed the upcoming hybrid work initiative requiring county employees to work in-office at least three days a week by mid-2027, with concerns raised about employee engagement, equity, and implementation processes. No new procurement contracts or awards were approved during this meeting, but the discussion highlighted ongoing budgetary and funding challenges related to federal grants and county operational policies.