Rethinking Crisis Response: Portland Street Response and Deflection in Practice

Police are often called to address concerns about people experiencing homelessness and mental health crisis. These interactions can lead to arrests, which lead to fines, loss of belongings, and barriers to housing. Following a report that 52% of arrests in Portland were unhoused people, advocates called for an alternative model of crisis response called Portland Street Response. I will review the process of developing Portland Street Response and engaging community members in its evaluation, including people experiencing homelessness; residents and businesses; and other service providers.

Substance use and arrests often go hand in hand. On September 1, 2024, the Oregon legislature ‘recriminalized’ possession of controlled substances and created the Oregon Behavioral Health Deflection Program. 28 counties received grant funding to support deflection programs offering treatment and health-related services instead of arrest or jail for people who may have substance use or mental health problems. But is deflection working? Learn how public health researchers are working with counties and policymakers to evaluate the success of these new programs.