Measure 110: Increasing access to vital services across Oregon
Transformative change takes time — not quick fixes
My grandmother was put on a boat to the United States at the age of 16 to flee Nazi Germany. Meanwhile her parents, my great grandparents, went into hiding in a furniture warehouse during the war after being outed as Jewish. These events that changed the course of my family's history and that of so many others all started with a list. My own family history serves as a cautionary tale of what can happen when we begin collecting lists of certain segments of people. It’s why the “Built for Zero” concept of creating a list, by name, of every unhoused person in Portland and the reasons they live outside, strikes me as potentially dangerous.
Some policymakers are quick to propose simple solutions to complex and sometimes intractable issues. The reality is that complex problems, like houselessness, require multiple policy solutions — some that our society hasn’t been willing to invest in: universal health care, high quality educational opportunities for all, and so much more. One list, one project, one singular proposed solution will not solve the houselessness crisis, and our own history shows why utilizing lists to solve societal problems can be more perilous than they are productive.
Even when the efforts behind list gathering are well intentioned (as they are with the “Built for Zero” concept), they run the risk of falling into the wrong hands or being weaponized against the very people they were meant to help. There is no singular, quick solution to the problems that have arisen following decades of dis-investment in social safety nets. Transformational, systemic change to repair these harms requires the adoption of many complementary tools — and such transformational, systemic change takes time. It took decades for us to arrive at this place, and it’s going to take time to close gaps to care and make housing more accessible.
An example of one innovative policy that can be part of the solution is Measure 110. Measure 110 provides a way for us to re-invest in and restore access to vital services, including housing. The law makes services more accessible by removing barriers to and conditions for care. It funds behavioral health treatment, peer support recovery services, harm reduction and overdose prevention, and temporary and permanent housing. Even though the program is still being implemented, early results show that the law is working. The Oregon Health Authority reports that in the six months providers had access to funds, Measure 110 dollars connected over 16,000 people to care. That’s with only 10 percent of funds distributed; an additional $265 million is being awarded to providers across the state to further invest in these services over the next 18 months.
The low‐barrier approach as modeled through Measure 110 is a way to “meet people where they are” and provide an environment where they can be who they are — culturally and emotionally. Low‐barrier care is non‐punitive and follows a set of attributes that typically allow a person to maintain their sense of autonomy while offering safety, assistance, and community. Care is also considered “low-barrier” when a person is able to access the services they need without having to deal with long wait times, wait lists, or other delays. That’s why Measure 110 does not require insurance information or immigration documentation, and why anyone can access 110 services regardless of their ability to pay.
I worry that creating a list of all unhoused people in Portland could add another barrier in connecting people with the help they need. Many in our communities are already wary of seeking out support due to stigma or past negative experiences with law enforcement. Asking vulnerable populations to provide personal information before they can access services may prevent them from seeking out services at all. Offering up one policy as a “fix all'' solution to this complex issue is also reckless. Components of the “Built for Zero” concept may be helpful, but we must be mindful of our history before we repeat it.
 | A guest post by
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Addiction is a healthcare issue, period. We've spent more than 50 years trying to arrest our way out of this crisis and more people are addicted and incarcerated than ever before! It's time to try a new approach and Measure 110 is that approach for Oregon. Voters were clear about what they wanted in 2020. Let's give this program a chance to at least be fully implemented before judging it!
Dismantling the damage caused by the failed Drug War is going to take some time. Measure 110 only went into effect last year and the new funds for treatment, harm reduction, and recovery services have yet to be fully utilized. We have an opportunity to save lives and create a better pathway for people battling addiction, and for all of us.