Committee reviews $3.5 million housing proposal to ease state hospital backlog

The Transportation and Economic Development Subcommittee held an informational hearing Thursday to review House Bill 50 11, policy option package 90, a $3,500,000 general-fund proposal intended to create short-term housing, rental assistance and supportive services to help move people from the Oregon State Hospital into community housing.

The proposal was presented by Andrea Bell, executive director of Oregon Housing and Community Services (OHCS), and Caleb Yant, OHCS deputy director. Dr. Krista Jones, deputy director for behavioral health at the Oregon Health Authority (OHA), answered committee questions on system capacity and the court-ordered timeline that underlies the recommendation.

OHCS officials said the package is one of several actions prompted by a federal court order, issued in 2022, that requires the state to reduce wait times for “aid and assist” commitments so people in county jails who have been found unable to assist in their own defense gain admission to the state hospital within seven days. Andrea Bell said the proposed program is intended to help…