The contentious Multnomah County's Coordinated Care Pathways Center, dubbed the deflection center, opened its doors yesterday morning on Southeast Sandy Boulevard, with the aim of channeling drug users towards treatment rather than incarceration, following adjustments to Measure 110, according to KOIN.
The facility's initial phase will feature an array of services including intake, assessment and exam rooms, shower facilities, and office space for staff and will operate on a schedule from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. during weekdays and 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. over the weekends, which may limit accessibility for those in need outside these hours but represents an opening stride towards a proposed round-the-clock operation, as detailed by KPTV and KGW. Individuals eligible for the deflection program who are caught with small amounts of hard drugs can either choose to undergo deflection – potentially avoiding jail time – or face the traditional justice system.
Despite facing opposition from the community over its placement, the center commenced operations with a mandate to constructively address drug-related offenses by providing immediate support to those who qualify, an effort that hopes to reduce recidivism and encourage recovery. "If they qualify, they can choose to participate in deflection or go to jail," as per the system outlined by officials and reported by KPTV.
In its first week prior to opening, the program had already referred more than 70 people, resulting in 136 outreach worker referrals to services such as detox, mental health, and housing, part of an overarching initiative by the county which is also planning to reopen a full-scale sobering center that will offer 30-50 beds to assist those in need, however it remains uncertain when this facility will be operational and offer these crucial services, as stated by KGW.
