Hi there, I live here in Portland. They tried with Portland Street Response, to try and help manage homeless and mental illness responses in a manner more constructive than assaulting them and burning tax dollars on overnight jailing them (as was SOP prior to this) but it’s been difficult because when PSR does need to elevate a more dangerous or criminal situation to the actual police, the actual police refuse to respond because they’re offended by PSR’s mere presence. To make matters worse, PPB (Portland Police Bureau) has been so butthurt over PSR that they refuse to answer any call involving the homeless or mentally ill. They were not directed to do so, it is a tantrum over “being defunded” (they were not, really. 4% of their budget was reallocated to PSR and other programs for the first quarter of their existence. funding is currently at all-time highs, but they continue perpetuating the lie to justify their continued politically-motivated inaction).