Eugene Seeks New Peer Navigation Services After CAHOOTS Closure
The City of Eugene posted an analysis on November 3, 2025 examining crisis response services following the closure of CAHOOTS. The gap analysis identifies functioning elements of the current system, highlights service shortfalls, and recommends launching expanded peer navigation services as an alternative and mental health focused response, with the city moving toward a competitive procurement for providers.
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The City of Eugene released a formal analysis on November 3, 2025 that reviews local crisis response systems in the wake of CAHOOTS closing operations in the city. The report, described by city officials in an announcement posted to the municipal website, maps where existing responses are meeting needs and where gaps remain, and it recommends the launch of expanded peer navigation services to provide alternative and mental health focused responses.
At the center of the announcement is a planned competitive request for proposals RFP to identify providers that can deliver the expanded peer navigation model. The city framed the RFP as a step toward coordinating new services with existing alternative response providers and addressing the specific shortfalls the analysis identified. The announcement also outlines next steps, which include timing for the RFP and considerations around funding to support any new contracts.
The report is an institutional response to a system change that has practical consequences for community safety and public health. With CAHOOTS no longer operating in Eugene, city staff sought to assess operational capacity across medical emergency services, law enforcement, and community based mental health supports. The gap analysis is intended to inform procurement and budget decisions by highlighting where investments would likely reduce reliance on traditional first responder models and improve crisis outcomes for residents experiencing behavioral health emergencies.
Policy implications include decisions about how the city will finance and oversee new peer navigation programs, how those programs will be coordinated with existing providers, and what performance measures will be used to evaluate effectiveness. The RFP process will shape which organizations receive public funding and how services are distributed across neighborhoods, making it a consequential choice for City Council and municipal budget planners.
For residents the changes could affect response options when calling for help in a mental health crisis, and they may influence response times, the nature of on scene interventions, and connections to ongoing treatment and social services. Community based organizations that previously provided alternative responses will be stakeholders in the procurements and in any subsequent service integration.
The city announcement positions the procurement as a targeted step rather than a complete redesign, emphasizing coordination and gap coverage. Officials signal that timing and funding remain to be finalized as the RFP is prepared. The forthcoming procurement and any resulting contracts will be a focal point for public oversight, civic engagement, and potential council deliberation as Eugene adapts crisis response systems to the current service landscape.
