Oregon — U.S. Representatives Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR), David Valadao (R-CA), and Don Bacon (R-NE) reintroduced the Connections to Health Infrastructure and Emergency Recovery Services (CHIERS) Act on June 5, 2026. The bill would establish a grant program administered jointly by HHS and HUD to fund transportation—via purchased vehicles, staff training, or rideshare contracts—to sobering centers, behavioral health providers, outpatient services, case management, and mental health support.
The legislation draws inspiration from Central City Concern’s (CCC) former CHIERS van service in Portland, which transported intoxicated individuals to a sobering station as an alternative to jail or emergency rooms. CCC’s Dr. Andy Mendenhall praised the bill for recognizing that legacy and expanding access nationwide. Endorsers include CCC, NAMI, the Drug Policy Alliance, and Uber.
Oregon Context: Rising Homelessness and the Limits of Transportation Fixes
Oregon’s homelessness has surged in recent years, providing the backdrop for this proposal. HUD’s 2025 Point-in-Time count reported roughly 27,200 people experiencing homelessness statewide, a 19% increase from the prior year, one of the largest jumps nationally. Multnomah County alone saw numbers climb to around 18,500 by early 2026, with significant unsheltered growth.
Reporting indicates drivers include chronic housing shortages, high rents outpacing incomes, post-pandemic eviction surges, and the intertwined challenges of mental illness and substance use disorder (SUD). Oregon’s experiment with Ballot Measure 110 (2020), which decriminalized small amounts of hard drugs and redirected funds to treatment, coincided with visible disorder but researchers attribute much of the rise to broader economic pressures and fentanyl’s spread rather than decriminalization alone. Subsequent partial recriminalization via HB 4002 reflected public frustration with implementation shortfalls.
In this environment, the CHIERS Act’s focus on transportation addresses one real barrier: many individuals in crisis lack reliable ways to reach services. However, it risks assuming that better rides will meaningfully bend the curve on addiction, repeat crises, and homelessness without tackling root supply, housing, and accountability issues.
Availability and Track Record of Sobering Centers
Sobering centers offer a supervised space for acutely intoxicated people (primarily alcohol, but increasingly other substances) to recover safely, often diverting them from jails or costly ER visits. Evidence shows they can reduce immediate burdens: studies indicate cost savings versus emergency care or incarceration, shorter police processing times, and some linkages to further services. For example, programs in other cities have reported sharp drops in public intoxication jail admissions.
In Portland, CCC’s sobering station and van operated for decades but closed in early 2020. OregonLive reported that operators cited safety risks from shifting client profiles, more people in mental health crises, agitated by opioids or methamphetamine, who required higher medical monitoring than the facility could provide. Patient volume dropped after stricter screening, and most transports had come from police. Multnomah County is now building a new 24/7 Sobering and Crisis Stabilization Center, slated to open in late 2027.
Nationally, sobering centers face challenges: limited rigorous outcome data beyond cost avoidance and diversion; risks of becoming revolving doors for chronic users (with high repeat visit rates in some locations); funding instability; staffing for complex needs; and community siting opposition. They excel at short-term stabilization but show weaker evidence for long-term recovery or homelessness reduction without robust follow-on housing, treatment, and accountability.
A Pragmatic Path Forward
The CHIERS Act reflects good intentions to reduce barriers and leverage proven local models. Transportation grants could yield short-term efficiencies in high-need areas. However, Oregon’s track record, rising homelessness despite substantial spending, suggests transportation alone is insufficient and there are deep fundamental issues with how homelessness is being addressed.
As Congress considers the bill, rigorous oversight, built-in evaluations with clear success metrics (e.g., reduced recidivism to streets/ERs, housing placements), and sunset provisions would help ensure taxpayer dollars deliver measurable results rather than expanding bureaucracy. Oregon’s crisis demands solutions grounded in what demonstrably works, with the inclusion of transparency and accountability.
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