Multnomah County is gearing up to open a new 24-hour, drop-off sobering center come September, as part of its commitment to restructure the response to drug use and possession in the Portland area, officials said. County Chair Jessica Vega Pederson announced that using her executive powers, she's streamlining the process for the sobering center's launch to meet the House Bill 4002 compliance deadline. The bill mandates changes to Measure 110 by reintroducing criminal penalties for possessing hard drugs while also funneling funds into treatment, according to Multnomah County's news release.
The hunt for a suitable facility has already kicked off, with a design firm on board, in response to a detailed sobering center plan presented on April 18 by Commissioner Julia Brim-Edwards, the news release detailed. This center represents a significant part of the county's deflection services, aimed at providing individuals cited for drug use an alternative to incarceration. Despite the urgency, to open basic deflection services by September 1, a project manager and design firm have been selected to lead the charge. The initiative received significant financial backing from the Oregon State Legislature, with a stipend of $25 million allocated for the services' kickoff and $14 million annually for continued operation.
Vega Pederson has emphasized the initial focus on voluntary sobering services, with plans to phase in involuntary services as operations stabilize and expand. "I directed my staff and our county departments to move swiftly to make these new sobering services a reality – including the addition of expanded intake and the basic services to accommodate people who will most benefit from deflection," Vega Pederson stated in the county's announcement.
The county is not dragging its feet, already establishing an executive committee within the Local Public Safety Coordinating Council to make policy decisions and, provide guidance surrounding HB 4002 and deflection. This committee consists of various justice partners and community stakeholders. Moreover, the chief operating officer's office has begun a procurement scoping process to pin down the best method for contracting service providers quickly. "We need a place other than jail, emergency rooms, or leaving people on the street," Brim-Edwards noted, underscoring the center's potential impact as a deflection point for those wrestling with addiction.
To get things off the ground, Multnomah County has thrown its hat in the ring for a grant from the Oregon Criminal Justice Commission. This grant would bolster the planning phase, with a comprehensive application slated for submission shortly. In her correspondence with local partners, Vega Pederson expressed her eagerness to maintain momentum on this project, "Having a place for our community members who are struggling with addiction is critical, and I am eager for the County to keep the urgency and forward-momentum on this project as one of our biggest priorities," she communicated on Monday, just a day before sharing the official news release.
