View this email in your browser  On Wednesday KOIN 6 News aired a town hall on homelessness where I sat down with city and county leaders, community members, and experts in the field to discuss solutions. I believe in the urgency and effectiveness of the housing-first model and also believe in saving the lives and reducing harm to homeless Portlanders. For those who are poor, disabled, or need some help to recover from an adversity, compassion means a permanent or temporary supportive affordable housing unit.Compassion also means better serving those stuck on waiting lists for that affordable housing, often waiting for years. Life on Portland’s housing waiting list while experiencing outdoor homelessness is brutal, needlessly deadly, and harmful. It does not have to be this way. Each and every one of us in the City of Portland are impacted by the homeless crisis which is why it continues to be my top priority. I encourage you to tune-in to the conversation below. Watch KOIN: The Unsheltered Truth: Searching for Solutions Part One Watch KOIN: The Unsheltered Truth: Searching for Solutions Part Two Watch KOIN: The Unsheltered Truth: Searching for Solutions Part Three While housing (both long-term and emergency shelter) was largely the focus of our discussion, we also dove into the heartbreaking issues of substance abuse, addiction, and mental/behavioral health.Synthetic drugs like fentanyl and P2P meth are devastating our community. Cities all across the State of Oregon are struggling to provide access to services to our most vulnerable. I will continue to plea with Oregon lawmakers to make mental and behavioral health program reform a top priority in next year’s state legislative session.This upcoming Tuesday, September 27th, 2022, at 4:30pm, Multnomah County Chair Deborah Kafoury and I will lead a public Behavioral Health Dialogue with leaders at the City, County, and State level. You can livestream the event via ZOOM and you can submit questions for discussion through this link: Click here to view the Behavioral Health Dialogue Chair Kafoury and I held earlier this month.Portland—and all cities across America—are experiencing a housing and behavioral health crisis, exacerbated by the pandemic. I will continue to prioritize this issue with urgency and compassion.Sincerely,  Ted Copyright © 2022 City of Portland, All rights reserved. Our mailing address is: 1221 SW 4th Ave. Portland, OR 97204 |
East Columbia Neighborhood Association 