The Board of County Commissioners approved a series of behavioral health investments a year ago that have significantly strengthened the network of long-term supports to improve the lives of people experiencing substance use and mental health crises. The investments have resulted in over 250 new recovery, stabilization and transitional housing beds that are currently serving people in need. Nearly half of the new beds — 126 of the 256 — are designated for culturally-specific recovery services.
“These investments are doing exactly what we set out to do – set up significant future infrastructure in our continuum of care, from a sobering and stabilization center to recovery and transitional housing,” said Chair Jessica Vega Pederson. “This is critical infrastructure and important pieces of the momentum we’re building in addressing a decades-long gap in these services.”
Behavioral Health Division Director Heather Mirasol said, “We are improving access to behavioral health services with these investments and creating meaningful, life-changing experiences for residents across our region.
“We are incredibly grateful for the partnership with such exceptional community-based organizations who are providing these services.”
In September 2023, the Board allocated over $14.4 million in Supportive Housing Services (SHS) unanticipated revenue towards specific investments in behavioral health services.
“We have known for years that there is a dire need for greater resources in the behavioral system and voters agreed,” said Commissioner Jesse Beason. “These Supportive Housing Services investments are showing results and changing lives for people in our community looking for pathways out of crisis and addiction.”
$150,000 of the SHS unanticipated revenue went toward sobering center design, planning and project development. Commissioner Julia Brim-Edwards was designated to lead this work and, in January 2024, convened a Sobering Center Core Group composed of local public safety and behavioral health experts to develop a Draft 24/7 First Responder Drop-Off Sobering Center Plan that was presented to the public and the Board in April 2024.
“We have heard clearly from first responders, health experts, and community members the critical need for a 24-7 First Responder Drop-Off Sobering Center and connections to mental health and treatment services as alternatives to jail, hospitals or leaving people on the street,” said Commissioner Brim-Edwards. “We need to act with urgency to site and open a permanent sobering center.”
The funding approved by the Board supports services across the County’s continuum of behavioral health — from crisis to long term recovery — with an intentional focus on culturally-specific providers and services.
"We all know that Oregon ranks among the lowest when it comes to access to behavioral health services,” said Commissioner Lori Stegmann. “But that narrative is changing. With every dollar available, we have strategically invested in the creation of new, additional beds to fill that gap for those who desperately need access to services, especially culturally specific resources.”
The County organized the investments and allocation strategies into six categories including: a 24/7 stabilization center, sobering and crisis services, stabilization and transitional housing, recovery-oriented permanent supportive housing, recovery-oriented transitional housing and recovery-oriented housing.
#1: 24/7 Stabilization center
The County provided Fora Health with $6.85 million in unanticipated SHS funds toward the purchase and construction of a new 20,000 sq. ft. supportive housing facility near Fora Health’s treatment center in Southeast Portland. The new facility, with 46 recovery beds, is set to open in 2026.
Additionally, the County provided Oregon Change Clinic with $1.1 million from the National Opioid Settlement to lease a 50-bed stabilization services facility focused on providing culturally-specific care to individuals who are Black and African-American. This facility is anticipated to open in November 2024.
Fora Health and the Oregon Change Clinic have committed to serving people who are leaving acute care settings. System partners have consistently called for more services to support individuals after they go through detox to continue in their recovery, and reduce repeated use of acute care services.
#2 Sobering and crisis services
Commissioner Brim-Edwards led the $150,000 planning effort to add alcohol and drug sobering beds to the system. Up to 16 new beds will open in spring 2025 at the Coordinated Care Pathway Center as a bridge while the County works to build a permanent center to support sobering by 2026.
Unity Center for Behavioral Health opened nine emergency substance use disorder beds as part of its Psychiatric Emergency Services expansion in August 2024. CareOregon provided $4 million toward capital construction and will provide $3.5 million annually to cover operation costs. To close the gap in funding for construction, Multnomah County and the City of Portland each allocated a one-time $335,000 investment in Fiscal Year 2023 to help the services come online. More information can be found on Unity Center’s website.
