Portland Street Response Expands Access

Crisis support team now easier to reach

Portland Street Response's founding team. (Photo Courtesy of Portland Street Response)

Portland Street Response has announced several changes – including a new number and new hours – to improve the program’s ability to assist people experiencing mental health and behavioral health crises.

Effective October 1, you can reach Portland Street Response by calling 911 or 503-823-7773 from 6 a.m. to midnight, seven days a week. Both lines will be answered by trained 911 call takers. Please continue to call 911 when reporting instances involving an immediate threat to life or property.   

“We are thrilled! The Portland Street Response specific phone number illustrates what can be accomplished when the Portland Public Safety Service Area works together to meet community needs,” said April Roa, Interim Program Manager for Portland Street Response.

“We thank our partners at the Portland Bureau of Emergency Communications for helping make this possible.”

Portland Street Response is available to assist individuals who are down and have not been checked, those experiencing an active crisis—such as yelling, crying, agitation, disorganized or repetitive behavior, or talking to unseen others—people who are inappropriately dressed for the weather and at risk of exposure-related injury or illness, individuals seeking support with resources but without access to a phone, and those wishing to reconnect with Portland Street Response services after prior contact.

Portland Street Response is not available to respond to individuals who are actively suicidal, those brandishing weapons or behaving violently, third-party callers reporting homeless encampments without any indicators of crisis, or third-party callers requesting supplies, resources, referrals, or shuttling without any signs of crisis.