Recovery housing advocates say Multnomah County needs more beds

Marissa Cade, a registered lobbyist who said she represents a coalition of more than 20 recovery service providers in Multnomah County, urged the board to expand recovery housing capacity for people leaving jails, hospitals, residential treatment, detox centers and shelters.

Cade described lived experience among the providers and told the board: “We know from experience that for some people leaving carceral settings, those leaving hospitals, residential treatment, detox, the sobering center, those entering deflection and diversion, and some of the people in our shelters right now, that the next step on their path is recovery housing.” She said recovery housing provides a “clean, safe, sober home” that many people need to sustain recovery.

Cade also spoke about her personal family experience with overdose and recovery and said recovery housing helped her sister regain stability: “She learned how to get a job, clean up her record, and get her license back. She found community, and I got my sister back.” She urged the county to increase investment in recovery housing beds.

Why it matters: multiple commissioners and county departments are involved in homelessness, behavioral health and housing work. County support for recovery housing can intersect with shelter, treatment and re-entry programs but does not replace clinical services, the presenter said.

Board response: commissioners did not make a motion on this public comment item but acknowledged the testimony during the meeting’s public-comment period.

Ending: The testimony highlighted recovery housing as a gap in the local continuum of care and urged county action to expand capacity.