Dear Friends and Neighbors,
This week I proposed a major policy shift to the way Multnomah County addresses homelessness for people who suffer from severe and persistent mental illness (SPMI).
Helping unhoused people experiencing SPMI is among the county's most difficult challenges. It requires leveraging the talents and resources of people who work in different departments, divisions, agencies, jurisdictions, and community organizations.
The problem?
First, we don't have a dedicated team to connect all these partners and make sure they collaborate effectively to house these people and provide long-term services.
Second, while many of these individuals are legally entitled to federally funded long-term care, most of the organizations they interact with haven't been screening them for eligibility. We're leaving millions of dollars (maybe tens of millions) on the table.
The result?
Unhoused people with SPMI become heavy users of our emergency rooms, jails, and state hospital. As I said to the Board, we are spending an incredible amount of County money to achieve the worst results possible for this population. In addition, failing to serve Multnomah County's unhoused individuals who suffer from SPMI is hindering our ability to spur economic development in downtown and throughout the County.
Since entering elected office, I've been working to convene partners and build support for a pilot project to solve these problems. We gained a lot of momentum this week.
- On Tuesday April 15, I presented my plan to the Multnomah County Board of Commissioners. They voiced unanimous support.
- On Wednesday April 16, I travelled to Salem to meet with state leaders and spoke with Governor Tina Kotek and First Lady Aimee Kotek Wilson at a reception sponsored by Portland Metro Chamber.
- The Oregonian published a favorable article about the way this program will fill a needed gap in our mental health system.
There are a lot of proposals competing for funding at the state legislature, so nothing is guaranteed. If you would like to see this plan fully funded, please write your legislator and let them know! Find your legislator by clicking here.
Sincerely,
Commissioner Meghan Moyer