By Emily Scarvie
(PORTLAND, Ore.) Hello Portlanders! It's Monday, May 9 - Here's your daily round up of all the news happening in the City of Roses.
1. Portland mothers hold rally, demand the state do more for those struggling with addiction
A group of Portland mothers gathered in southeast Portland on Sunday to demand local leaders do more to help those fighting addiction. Nearly two dozen mothers held signs and waved at cars near Woodstock Park. Many of them have children struggling with addiction or have children that passed away from their addiction.
Cathy McInnis, one of the mothers in attendance, lost her daughter Katie to an alcohol addiction two years ago. She told FOX 12 it was a nightmare for her family to find treatment for Katie.
“The word addiction has so many roadblocks,” she said. “It’s almost like there’s a hand that comes up in front of your face. When Katie was deep and dark and needed treatment immediately, there was that hand in front of you. No help.”
Oregon ranks second in the U.S. for the number of people battling addiction, according to a report from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. It also ranks 50th for the amount of resources available for those struggling.
2. City proposes Safe Rest Village RV site in north Portland
The first of six Safe Rest Village sites is set to open at the end of May and local leaders are looking for ways to continue addressing the houseless crisis in Portland, including opening a site for those living in RVs and other vehicles. Commissioner Jo Ann Hardesty said the city is looking to open a Safe Rest Village site at Sunderland Yards in north Portland, which would be the first RV location.
Funded by the American Rescue Plan Act, the RV site will be staffed 24/7 and each resident will use their own RV as their sleeping space, with the village providing amenities like showers, restrooms, laundry, a kitchen and community spaces. Residents would also be given one meal a day. The site would accommodate up to 60 RVs at once.
Aside from providing shelter, the site will be “operating as a trauma-informed environment,” with on-site case management, peer support and qualified mental health professionals.
3. Interstate Bridge inspections will slow overnight traffic this week
An inspection on the Interstate Bridge is expected to delay overnight traffic this week. On Monday and Tuesday night, two northbound lanes of the bridge will close at 10 p.m. and reopen at 5 a.m. On Wednesday and Thursday night, two southbound lanes will close at 10 p.m. and reopen at 5 a.m. During the inspections, at least one lane will be open in both directions, and sidewalks will remain open.
According to ODOT, a barge is set to inspect the underside of the bridge from May 16 to 20, but there will be no traffic impacts.
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