Rep. Helfrich: On denial of addiction funds

Helfrich Issues Statement on Clackamas County Diversion Program Funding
BY Oregon House Republican Leader Rep. Jeff Helfrich

SALEM, Ore. – House Republican Leader Jeff Helfrich (R-Hood River) slammed the IMPACTS Grant Review Committee today for its denial of funding for Clackamas County’s addiction recovery and deflection services. The Committee cited the proposal’s lack of alignment with legislative intent as the reason for denial. However, Clackamas County’s recovery and enforcement program was one of the models for 2024’s House Bill 4002, which reformed Measure 110, and could not reasonably be considered out of step with the legislature’s intent.

“The IMPACTS Grant Review Committee must meet at its earliest opportunity to reconsider and approve deflection funding for Clackamas County. Needless delays like these put the system at risk of collapse, which would worsen the drug crisis. The board has approved similar applications for other counties, and it must do so for Clackamas,” said Leader Helfrich. “While the legislature took meaningful steps to implement bipartisan reforms to Measure 110, this decision by the IMPACTS committee demonstrates that more must be done to solve Oregon’s drug crisis. Funding for counties to handle the fallout of addiction, crime, and homelessness cannot be left to boards of progressive activists that often put ideology and politics ahead of suffering people. The status quo in Oregon continues to fail the people of our state, and that is unacceptable.”