Portland, OR — Today, Oregon Governor Tina Kotek and Multnomah County Chair Jessica Vega Pederson announced new state and county investments in Clean Start, a longstanding program that provides people experiencing homelessness with stable work in trash removal and cleaning services.
Governor Kotek will use $1 million from the Governor’s Strategic Reserve Fund to support an expansion of the Clean Start program to clean up trash in Portland. Chair Vega Pederson is proposing $1.5 million as a part of her urgent efforts to direct unspent homeless services funds to programs serving the community.
“It takes all of us, doing what we can – in ways big and small – to make real change. Portland is a city filled with potential and promise. Each of us can be part of the solution. Together, we can build the Oregon we want to live in,” Governor Kotek said. “I am grateful to Chair Vega Pederson and eager to see these dollars create job opportunities for Portlanders experiencing homelessness, provide peer mentoring and job skills, and support their transition into stable housing through Central City Concern’s model.”
Governor Kotek announced her commitment during the annual meeting of the Portland Metro Chamber. Following her announcement, Multnomah County Chair Vega Pederson announced that the county is also proposing a $1.5 million contribution toward the effort.
Clean Start, operated by Central City Concern, has been providing trash and needle removal, graffiti abatement and other cleaning services to the Portland metro area since 1996. Both Central City Concern and other programs funded by Multnomah County address the systemic drivers of homelessness and the individual factors that can reinforce it, helping people experiencing homelessness to overcome barriers and stabilize their lives, ultimately leaving the streets for housing.
“This expansion of Central City Concern’s Clean Start program will put Multnomah County’s unspent dollars into the pockets of people who need them most — those currently living without housing — to help them develop the skills to stabilize and stay that way,” Chair Vega Pederson said. “I am pleased to join Governor Kotek in making more resources possible for those who need them most.”
“CCC is beyond excited to be a part of Governor Kotek’s plan for clean streets within our community,” said Dr. Andy Mendenhall, President and CEO of Central City Concern. “Our Clean Start Program changes lives every day and provides pathways from homelessness to recovery and self-sufficiency. This collaborative effort between Governor Kotek and Chair Vega Pederson in support of both clients and our community is another important step along the path of recovering our community.”
