In a significant push to urgently tackle the crisis on Portland's streets, leaders from the State of Oregon, Multnomah County, and the City of Portland teamed up with the Mental Health & Addiction Association of Oregon (MHAAO) to expand a bourgeoning outreach program targeting those hit hardest by addiction and homelessness. The initiative, which originally kicked off as a pilot in December of last year, is gaining new ground as officials hope to better canvas Central City with support and services.
The collaboration aims to actively provide support for individuals suffering from unmet behavioral health needs and addiction, particularly those without a roof over their heads. According to an official statement, Multnomah County Chair Jessica Vega Pederson said, "Multnomah County is proud to be funding this model that actively addresses people in crisis with outreach and resources." The program's outset is to evenly split the first-year costs, roughly $683,000, across the three governmental bodies to ensure the pilot runs seamlessly for a full year.
Striving to build impactful connections with residents in distress, the outreach program pairs MHAAO addiction recovery providers closely with the Portland Police Bureau’s Bike Squad. These teams converge on precisely not only to address immediate risks but to foster pathways to long-term recovery. Mayor Ted Wheeler expressed his approval, saying, "The partnership between PPB’s Bike Squad and MHAAO has helped build relationships with people where they are, connect them with appropriate resources, and literally save lives."
Enhancements to the outreach program include hiring four MHAAO peer support specialist-outreach team members, a program data analyst/project coordinator, a designated vehicle to facilitate the outreach, and a central hub for operations—leased from Mercy Corps. Gov. Tina Kotek lauded the joint efforts and emphasized the potential of the program to serve as a blueprint for other regions looking to tackle similar emergencies.
This comprehensive approach has not gone without notice, with Janie Gullickson, MHAAO executive director, confirming the program's vital role in the community, stating, "MHAAO peer support outreach teams have been able to work collaboratively with law enforcement to connect individuals who are experiencing addiction and mental health issues to the available services they want and need."
