Clackamas County shifts crisis line to Multnomah County full time; staff say callers see no change

County Health, Housing & Human Services Director Mary Rumbaugh told the Board of Commissioners on May 5 that, because of staffing reductions and contractual terms, Clackamas County’s crisis and support line began being answered around the clock by Multnomah County on April 15.

Rumbaugh said the change was driven by funding priorities and the pace of staffing transitions that left the county without the minimum staffing required to answer the line directly. “It is a loss,” she said of moving away from county‑staffed coverage, adding that the caller experience is unchanged: residents still call the county number, (503) 655‑8585, and the Multnomah team answers the line.

County staff described the arrangement as a tri‑county line: Multnomah County currently answers Multnomah, Clackamas and Washington counties’ crisis calls. Rumbaugh said the current contract allows Multnomah to answer outside previously agreed hours by mutual agreement, and the county will present a contract amendment to the board to reflect the changed scope and compensation.

She estimated moving the line full time to Multnomah County will save roughly $500,000 for the division. Commissioners sought reassurance that callers—especially in rural parts of Clackamas County—would continue to receive appropriate local referrals. Rumbaugh said callers in need of mobile crisis response will be transferred to the county’s mobile crisis team (county employees) and that complaint metrics and additional contract measures are being added to preserve local oversight.

Chair Roberts reiterated the public service number and said the update was for information only.