FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Tuesday, July 21, 2015
PORTLAND, OR – This week Cascadia Behavioral Healthcare reached a critical milestone in its campaign to rebuild Garlington Center into a first-of-its kind development that will provide integrated affordable housing, behavioral health services and a neighborhood wellness center for homeless veterans and other low-income people in Northeast Portland.
At the recommendation of Oregon Housing and Community Services (OHCS), the Oregon State Housing Council voted Friday to award the project grants and tax-credit funding. This crucial commitment will help bring new affordable housing to NE Portland.
Cascadia can now move into early design and development of its first fully integrated behavioral health clinic at this site. People experiencing the need for basic mental health and addictions services will soon be able to live and access comprehensive medical and wellness services for chronic health problems all in one place, while the general community will be able to access health and wellness classes. This redevelopment will also provide more than 50 new apartments for low-income, qualifying individuals.
Through a collaboration with Central City Concern Federally Qualified Health Center and other community partners, the new clinic will combine Garlington Center’s current array of behavioral health, addiction and wellness services with the potential for new, on-site primary care, dental, vision, laboratory, pharmacy and child sitting. (More on Integrated Behavioral Health Clinic model – link to PDF)
WHERE
Cascadia’s Garlington Center campus (nearly 1.5 acres) is located in the Eliot Neighborhood and in the heart of the historic Albina district at 3024 NE Martin Luther King Junior Boulevard in Portland. The center is named in honor of the late Rev. Dr. John W. Garlington Jr, a prominent African American activist in Portland during the late 1970s and early 80s. (More)
GARLINGTON CENTER DETAILS
WHO: Garlington Center Staff & Client Diversity (Link to PDF)
WATCH VIDEO: Legacy of Rev. Garlington | “A moral force in Oregon”
HISTORY of Garlington Center
QUOTES
“Cascadia’s efforts to build this innovative center aligns with the city’s mission of creating accessible, safe and healthy places for people to live. Access to new, affordable housing and an integrated clinic with a wellness center will provide a wonderful asset to the City of Portland for years to come.” — City of Portland Commissioner Dan Saltzman
“Cascadia’s role in providing integrated housing opportunities to persons with mental illness and veterans, while directly addressing the service population’s health and economic disparities through innovative service provisions, is critical to the county’s policy efforts and success of county programs.” — Multnomah County Chair Deborah Kafoury
“We are excited to build a piece of history that will continue to be a cultural centerpiece for all of Portland.” — Andrew Colas, President, Colas Construction, Inc.
PROJECT PARTNERS
Development Consultant: Housing Development Center
Project Construction: Colas Construction
Project Architect: Scott | Edwards Architecture LLP
Primary Care Clinic: Central City Concern Federally Qualified Health Center
PROJECT SCHEDULE
This project is in its early design and development phase. Pending additional funding support in spring 2016, construction is slated to begin late 2016 with completion in late 2017. Garlington Center services will remain in operation during construction at a temporary, yet to be determined, location.
PROJECT FUNDING AND SUPPORT
State of Oregon, Addictions & Mental Health Services (AMH); Glazer Family Trust; Oregon Community Foundation; Enterprise Community Partners, Inc.; Family Care Inc.; Home Forward; and others.
COMMUNITY SUPPORT
To contribute to this project visit https://cascadiahealth.org/projects/support/.
ABOUT CASCADIA
Cascadia Behavioral Healthcare is a private, not-for-profit organization providing services in Multnomah, Clackamas, Lane and Marion counties. Cascadia’s mission is to provide healing, homes and hope for people living with mental health and addiction challenges. For more than 25 years, Cascadia has been a leader in the state of Oregon for providing behavioral health services and in the development and management of affordable housing for people with mental illness and addictions. Cascadia provides a comprehensive range of innovative clinical and housing support programs.
Follow this project on 
@GarlingtonPrj
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