Multnomah County's deflection center officially opens Monday morning

PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) -- Multnomah County's deflection center has officially opened at 7 a.m. Monday on Southeast Sandy Boulevard, despite community pushback against the location.

Multnomah County's Coordinated Care Pathways Center is meant to help get drug users into treatment instead of jail, following changes to Measure 110, which now requires people caught with small amounts of hard drugs to be arrested or face mandated treatment.

During phase one, the deflection center will include a delivery entrance, intake, assessment and exam rooms, shower facilities and staff officers.

"I think it's good for the community, for the neighborhood here," said Romeo Lopez, who works in the Buckman neighborhood.

"I think it's a great thing to have. I think it should be in every neighborhood in Portland," said another Buckman resident, Gregory. "I don't see what the conflict is with the drug treatment center, and a school. I don't have children, but I think that both are essential for a healthy community.”

Bert Sperling, who lives in the Pearl District, has watched the city's drug crisis first-hand. A self-proclaimed recovering alcoholic, he said Portland needs as many solutions as possible.

"Every day I see people passed out moments after using fentanyl, and it's harsh. I see people also using tranq, and I see their limbs being eaten away from using tranq," Sperling said. "And sometimes I have tears in my eyes in the morning from seeing basically dying in the streets."

'The first step'

KOIN 6 News got an inside look at the new center on Friday and spoke with the Maryland-based non-profit, Tuerk House, who said this is the first step in addressing Portland's drug problems.

"This will be the first step, it's not exhaustive by any means, but it's a first step in addressing a challenge and a problem that has been going on in the city for a while," said Bernard Gyebi-Foster, Tuerk House's CEO.

Multnomah County is also fast-tracking plans to open a sobering center at the location as well, which is expected to open next year.

The deflection center isn't coming without controversy, however. A nearby preschool already tried to delay the building's opening, a bid that was rejected in court.

The lawyer representing Escuela Viva Preschool, located just one block from the new deflection center, told KOIN 6 News on October 11 that they are "disappointed" after learning that their bid was rejected.

“We’re really disappointed by the judge’s decision. I think he was wrong on the law and determining that the leadership team, convened by the county and the chair is, is not subject to the public meetings law,” said David Watnick, an attorney representing the preschool. “I think that Multnomah county residents are worse off today, for you know, the leadership team being told that it can make all these decisions for them behind closed doors.”

Multnomah County told KOIN 6 that they are fully engaged in addressing community concerns and they are working to make a Good Neighbor Agreement that works for everyone.

Bert Sperling said he thinks “it's a good idea to have a deflection center, because it gives people who are caught with drugs an alternative to going to jail. We need more solutions"