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Greetings constituents and neighbors,
March 7th marked the end of the 2024 Legislative Session. As a reminder, in even numbered years, we have a 35-day short session. In odd numbered years, the session is 160 days long. This session, in addition to my role as the Co-chair of the Ways and Means Committee, I served as a member of the Joint Committee on Audits and as a member on the Joint Committee on Addiction and Community Safety Response.
This session, we introduced House Bill 4151. This bill establishes a task force to analyze and address challenges faced by the youth behavioral workforce. The focus is on professions that will increase access to behavioral health services and bolster the diversity of the workforce in order to better represent the youth population that the behavioral health workforce serves. The task force will identify avenues to align current behavioral health professions serving youth that do not currently have state-issued authorizations with existing regulatory agencies. By developing state-issued authorizations for these professions, we can expand the youth behavioral health workforce, giving more youth access to mental health support. Additionally, the task force will devise strategies to create pathways for underrepresented individuals to join the field.
Supporting the next generation is crucial to a better future. By developing, sustaining, and supporting those who work directly with youth, we can allow for better mental health support for the leaders of tomorrow.
In the 2024 short session, House Bill 4002. was among the top priorities for House Democrats. The goal of HB 4002 is to prevent and tackle the root causes of addiction, crack down on drug dealers, restrict public drug use, move people into addiction treatment, and reduce the number of overdose deaths, without a return to the war on drugs.
Treatment is the default under this legislation, from the initial interaction where treatment and services are offered, to offramps like diversion to treatment or conditional discharge. Specialty courts and early, regular engagement with peer support are both examples of programs proven to reduce recidivism. Both are emphasized. Coordinated care organizations are required to have adequate networks of addiction treatment providers in order to serve the most people possible. By increasing access to treatment services, affordable housing, and other supports, Oregonians can thrive. Our office believes these are crucial to support and uplift our communities.
This committee’s work will continue beyond the 2024 session. We’ll focus on using every available tool to get people into treatment and improving accountability, without repeating the same mistakes as the failed war on drugs and its disproportionate impact on Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) communities.
 Expanding resources for recovery is among my legislative priorities. Thank you Oregon Recovers for allowing me the opportunity to stand with you! Feb. 15, 2024.
Highlight: Albina Vision Trust
The district had many wins this session. The Emergency Housing Stabilization and Production Package, consisting of Senate Bill 1537, Senate Bill 1530, and House Bill 4134, allocating $376 million towards housing and recovery housing. Of that amount, $25 million of this has been allocated to Albina Vision Trust, a nonprofit aiming to revitalize and reconnect the historically Black Albina community. Funds will be used for the purchase of the old Portland Public School District headquarters building as well as property on North Dixon Street in Portland for development of affordable housing. By addressing the damage caused by historical land-use decisions rooted in racism and developing affordable housing, we create a better Portland for everyone.
Behavioral Health
- $25,000,000 to Multnomah County to support the construction of a behavioral health drop off center (Multnomah County Sobering and Drop-off Center in Downtown Portland)
- $4,000,000 to The 4th Dimension Recovery Center (4D Recovery) to support the acquisition of a facility to provide adolescent substance-use disorder residential and outpatient services
- $4,000,000 to Cascade AIDS Project to purchase the Prism Health facility located at 15 North Morris Street in Portland
- $1,000,000 to distribute to Portland Opportunities Industrialization Center for a peer-to-peer mentoring outreach program.
Recovery Housing
- $7 million to the Urban League of Portland for homelessness prevention services
- $3 million to Unite Oregon for the purchase of a property on East Burnside Street in Portland for development of affordable housing
- $1.25 million to the Center for African Immigrants and Refugees Organization for the purchase of a property on SE Stark Street for development of affordable housing
- $1 million to Community Warehouse to support the furnishing of reused household goods to low-income residents
- $700,000 to 4D Recovery, Inc Development of recovery housing that is responsive to the needs of young adults in Multnomah County and that is culturally responsive to the needs of LGBTQ+ individuals in Multnomah County
- $1,555,274 Bridges to Change, Inc for down payment and operational support for Multnomah County scattered housing sites
- $750,000 to Iron Tribe Network Self-pay Home Purchase in Multnomah County
- $500,000 to Juntos NW Transitional housing that is culturally responsive to the needs of Latino men in Multnomah County
- $211,000 for The Lasko Refuge Housing Expansion in Multnomah County
- $500,000 to Miracles Club MLK Limited Partnership for purchase of Sober Housing that is culturally responsive to the needs of LGBTQ2 African Americans in Multnomah County
- $500,000 for Miracles Club MLK Limited Partnership for purchase of stabilization housing that is culturally responsive to the needs of African-American women in Multnomah County
- $700,000 to Painted Horse Recovery for purchase of recovery housing that is culturally responsive to the needs of Native Americans in Multnomah County
- $915,177 to Transcending Hope Next Steps Rapid Rehousing Expansion (serving Latino community) in Multnomah County
- $98,000 for West Coast Sober Housing for support of operational costs of housing that is responsive to the needs of women in Multnomah County
- …. Among various other investments in housing and recovery housing
Thank you for placing your trust in me to represent you. I am proud of what we were able to accomplish in such a short session. This year we worked to urgently address the addiction crisis, expand affordable housing, support working families and small businesses, invest in community safety and violence prevention.
 Thank you to my colleagues for working diligently this short session on homelessness and housing affordability, improving behavioral health and addiction services, and so much more!
 Thank you, also, to my staffers and intern, as well as capital administration, for helping me represent District 43.
Please reach out to my office if you have additional thoughts or questions. Representative Nelson, Senator Fredrick, and myself will be holding a town hall in August (further details on this is TBA), where you will also be able to connect with me. For updates on events, please feel free to follow my Facebook and Instagram.
In community,
Tawna Sanchez
Capitol Phone: 503-986-1443
Capitol Address: 900 Court St. NE, H-273, Salem, Oregon 97301
Email: Rep.TawnaSanchez@oregonlegislature.gov
Website: http://www.oregonlegislature.gov/sanchez
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