Multnomah Co. diversion center opens after judge denies preschool’s request for a delay

PORTLAND, Ore. (KPTV) – Multnomah County’s new Coordinated Care Pathway Center opens Monday, offering people arrested for drug possession a chance to avoid prison time by undergoing treatment.

The facility will act as a drop-in center for law enforcement, allowing officers to exclude eligible individuals from the criminal justice system to receive support and medical care.

Bernard Gyeb-Foster, CEO of Tuerk House, described the intake process: “Law enforcement will bring them in. They will be met by their peers and a security team for a quick search and stowage of their belongings before being taken through the medical screening process.

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The goal is to create a calming environment where the individual can breathe, eat, and prepare for the next steps in their recovery.

Opening hours are 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. on weekdays and 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. on weekends. While no distractions are possible outside of these hours, the center maintains security around the clock with unarmed staff trained in de-escalation techniques.

The opening of the center was met with resistance from the community. Nearby preschool Escuela Viva filed a lawsuit alleging its establishment violated public gathering laws. Despite those objections, a judge rejected a request to delay the center’s opening.

Gyeb-Foster remains optimistic: “We know that it will work.”

The county will focus on data collection to track the center’s impact and demonstrate that taxpayer dollars invested in these efforts are making a difference in addressing the addiction crisis.

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