Eugene confronts sudden loss of CAHOOTS response as residents urge emergency funding

Mayor Knudson told the City Council on April 14 that the city had received notice from White Bird Clinic on March 25 that CAHOOTS would reduce services and lay off staff, and that White Bird and the city agreed to a mutual contract termination effective April 7, 2025. The mayor said the city is coordinating with Lane County Mobile Crisis Services and Eugene–Springfield Fire to maintain a mobile crisis response while the situation evolves.

The mayor told the meeting: "The city of Eugene did not initiate the discontinuation of CAHOOTS service within Eugene," and laid out a timeline showing the contract aligned with White Bird's notification. That announcement drew more than 80 speakers during a public-comment period that focused overwhelmingly on restoring CAHOOTS or funding an equivalent community crisis response.

Why it matters: CAHOOTS (Crisis Assistance Helping Out On The Streets), operated by White Bird Clinic, has provided non‑police, trauma‑informed mobile crisis response in Eugene for decades. Multiple presenters and representatives of emergency services told the council that the program diverts people from emergency rooms and jails, provides transport and housing navigation, and is viewed by many first responders as a core part of local public safety.

Public testimony at the meeting described multiple recent examples in which CAHOOTS staff provided de‑escalation, transport and continuity of care. Rebecca Hill, an adult mental‑health peer support specialist, said CAHOOTS had "saved my life in 2003" and called the program "a national model." Ariel Myler, who manages a residential treatment program, said CAHOOTS staff "have gained rapport with most of our clients and we rely on their services." Laurel Lasuskas, a CAHOOTS worker of 10 years, said, "Last week, CAHOOTS saw almost 80% of its staff laid off by White Bird," noting the layoffs followed the contract notice.

Speakers cited data presented at recent CAHOOTS town‑hall meetings. Chris Rompalla, a nurse at Riverbend Hospital speaking on behalf of the Oregon Nurses Association, said, "In 2024 alone, CAHOOTS responded nearly 17,000 calls with an average of 46 calls per day." City council discussion included budget context: Councilor Groves said the city currently spends about $2 million a year on CAHOOTS support, citing $1.5 million from the general fund, $250,000 from the Community Safety Initiative (CSI) payroll tax and about $165,000 for vehicles.

Several public speakers and union representatives urged emergency bridge funding and asked the city to prioritize CAHOOTS in the upcoming budget cycle in July. Jack Baer, who spoke during public comment, urged residents to attend the budget meetings: "Please keep showing up to these city council meetings. Please keep advocating for city funding to go to CAHOOTS. There are five more city council meetings before July, which is when the city budget goes through."

Council response and next steps: Council members and staff said they would continue to gather facts and pursue options. Councilor Yeh said she would "continue to work to understand the situation and what the options are that the city has." Staff told the council that Lane County's Mobile Crisis Services (MCSLC) will be a point of continuity during the transition, and Eugene–Springfield Fire will coordinate with the county on service needs.

What the meeting did not decide: The council did not take a formal vote to reinstate CAHOOTS or to allocate emergency funding that night. Several councilors emphasized the distinction between the city contracting relationship and White Bird Clinic's operational decisions: Councilor Clark said, "We didn't fire White Bird. They quit. There's a fundamental difference. We contracted with them. We made a deal. Here's the service we really wanna buy. We want you guys to do it. You're great at it. And so we budgeted it. Everybody up here agreed. Here's the money to do it. And they couldn't fulfill the contract. White Bird said, sorry. We can't fulfill the contract."

Community impact and appeals: Testimony came from service providers, medical personnel, business owners and family members who said CAHOOTS' absence will increase pressure on emergency medical services, police and hospital emergency departments and could put highly vulnerable people at greater risk. Speakers asked the council to explore emergency bridge funding, to negotiate with White Bird Clinic and to consider direct city funding in the July budget process.

The council did vote on unrelated items that night (see separate articles). For CAHOOTS, the next concrete fiscal steps will play out in the coming weeks as staff, county partners and councilors assess options and the July budget process approaches.