In her recent State of the State Address, Governor Kotek addressed the issues most important to Oregonians. Top among them are mental health care and expanding the behavioral healthcare workforce with new funding.
Rebecca Jenkins, LCSW, who recently joined our team as Counseling Director, offers her reflection on Gov. Kotek’s address:
“I listened with optimism and hope as Governor Kotek shared her vision and budgetary focus for 2025 in her state of the union.
Kotek called out the complex interconnection between mental health and housing stability. This is an issue we understand at William Temple House. Too often we see neighbors having difficulty maintaining the emotional and behavioral equilibrium necessary to access or maintain stable housing. We see how mental illness impacts housing and how lack of stable housing impacts mental health every day, in our counseling clinic and food pantry. Our staff and volunteers are dedicated to helping neighbors maintain the balance necessary so that everyone can be nourished-emotionally, physically, and spiritually.
We are excited to hear more about Governor Kotek’s agenda and how she will lead Oregon forward.”
William Temple House commends Governor Kotek’s commitment to funding necessary services and strengthening our behavioral health workforce. With our fellow mental health nonprofits, we look forward to seeing these priorities in action.