#3 Stabilization and transitional housing
The County directed $850,000 in SHS funds, and a $1.2 million one-time funding grant from CareOregon, to Bridges to Change to open and staff two housing programs. One program provides short-term (14 days) stabilization housing for 15 people, and a second program provides four to six months of transitional housing for 10 people.
#4: Recovery-oriented permanent supportive housing (with regional long-term rent assistance)
The Behavioral Health Division allocated $750,000 in SHS funds to add 25 regional long-term rent assistance vouchers for ACT (Assertive Community Treatment), ICM (Intensive Case Management) and EASA (Early Assessment and Support Alliance) Programs to support individuals with dual diagnoses in mental health and substance use disorder with permanent supportive housing.
#5: Recovery-oriented transitional housing
The County provided $1.14 million in on-going SHS funds to expand capacity at Central City Concern. The County is providing 27 low-barrier stabilization beds at Central City’s Blackburn Center for individuals in early recovery. Residents will be offered temporary housing for up to 180 days, and will be connected with essential services like addiction and mental health treatment, primary care, employment support and housing assistance to help them achieve long-term stability and self-sufficiency.
The County’s Promoting Access to Hope (PATH) program is also providing $71,000 in flexible rent assistance to support individuals after they leave treatment with transitional housing for up to 24 months. The Behavioral Health Division hired additional PATH staff to address care coordination and to help with the distribution of that rent assistance.
#6: Recovery-oriented housing
Recovery housing is a cost-effective and evidenced-based undertaking that provides individuals in remission from substance use disorder a community living environment that is often coupled with ongoing treatment and recovery services. The County awarded $5.05 million in unanticipated SHS funds to seven providers for 83 recovery-oriented beds. These include:
- The Miracles Club: 9 beds, focused on providing culturally-specific care to individuals who are Black and African-American
- Volunteers of America: 14 beds, 50% are intended for men of color
- Lasko Refuge: 15 beds, referral as needed to culturally specific services
- Juntos NW: 11 beds, focused on providing culturally-specific care to individuals who are Latino/a/x
- Project Patchwork: 12 beds, for parents/families in early recovery (priority for single fathers and their children)
- Quest Center for Integrated Health: 9 beds, focused on providing culturally-specific care to participants of The Resilience Initiative, an outpatient substance use program focused on individuals who are Black and African-American
- West Coast Sober Housing: 13 beds, focused on providing culturally-specific care to individuals who identify as LGBTQIA2S+
Community-based provider agency feedback
Fora Health
“We’re deeply grateful for our partnership with Multnomah County,” said Devarshi Bajpai, Chief Executive Officer of Fora Health. “These investments will make a big difference for hundreds of people who are struggling with houselessness and substance use disorders. We see people recovering from very serious addiction and mental health issues every day in these settings. We just need more of them and these investments will go a long way.”
Bridges to Change
“Bridges to Change is implementing two housing locations to support community stabilization and access to integrative care,” said Hannah Studer, Deputy Director of Bridges to Change. “The program will center the needs of individuals experiencing high acuity symptoms prior to residential treatment, and support post-residential community integration.”
The Miracles Club
“We are grateful for the county funding we received as it has provided housing for our African-American recovery community,” said Julia Mines, Executive Director of The Miracles Club. “The first step in stabilizing a life is having a safe place to call home, a place to heal, rebuild and recover. This is a missing piece for a countless number of Black folks in Portland.
“Without resources, such as this funding, it becomes incredibly difficult to deliver this support. While we are greatly appreciative of this funding, we hope it is just the beginning of a broader plan to address the disparity of housing in the African-American community.”
Quest Center for Integrated Health
“When we are able to provide housing alongside Substance Use Disorder treatment, this significantly increases the likelihood of our participants maintaining long-term recovery,” said Danielle Deer, Director of Programming at Quest Center for Integrative Health.
“At the heart of the Woodstock Recovery House is Quest Center’s dedication to put community at the forefront of healing. This intimate housing model fosters a supportive environment where residents can develop communal living skills and thrive not only in their recovery, but in all aspects of their lives.”