May 26, 2010
Following a request from the city of Portland and Multnomah County, the Portland Development Commission Board voted at Wednesday afternoon’s meeting to provide $2 million in project funding for the creation of a Crisis Assessment and Treatment Center. The Center, which will be housed on the second floor of the David P. Hooper Detoxification Center, will be a 16-bed mental health sub-acute facility.
The $2 million PDC is providing for the project will come from the Central Eastside Urban Renewal Area budget. The money was originally projected to be provided to the county in Fiscal Year 2012-2013; however events over the past few years have demonstrated a pressing need to augment the mental health services the city and county currently provide.
“In light of ever worsening state budget cuts, actions like those taken by PDC’s board to accelerate the timeline for this funding is more important than ever,” said Mayor Sam Adams. “I want to applaud the tremendous city-county-PDC cooperation and fast action that will ensure that construction on this essential facility can begin as soon as possible.”
“The creation of the Crisis Assessment and Treatment Center has been a huge priority for Multnomah County. And with our funding partners like the city of Portland and the Portland Development Commission, we’re all making a strong statement together about our commitment to help some of the most vulnerable people in our community,” said Multnomah County Chairman Jeff Cogen. “PDC’s $2 million investment will allow us to better assist people with serious mental health issues and get them the kind of treatment they need. We’re grateful to PDC and its board for helping us tackle this issue and improve the lives of Portland and Multnomah County residents.”
“I think we are all acutely aware of the challenges service providers face around mental health issues,” said PDC Chair Scott Andrews. “I am very proud that PDC is able to contribute resources to a project that will have a direct and lasting positive impact on the community.”
The 3-0 vote in favor of allocating the funds in Fiscal Year 2009-2010 enables PDC’s Executive Director Bruce Warner to enter into an agreement with Multnomah County to ensure the disbursement of funds to the county at the earliest date allowed by law. Since two commissioners from PDC’s Board were unable to attend the meeting the resolution will not take affect for 30 days.
Construction on the $5 million Crisis Center is expected to begin in July and should be complete by summer 2011.
