The Diane Wade House

The Diane Wade House will be the first-of-its-kind transitional housing program for adult women involved in the criminal justice system in Multnomah County. The home will provide gender-responsive, trauma-informed services that are also Afrocentric. This means that residents, who must be referred to the program, will have access to culturally specific mental health stabilization and support services.

In addition to dormitory-style housing, the Diane Wade House will offer a variety of daytime services, including mentoring and life-skills programs. It is intended to be a low-barrier, transitional housing program, with eligibility requirements designed to reduce barriers to entry rather than place undue burdens on those who need housing and services.

The home is part of an overall Multnomah County strategy to reduce unnecessary incarceration and reduce the number of African Americans who are over-represented in the criminal justice system. It also provides an alternative for people with behavioral health issues who would benefit more from community-based services than from jail.

The home will serve 38 justice-involved women referred by the Multnomah County Department of Community Justice and Multnomah County Mental Health and Addiction Services. Twenty-one of those beds are funded by the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation through the Safety and Justice Challenge (SJC). The SJC seeks to reduce over-reliance on jail across the country. Multnomah County has received a $2 million grant over two years to support efforts to reduce unnecessary incarceration without compromising public safety — focusing most on those struggling with mental health or addiction issues.

More Information:
Diane Wade House Program Information (270.37 KB)