Multnomah County Chair Jessica Vega Pederson vowed to tackle behavioral health, homelessness, gun violence and early childhood education, among many other issues, during her state of Multnomah County address at Franklin High School on Tuesday night.
It was the first state of the county speech held in-person since the start of the pandemic and nearly 300 people filled the auditorium. It was also the first state of the county address since Vega Pederson became chair in January.
The address highlighted much of the proposed $3.5 billion budget that county commissioners will vote on June 8. She called for stepped up funding for auto theft prosecution, detox beds, animal care workers and short- and long-term shelter options.
“As we emerge from the pandemic into a city remade by social unrest, homelessness, economic disparity and disconnection, we have an increasing need for a social fabric that cares for the most vulnerable,” Vega Pederson said. “That is what Multnomah County does, cares for the most vulnerable with integrity and commitment.”
The county will hold three public hearings May 10, 17 and 31 for residents to weigh in on the budget.
Vega Pederson’s proposal calls for $750,000 to fund two investigators and two prosecutors to reduce a backlog of gun violence cases in the District Attorney’s Office. Previously, the positions were funded by one-time-only federal pandemic relief money. The budget would also allocate more money for an Auto and Commercial Retail Theft Unit in the District Attorney’s Office.
“Since 2019, we’ve been experiencing a historic 68% increase in auto thefts, with an 80% increase in cases referred to the District Attorney,” she said. “Multnomah County and the city of Portland are co-funding this theft task force to place two new deputy district attorneys directly inside police precincts.”
A student asked Vega Pederson following her speech how the county would address the mental health of students impacted by gun violence. She said the county will continue to invest in mental health resources in schools, in addition to continuing to fund after school and summer programs to fill support gaps for students.
Her proposed budget would also expand behavioral health staff for both youth and adults in the county corrections system. If commissioners agree, $1 million will be earmarked for those new corrections health staff members.
She is also calling for increased investments in the Behavioral Health Resource Center, the Behavioral Health Emergency Coordination Network, and behavioral health homeless services.
The Behavioral Health Resource Center in downtown Portland would receive $2.5 million to staff 32 shelter beds and 19 transitional housing beds – something that is already built and set up within the building but was just waiting for funding and a nonprofit to manage the shelter aspect of the program.
“The (center’s) programs are just one piece of a systemwide puzzle,” Vega Pederson said. “Which is why we’re also investing in new capacity to support community members stabilizing from acute intoxication with $2 million new dollars for our Behavioral Health Emergency Coordination Network.”
The behavioral health investments would complement the proposed $280 million for homeless and housing services. Among that is the county’s new Housing Multnomah Now program, which aims to house 300 people, and emergency funding from the state, which will house 275 more. The funding would also create 140 new shelter beds, primarily at the large and small pod and tent villages that Los Angeles-based nonprofit Urban Alchemy is contracted with the city of Portland to operate.
“When people ask what my plan for homelessness is, every strategy, program and initiative is rooted in partnership, accountability and urgency,” Vega Pederson said.
Vega Pederson said county workers are close to confirming where in the city’s downtown area Housing Multnomah Now will start to connect with campers to get them into apartments.
Chabre Vickers, Prosper Portland director of equity, policy and communications, leads the question and answer portion of the state of Multnomah County address with Chair Jessica Vega Pederson.
In early February, Vega Pederson had said engagement with landlords “starts today.” But the county has yet to launch the program, with officials citing delays in state funding as the primary reason.
Now, the goal is to house 100 people living unsheltered in the central city by the end of June before expanding to help house people living outdoors in east county over the next year.
While a large portion of the county’s homeless funding will go to rent assistance, a significant portion will also go to tiny home and motel shelters.
“Should all beds come online as budgeted and predicted … this will support more than 2,500 beds of year-round shelter with wraparound services this calendar year,” Vega Pederson said.
The county’s voter-enacted Preschool for All has experienced a slow rollout, despite plentiful funding from the voter-enacted tax on high earners. The proposed budget includes funding to double the number of preschool spots to 1,400 for the 2023-24 school year, short of the minimum goal of 1,500 that county officials set in 2020. A substantial portion of the funds would be used to fund new preschool sites and secure more preschool providers.
“These families, their dreams and progress, are worth our investment and I’m so glad we’re making it,” Vega Pederson said, referring to the proposed $17 million capital outlay. “These dollars fund infrastructure projects for home-based providers, child care centers, nonprofit organizations and school districts.”
Chabre Vickers, Prosper Portland director of equity, policy and communications, asked Vega Pederson what the community should be excited about amid Preschool for All’s slow start.
Vega Pederson replied that this year 700 students had preschool “that otherwise wouldn’t have that opportunity.”
Vega Pederson also noted that one reason for a lack of available preschool options is incredibly low pay. Preschool for All addresses this by offering livable wages, she said.
The budget also includes an increase in funding for Multnomah County Animal Services that will allow the division to add 10 full-time positions to address its long-standing struggles.
In January, the shelter temporarily stopped accepting strays and lost pets as it struggled to provide basic care to the pets in its custody. Shortly after, Vega Pederson called for a five-month review of the shelter that remains underway. An investigation by The Oregonian/OregonLive found that problems at the shelter were well-documented for at least seven years but county officials failed to act.
“As we take care of people, we must support our animals too. Our animal shelter needs investment,” Vega Pederson said. “We’re bringing on a much-needed 31% increase in animal care staffing.”
Nicole Hayden can be reached at nhayden@oregonian.com or on Twitter @Nicole_A_Hayden.
