PORTLAND, Ore. — Local leaders are looking to Portland's Central Eastside neighborhood to open a treatment center.
Together, the state, city, county and Central City Concern — a Portland-based nonprofit — are working to purchase a building to provide 70 treatment beds and temporary housing for people experiencing substance-use disorders. The building went up for auction, and two days later, Central City Concern submitted a bid and finalized the contract in less than two weeks.
This comes just weeks after Gov. Tina Kotek’s Central City Task force announced their recommendations to revitalize Portland at the Oregon Business Summit. Among those recommendations was expanding treatment options. There is also a plan for a statewide fentanyl emergency that will be declared in the coming weeks.
The exact location of the center isn’t being released until the sale is final, but KGW has been told and reports show that it’s a building off the corner of Southeast 16th and East Burnside. For years, the building has been a hostel called Lolo Pass and somewhat of a community staple.
“I’ve seen people go there to do dancing, they have poetry slams, they have things like that, so I think we are going to lose something,” said Angelica, who lives off East Burnside Street.
A spokesperson for Lolo Pass told KGW they don’t have any comment at this point.
Meanwhile, some in the unhoused community have questions about the potential center.
“I want to know what the long-term goal is and how we can benefit these individuals. Do we have social workers? Do we have case managers? Do we have health care professionals to help people through this process?” Angelica asked.
“I know we can use more [treatment centers]. The ones we have now are usually overcrowded and have waiting lists,” added Rob, who lives three blocks away under a tarp.
The plan is for Central City Concern to run the treatment center. It will be staffed 24/7 and referral-based. People can stay in treatment for up to four months. There will also be transitional housing options.
Central City Concern declined to comment further and said additional information will be released late next week.
In a press statement, Andy Mendenhall, Central City Concern's CEO, thanked Gov. Kotek, Chair Vega Peterson and Mayor Ted Wheeler "for decisively acting on recommendations that came directly from the Portland Central City Task Force."
"This program will provide temporary housing and treatment for people experiencing substance use disorders who will benefit from a more structured level of service," Mendenhall continued. "Medicaid data informed us we needed more of these services, and aligned leadership empowered rapid success with this project. This is a real win for our region.”
Central City Concern is still waiting for the sale to go through and for funding approval. They need $17 million to open the site. The county is voting on their spending portion Thursday, which is $6.25 million, and the city’s vote comes later this month. Their portion is $2 million, along with $6 million from the Oregon Health Authority. Central City Concern will spend $3 million of their own funds.
If all goes to plan, the goal is to open the center in the fall.