Thank you for your contributions to MultCommunity Forum. The forum is no longer taking new suggestions for the 2011 budget. All suggestions have been included on the Office of Citizen Involvement's report on the community budget forums, which can be viewed here: http://bit.ly/9KkzsZ.

Chair Cogen is finalizing his decisions and will release his executive budget on May 13.

You can learn more about the current budget process at http://bit.ly/aNH5gB.

You can view all submitted program offers by visiting http://bit.ly/aNH5gB. The departments provided these program offers for the the Chair's consideration.

If you have comments or suggestions on how we can better use the MultCommunity Forum in the future, please email multcommunity@co.multnomah.or.us

1. Top Ideas
2. Hot Ideas
3. New Ideas
4. Accepted Ideas
5. Completed Ideas

1. 35 votes

   Cost-effective Mental Health Care, not crisis-driven but preventive, supportive, employment&housing

   www.iccd.org describes a supportive employment model with much to recommend it. Peer-driven and natural community support can reduce costs and are more effective.

   by Terri | 3 comments
2. 10 votes

   Review each department for duplication and/or redundancy of effort, focus and cost

   Many of our government agencies at federal, state and local levels were designed separately according to focus area. Since those early days, research clearly indicates there are cross-over and in-common causes and conditions which create risk and resiliency in the first place.
   I am suggesting an... more

   Many of our government agencies at federal, state and local levels were designed separately according to focus area. Since those early days, research clearly indicates there are cross-over and in-common causes and conditions which create risk and resiliency in the first place.
   I am suggesting an audit of all programs to looks for areas of collaboration, shared responsibility and opportunities to leverage resources including time, talent, equipment and other common costs.
   This idea may be perceived as threatening to jobs and long established categorical funding channels. There are ways to make this a positive and productive activity with the goal of increased efficiency and a better use of limited public resources.

   by Andrea Schneider | 2 comments
3. 7 votes

   Partner with city and state to expand health services

   Currently, the County bears the brunt of the cost for delivering health services. This cost should be shared with the City, especially since the creation of Urban Renewal Districts sucks money away from the County and School districts

   by brian | 0 comments
4. 7 votes

   Reopen Crisis Triage Center

   The Crisis Triage Center was utilized to both rescue mentally ill persons from emegent crisis or uncontrolled mental health problems and help refer them to more permanent solutions, be it housing, med management, or outpatient follow-up. Now, when swooped up by the police, the police only have th... more

   The Crisis Triage Center was utilized to both rescue mentally ill persons from emegent crisis or uncontrolled mental health problems and help refer them to more permanent solutions, be it housing, med management, or outpatient follow-up. Now, when swooped up by the police, the police only have three choices - emergency rooms, jails, or back to the street. This overloads the emergency rooms (number one cause for ambulance diverts), the jails (who gets released) and solves nothing.

   by brian | 1 comment
5. 7 votes

   Provide more funding for homeless famlies

   by Katy Murphy | 1 comment
6. 6 votes

   Expand funding for culturally specific services

   by Stephan Herrera | 0 comments
7. 5 votes

   Make public transportation more available to those who cannot presently afford it.

   The current status of our economy has put a burden on many of us. I believe that it6 would be beneficial for all concerned to make public transportation more affordable for those seeking employment. Anyone can acquire an earnings statement from their local Social Security office. A process can be... more

   The current status of our economy has put a burden on many of us. I believe that it6 would be beneficial for all concerned to make public transportation more affordable for those seeking employment. Anyone can acquire an earnings statement from their local Social Security office. A process can be initiated for such an individual to show their lack of earnings to the proper agency at which time some sort of discount could be facilitated.

   by david herbert | 1 comment
8. 4 votes

   enough resources to prevent families from becoming homeless, and re house quickly if they do

   by Erika | 1 comment
9. 4 votes

   Provide health services with and "EQUITY" lense. -

   ensure that the most undrsrvd comm's have priority access to services

   by Stephan Herrera | 0 comments
10. 4 votes

    Support Community and Youth Voices to shape and drive services MultCo provides

    Communities have the wisdom of how to best serve themselves. Support with funding, staffing, and power the ability of communities whether they be communities of color, low-income communities, youth, or other users of county services to drive how services are provided.

    by Joshua Lyn Todd | 0 comments
11. 4 votes

    Downtown Portland needs a northbound bike lane.

