Thank you, Andy. A big shout out to you and your team at Central City Concern for making a difference in the lives of Oregonians every day.
This is a moment of progress in our collective efforts to make sure people can get the health care they need, when they need it. This is progress not only for Portlanders, but for our entire state. It’s an honor to be here with city leaders, county officials, healthcare providers, advocates, staff, and members of our community as we officially open the 16 and Burnside Recovery Center.
For too long, Oregon has struggled with a fragmented mental health system. Too many people have fallen through the cracks. We’ve seen the consequences in our emergency rooms, in our jails, on our streets, and in the heartbreaking stories of families stretched to their limits trying to get help for their loved ones.
Today, we take an important step toward changing that story.
This facility is more than just a building. It represents a hard fought shift in how we care for our community. It's a space for healing, recovery, and hope. It’s a place where people in crisis will be met with compassion, professionalism, and the support they need.
Here in central Portland, we are creating access – real, meaningful access – to services that are too often out of reach. Whether suffering from severe mental illness, struggling with addiction, or trying to navigate both at the same time, people will be able to get help here – to chart a path forward to better health and stability.
This opening is the result of tireless work across many sectors. I want to thank the Oregon Health Authority, CareOregon, Multnomah County, Central City Concern, and members of the legislature who supported the investments that made this possible, including the historic funding in our last budget for behavioral health infrastructure.
We know there’s still a long way to go. But today, we show what’s possible when we work together and commit to treating behavioral health with the same urgency and dignity that we treat physical health.
What’s happening in Washington, D.C. right now will surely impact what is possible here at home, but regardless of those dark skies on the horizon, I remain committed, and Oregon remains committed, to a broad strategy to increase access to health care. We’re investing in increased access across the state, increasing the number of residential treatment beds, and working to train and retain the mental health and addiction care professionals we need to get the job done.
There will be more than 50 staff who will make this space a place where people can recover and thrive. Would the Central City Concern staff who are here please raise their hands?
Thank you. You are the heart and soul of our health care system. Your work is absolutely essential. You show up every day with patience, empathy, and strength for those who are often at their most vulnerable. The First Lady and I are deeply grateful for your commitment. We will keep working to make sure you have the support, resources, and respect you deserve.
16 and Burnside Recovery Center is a place where a vision for a strong continuum of care – from prevention and early intervention to intensive treatment and long-term support – can be realized.
I’ve spoken with too many Oregonians who’ve said, “I didn’t know where to go,” or “No one was there when I needed help.” That is what we are changing. This place says: We see you. You matter. And you are not alone.
So again, I want to thank everyone who made today possible. Let this be the first of many steps forward.
Because when we invest in mental health and addiction care, we invest in stronger families, safer communities, and a more just and compassionate Oregon.
Thank you.