Next week I will be announcing my full list of proposed investments for the city’s annual budget—but this announcement just can’t wait.
Yesterday, my colleagues on the City Council and I met with Dr. Greg Townley and the PSU Homeless Research & Action Collaborative who provided a thorough one-year evaluation report on the Portland Street Response.
Portland Street Response sends unarmed specialists to Portlanders experiencing a mental and/or behavioral health crisis. In reforming and refocusing our public safety system, I firmly believe that we must send the right responder to the right emergency call.
Portland Street Response is not only effective, but a new best-practice in community safety—and recently reported data backs me up. I am proud to announce my full support in advancing this program in the upcoming annual budget to help more Portlanders in need.
I will propose expanding Portland Street Response staffing threefold. This will give their team the people-power to provide citywide services 24/7.
