Clackamas County to buy $3.5 million building for “crown jewel” diversion center.

CLACKAMAS Ore. (KPTV) – On Thursday, the Clackamas County Board of Commissioners approved the $3.5 million purchase of a building that will eventually become a diversion center.

Formerly the Cascade Heights Charter School, the building will be transformed into a one-stop diversion center to help people struggling with addiction, according to Commissioner Ben West.

“I hope this property will be a destination, a crown jewel in the neighborhood,” West said.

West said the building will become a “top-notch” campus-style recovery center, giving members of the homeless community struggling with addiction more than just a roof over their heads.

“If they need detox, we’ll provide it,” West said. “If they need long-term care, more than 90 days, we’ll get them. If they need workforce housing while they’re dealing with substance abuse issues, we’ll get them workforce housing. If they need a medical respite, or anything else along that continuum where we often see gaps here in the state of Oregon, Clackamas County is committed to filling those gaps.”

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West said the county plans to work with local businesses and resources to make the diversion center a “one-stop shop” for people in need, and instead of focusing only on detoxification or housing in short term, West said that this diversion center focus on long-term recovery.

“We’re building on a system that allows a person to regain the capital they need in their life to get … sober and get back into the community,” he said.

The former Cascade Heights Charter School is located in a residential area.

Donna Nichols, who lives nearby, said she’s glad to know people struggling with addiction will get the help they need. But she also has grandchildren who live in the area and said she hopes her quiet and safe neighborhood stays that way.

“If they get help and they don’t camp, they come in and they get help and they can find a place to live or whatever, that’s fine with me,” Nichols said.

Once the diversion center is up and running, West said clients will access services through referrals from the Clackamas County Coordinated Access to Housing Program, law enforcement, a hospital or even a family member

He said if the community works together to help their neighbors in need, they will succeed.

“You can’t get through recovery alone and it takes the community to get there and government can’t solve this problem alone,” West said. “We need businesses, we need religious leaders, all different members of the community to partner with us.”

West said they will find local businesses and resources to partner with the county on this project through the end of the year. By 2025, West said the county hopes to officially break ground on the project.

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