    Currently there is a bike lane on Broadway for southbound bike traffic. Why not put a northbound bike lane on 4th?

    by paulandiva | 0 comments
12. 4 votes

    City of Portland has an Office of the Ombudsman. Why not Multnomah County? I think it would help!

    by Kim | 0 comments
13. 3 votes

    Educate the public on the impact of choices

    Local governments are confusing entities, and it can be very difficult for citizens to understand the implications of certain decisions. These unforeseen implications may come from union contracts, state law or funding restrictions. I have seen this a lot in the City's budget process. Citizens ... more

    Local governments are confusing entities, and it can be very difficult for citizens to understand the implications of certain decisions. These unforeseen implications may come from union contracts, state law or funding restrictions. I have seen this a lot in the City's budget process. Citizens advocate to save a specific program and are upset when something seemingly unrelated is cut instead.
    I don't believe this should be done for the whole budget. Most people don't have the patience for that. But providing some very clear examples might help citizens provide more useful feedback on budget decisions.

    by evasarimonster | 0 comments
14. 3 votes

    create topic-specific online discussions

    by Althea | 0 comments
15. 3 votes

    Incorporate healthcare into federal/public housing

    The healthcare clinics are overcrowded, so why don't we make medical care more accessible and mobile. Maybe we can continue to partner with ODOT, to deliver healthcare to apartment complexes located within Multnomah County it\self?

    by Martha Perez | 0 comments
16. 3 votes

    Single Payer Healthcare NOW!

    Single payer healthcare would solve Multnomah county's dilemma over how to pay for medical costs. The VA system of healthcare is similar to single payer system, so why don't we try a pilot program in the county to see if it could work?

    by Martha Perez | 0 comments
17. 3 votes

    HOUSING AUTHORITY should let homeless people move in with relatives already in Subsidized Housing

    Currently most homeless adults and their children are NOT allowed to move in with anyone who already has Section 8 or Public Housing in Portland/ Multco.
    This is an overlooked glitch in the HAPDX policies. The federal programs allow it, but pdx has arbitrarily and wrongly eliminated this much ne... more

    Currently most homeless adults and their children are NOT allowed to move in with anyone who already has Section 8 or Public Housing in Portland/ Multco.
    This is an overlooked glitch in the HAPDX policies. The federal programs allow it, but pdx has arbitrarily and wrongly eliminated this much needed provision except for rare cases. MANY homeless or those at risk, could be immediately housed if this were to be changed.

    All commissioners (Kafoury) and others who make these decisions, PLEASE revisit the Section 8 policy, section 11 in the regulation (changes in household composition). Please ALLOW HOMELESS OR AT RISK FAMILY MEMBERS to move in with current recipients who are their relatives if they so choose. Especially if there is no other viable housing available for the homeless person.
    This could give immediate relief to hundreds, and also COSTS FAR LESS THAN REGULAR HOMELESS VOUCHERS (slight increase in Section 8 or housing subsidy is all it will cost). Or allow them to stay on indefinitely as a guest with a special waiver as a homeless person, if there is no funding. NO EXCUSES!

    ps it would help get more numbers accurately reported on the CENSUS, to have these people added in as members of the subsidized households RIGHT NOW.
    Please make this policy change and then get the word out right away to have immediate effects. kill 2 birds with 1 stone.

    by kozmikat | 3 comments
18. 3 votes

    Reduce disparities with measureable outcomes.

    MCHD must establish firm firm timelines with measurable outcomes to reduce disparities each year. This must be done with clear policies abd funding.

    by Stephan Herrera | 0 comments
19. 3 votes

    Focus smoking cessation efforts on HAP clients, low income housing

    Currently 19% of Multnomah County adult residents smoke. Smoking is correlated with income (low). Low income folks typically receive other subsidies. Let's bombard them with even more anti-smoking messages -- quitting smoking is the single biggest thing folks could do to decrease Multnomah Cou... more

    Currently 19% of Multnomah County adult residents smoke. Smoking is correlated with income (low). Low income folks typically receive other subsidies. Let's bombard them with even more anti-smoking messages -- quitting smoking is the single biggest thing folks could do to decrease Multnomah County's health-related expenditures.

    by Lynne | 0 comments
20. 3 votes

    remove the harmful wifi and cell transmission tower relays

    Clear Wifi and other electromagnetic frequency transmission is now bombarding our homes and us with these harmful emf waves. they are causing serious invasive, degenerative, health effects already, and more towers are planned, 800 of them in portland! they emit the emf's, which are like microwave... more

    Clear Wifi and other electromagnetic frequency transmission is now bombarding our homes and us with these harmful emf waves. they are causing serious invasive, degenerative, health effects already, and more towers are planned, 800 of them in portland! they emit the emf's, which are like microwaves, and a high pitch sound audible to some, which never ceases. This is a very disturbing and damaging phenomenon which must not be allowed to invade any residence. it is a modern type of pollution at least as harmful as air, water, or other pollution. Our environment has been invaded, our health seriously threatened, for the sake of a corporation or two making a killing off of us, maybe some license fees they pay the government, and wifi/ cell phone convenience. this must be put to a stop!

    by kozmikat | 1 comment