Multnomah County has proposed a draft policy to distribute tents and tarps to the homeless, but lacks accountability and fails to address previous issues, while the Joint Office of Homeless Services argues that these items are needed to save lives.

With little fanfare, Multnomah County has adopted a new policy that lays out rules for how it will distribute tents and tarps to people living outside.

The Multnomah County Board of Commissioners met Tuesday to review the county’s tents and tarps policy, after Portland Commissioner Rene Gonzalez called for accountability on distribution. Gonzalez serves on a new steering committee that oversees the Joint Office of Homeless Services.