Speaking Freely: Portland Street Response

Portland Street Response is a way to send unarmed professionals to 911 calls related to mental health crises, homelessness, and substance abuse. It aims to provide a more appropriate response than police for these situations. The city created P.S.R. as an alternative to police response for situations where a law enforcement response may not be the most effective or appropriate way to go. In this episode we talk to the team which includes mental health oros, medics, and outreach workers, about how they focus on deescalating situations, and support and connect people with relevant resources. They serve people in deep poverty, living with mental illness or addiction, and those who are very socially isolated.