HLC Member Organizations are hard at work, protecting our unhoused community members through this pandemic.
We hosted our first virtual HLC member meeting today. Click here to read the notes, which include a number of updates from providers across the region. Notes and a recording of the meeting are available on cohomeless.org.
We hope you spend some time this weekend connecting with your loved ones, tuning the news out, and centering in whatever way brings you energy. We may be in for a challenging road ahead, so nurturing connections and developing a sustainable personal plan is more important now than ever.
When my friends and I go on multi-day wilderness trips, we remind each other that "Self-care is group care." Right now all of us are in unchartered territory together, and we need each other to be in community for the long haul. Every time I reach out for volunteers, hear what others are working on, or scroll through social media, I'm blown away by the generosity and sense of community in Central Oregon. Even though I've hardly left my house, there are so many times throughout the day that I'm reminded that we are stronger together.
Wash your hands, stay home, and advocate for those who don't have one.
We got this.
-Colleen Sinsky
HLC Coordinated Entry System Coordinator/PSU MSW Student/Housing For All intern
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For Homeless People, Covid-19 Is Horror on Top of Horror - WIRED
As the coronavirus spreads, unhoused people are among the most vulnerable to infection. "If people don’t act now, and the economic crisis worsens, America’s existing unhoused people won’t be the only ones without homes to shelter in." Continue reading. |
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*Service Provider Survey on PPE*
Please help OHCS and the state Emergency Control Center assess how much PPE is needed across Oregon. This 5-question survey is not a request for PPE, but will help assess the need. Please complete ASAP if your organization has direct contact with folks. |
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Legal Aid Services of Oregon: Information about COVID-19 resources
Updated information on Housing; Employment and Public Benefits can be found at www.oregonlawhelp.org - in the right-hand column under New and Featured Items. On the next page, different subject areas related to COVID-19 appear on the left column (https://oregonlawhelp.org/classroom/public-health-and-coronavirus-covid-19). Check back for updated information as it becomes available.
Click to view the following documents:
Advocates can email Erin Levenick directly (erin.levenick@lasoregon.org) to inquire about updated information and translated resources.
Some highlights include —
Housing: Starting 4/1/20, there is a moratorium on residential termination notices for non-payment of rent, no cause termination notices and charging late fees. Tenants should notify their landlord if they are unable to pay rent. Court eviction cases for most types of termination notices will not be scheduled until after June 1, 2020.
SNAP: Expanded eligibility for individuals with no children who have previously lost benefits because of time limits. Applications for SNAP and other DHS administered public benefits can be made over the phone or online.
Unemployment Insurance: Individuals who have lost hours or employment may be eligible for Unemployment Insurance, including expanded protections and eligibility for for COVID-19 related situations.
Economic Impact Payment/Stimulus Check: Most up to date information can be found at irs.gov/coronavirus - including who may need to file taxes to receive payment.
Central Oregon Legal Aid Office: 541-385-6944
Public Benefits Hotline: 1-800-520-5292
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Family Kitchen is still serving every day for anyone who needs a hot meal! They are also providing bulk meals to go if volunteers are able to pick up and deliver.
Visit FamilyKitchen.org for hours and contact info.
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Rental Assistance Information
NeighborImpact is trying to reallocate funds and understand how/when the state will support more rental assistance, or channel federal funding.
Please visit NeighborImpact's website to submit a rental assistance application to join the waiting list.
Any veterans that need rental assistance should be referred to COVO 541.383.2793
Jericho Road does have rental assistance funds for Redmond area. We are doing phone interviews and people can call our housing team at 541.699.2099.
Link from OR.gov website to utility shut off information.
(Thanks to George Myers for compiling this information.) |
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Bend Handwashing Stations Announced
Nine new hand-washing stations have been installed at the following locations throughout the Bend area:
* Downtown Bend Library - 601 N.W. Wall St.
* Hawthorne Station - 334 NE Hawthorne Ave.
* Juniper Ridge - East end of Cooley Road, east of 18th St.
* Safeway East - 2650 NE Hwy 20
* Safeway Midtown - 642 NE 3rd St.
* Safeway West - 320 W SW Century Dr.
* Albertsons South - 61155 S Hwy. 97, Bend
* Albertsons North - 1800 NE 3rd St.
* Bend Church - 680 NW Bond St., Bend
These hand-washing stations are donated by Cascade Disposal/Advanced Systems through April and provide safe places for people experiencing homeless, delivery drivers, mail carriers, first responders and others to wash their hands throughout the day. ( KZTV article) |
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View an updated List of Available Grants for nonprofits in our region seeking COVID relief funding. Please reach out to ColleenSinsky@gmail.com if you have any corrections or additions.
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Shepherds House has adjusted their transitional living program to allow safe social distancing, and is hard at work providing for the rest of the community.
Monday - Friday, food boxes, lunch bags, clothing are being distributed via drive-through or walk-up starting at 1pm. Donations can be dropped off M-F 9am-4pm. Visit Shepherds House Ministries for additional information.
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Housing Advocacy Across Oregon to the state legislature's Joint Special Committee on Coronavirus Response
A grassroots group of faith leaders, service providers, and individuals in Deschutes County led by Colleen Sinsky, Shimiko Montgomery, and Morgan Schmidt submitted this letter to the committee. They advocate for housing support, food security, employer support, and additional homeless assistance funding.
Housing Oregon's Board of Directors approved the following statement on Monday, March 16 calling for a moratorium on evictions, waiving of rental late fees, regulatory relief and financial waivers as a response to the COVID-19 crisis.
The Oregon Housing Alliance submitted this testimony encouraging the committee to expand protections for people who rent their homes and homeowners; add measures that provide direct assistance for residents of affordable housing; and increase financial support for responses to those experiencing homelessness.
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Merkley, Wyden announce $32 million in housing grants to Oregon communities
Including Bend, Redmond Community Development Block Grant funds
Sens. Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden announced Thursday that the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development is making over $32 million in grants available to communities in Oregon to support a variety of social services and homelessness assistance programs in the face of the coronavirus crisis.
The grants come amid a report that 1 in 5 American households has lost work because of the pandemic—a startling indicator of the virus’ severe economic impact. ( Continue reading at KZTV) |
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New Phone Line for Community Support
The Pandemic Partners HelpLine allows our community to tap into the ways we are Crowdsourcing Kindness to help take care of each other’s essential, basic needs during this time. As with our Facebook group, the HelpLine will focus on those needs that a neighbor could volunteer to help with and reroute requests that require financial or social service support.
We are open and glad to be able to respond to requests in both English and Spanish, callers will be connected to the appropriate Pandemic Partners volunteer that can help. 541-668-6117 |
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Did you miss the last newsletter? Catch up on previous issues here.
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The HLC would like to share information related to housing, homelessness, marginalized individuals, and opportunities for engagement in our community. If you have an announcement to share, please email a brief (50 words) description and a URL link to Colleen Sinsky at Newsletter@COHomeless.org. The HLC reserves the right to edit or decline any submission.
Was this forwarded to you? Click here to subscribe to the HLC newsletter.
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