In a move to bolster the fight against addiction and homelessness, Clackamas County has laid down the groundwork to convert a former elementary school into a recovery center. The Board of County Commissioners gave the green light for the purchase of the Clackamas Elementary School property, with visions to transform it into a comprehensive campus to serve adults battling substance use disorders, according to a Clackamas County release.
The proposed campus will offer a suite of wraparound services designed to guide individuals towards self-sufficiency, and productive societal roles. As detailed in the release, these services include detox, stabilization, outpatient services, residential treatment beds, and peer support, among others. The county has put out a Notice of Funding Opportunity for the development and operation of what aims to be, a recovery sanctuary.
A diverse group of individuals will benefit from this center, ranging from referrals by hospitals and law enforcement to self-referrals by community members seeking help. Commissioner Ben West emphasized the county's belief in recovery by stating, "With this facility we will be taking a major step in addressing the addiction and homelessness crisis in our county."
The recovery center, which will not function as a shelter or drop-in location, is expected to run primarily on funds from coordinated care organizations, behavioral-health dedicated state funding, and a mix of other financial support. Concerning the initiative, Commissioner Paul Savas mentioned, "untreated substance abuse can lead to job loss, homelessness, time in jail and the emergency room, and strained relationships with family and friends," adding, "We're addressing that with this recovery center campus."
Engagement with the local community has been a key aspect of the development process— the county has been in discussions for months with locals, also providing information in Spanish to meet the community's needs. They are also establishing a Good Neighbor Group, to foster a collective understanding and set expectations between the county and the neighborhood surrounding the proposed site.
This new initiative is a reflection of the county's commitment to its recovery-oriented system of care, a framework set in place following expert recommendations at the Clackamas Addictions Recovery Summit held in September 2023. Details about the property acquisition, which totals $3.5 million from the North Clackamas Parks and Recreation District, and forthcoming steps like zoning changes and construction plans, are available on the county's dedicated webpage for the recovery center.
