As the temperatures remain steadily high, please make sure you are staying cool yourself and watching out for your neighbors.
I have been very busy during July, juggling my work, both as a legislator and physician, on an almost daily basis. As the new Chair of the House Interim Committee on Housing, I have been digging into this new area by meeting with as many advocates, officials, constituents, organizations, and agencies as possible. It has been quite a learning experience and I am so excited to be engaged in this important work. I also remain committed to my work on healthcare reform and addressing the needs of our underserved communities.
Read on for more about my activities, some upcoming community events, and more.
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After the heat dome and other heat events of last summer, we can’t help but be aware of how the changing climate has impacted our world. With temperatures now rising this summer, we must again work to take care of ourselves and our community members. To learn more, visit this website about preventing heat-related illness. There have also been several grants and other funds released to support vulnerable populations and provide access to air conditioning and cooling spaces. In addition, Coordinated Care Organizations (CCOs) can directly purchase AC units and assist with any increased electric bill costs for their enrolled OHP members through their flexible services offerings. Members enrolled in a CCO can call member services to inquire about these flexible services.
Additional information can be found by following the links:
On July 31 starting at 11:30 a.m. PBOT will host a day-long series of events to celebrate the opening of the Blumenauer Bridge. This bridge will provide a valuable car-free connection between two of Portland’s fastest-growing neighborhoods. The events include an opening ceremony and a pop up block party curated by neighborhood partners. This seismically resilient bridge will also provide a backup route for emergency vehicles in case of a serious earthquake or other disaster.
Oregon Health Plan Eligibility Expanded
As of July 1, 2022 more adults are eligible for OHP benefits and other services and supports, regardless of immigration status. HB3352 (2021) made this possible. More information is available here. Who is eligible to apply? People who live in Oregon who:
meet income and other criteria,
didn’t qualify for full OHP benefits because of their immigration status, and
are ages 19-25 or 55 and older.
New Phone Number for Suicide and Crisis Hotline
Improving behavioral health resources is an important part of ensuring that people in our communities can get the help they need. As of July 16, the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, now known as the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, can be reached by calling or texting 9-8-8 or by visiting https://988lifeline.org/. Please share this information with your community.
Thank you to all who attended our joint Town Hall with Sen. Steiner Hayward and Rep. Reynolds on June 8. We had a great discussion and it was really well attended. I do not have a firm date for our next Town Hall but I will reach out soon when it is scheduled. I am planning a Town Hall focused on housing in the near future.
If you have additional thoughts on how I can engage you and our community, please let me know. I have been meeting one on one with constituents and community partners to learn more about specific ideas, answer questions, and hear concerns. The best way to reach me and my staff is through my email: Rep.MaxineDexter@oregonlegislature.gov or MaxineForOregon@gmail.com. We look forward to hearing from you!
“There should be a law for that.”
Some of the best ideas we get for policy come from my constituents and the people who care and think deeply about issues of concern to them. Thank you to all those who have submitted an idea! We look forward to following up with you if we have not done so already.
Please submit here if you have an idea for us to consider. No idea is too big or too small! We look forward to dreaming big together to help make sure we all have the ability to live healthy lives, in a healthy community, on a healthy planet.
On July 12 I attended the Cathedral Park Neighborhood Association Meeting with Senator Steiner Hayward. The Cathedral Park neighborhood will be in the new HD 33, and if elected, I look very much forward to working with this new group of constituents. This meeting gave me an important opportunity to speak with residents of the neighborhood and hear their concerns about the impact of the houseless community on their lives, the Willamette Cove Cleanup plan, taxation, affordability of Portland and other pressing issues. As a result of this meeting, I submitted this letter to the Metro Council as testimony on July 28, 2022, encouraging a full cleanup of the Willamette Cove. I was pleased to meet them and look forward to working with them in the years to come.
Project Turnkey 2.0
Project Turnkey 2.0 was born out of the success of Project Turnkey 1.0, aimed at providing funding for the acquisition of hotels/motels to create emergency shelters and transitional housing. Central City Concern is an organization, based in HD 33, that is experienced in providing affordable housing and medical and social services to those in need. I coordinated the submission of this letter, along with several other Portland area legislators, to support CCC’s application for funding to create a Recuperative Care Program (RCP) aimed at providing post-hospitalization services to low income individuals and those experiencing homelessness.
Interim Housing Work
As the recently appointed Chair of the House Interim Committee on Housing, I have been busy getting involved in the housing policy arena. Throughout the past month, I have participated in various meetings with representatives and senators involved in this work, as well as with many community stakeholders. My team is working closely with that of Senator Jama, the Chair of the Senate Interim Committee on Housing and Development, to create an informed and community-centered foundation for our work in the 2023 Legislative Session. I have had really inspiring and helpful conversations with legislators, local leaders, business owners, developers and others regarding different ways we must aggressively address our housing crisis. I am grateful to Oregon Housing and Community Services for their ongoing work to house Oregonians and I am grateful to work with them. In addition to the many individual meetings I’ve had, my team recently held a “Housing Huddle” in conjunction with Sen. Jama, where over 45 representatives of different government and community-based agencies came together to have a frank discussion about their values and perspectives, as well as their input on how the legislature can be more effective at addressing this crisis. I will continue to hold meetings like these during my service as chair to ensure that the values of our Oregon constituents are fully represented in the housing policy that passes through this committee. In addition, there has been conversation around creating opportunities to hear from constituents with lived experience with housing difficulty. Stay tuned!
Starting in 2023 House District 33 will look quite different. Below is an updated map that will be the new HD 33 in January 2023. I have also provided a link here. Voters should have received a postcard recently from the election’s office to let them know what districts and zones they will vote in based on the current address associated with their voter registration. If you are currently living in HD 33, it is possible your district number has changed. This will impact who you are eligible to vote for so please take a look.
Please remember that vaccines, boosters, and masks are still our best tools to stay as healthy as possible. OHA has also recently launched the electronic vaccine card to help keep track of your doses. If you have questions about additional doses of the COVID-19 vaccine, you might find it helpful to watch the Oregon Health Authority (OHA) Q & A here. You can visit this website to find a vaccination location near you, and many pharmacies are allowing walk-in vaccinations.
Oregon has a new Positive COVID Test website where people who test positive can find important information on isolation and other ways to keep themselves and those around them safe as they recover. In addition, reporting your positive test helps the Oregon Health Authority monitor the spread of COVID in our state. Positive COVID Test website and COVID-19 Case Support Hotline, 866-917-8881.
Located at 8630 N. Lombard St. Portland, OR 97203, Tienda y Taqueria Santa Cruz is a locally owned bakery that opened in 2000 that expanded to include a meat market and taco restaurant in later years. They specialize in Mexican sweet bread and a variety of cakes including Tres Leches and Chocoflan. In addition to these items, they have a shop offering Mexican candies and food items. Whether you’re looking for a quick lunch, groceries, or baked items, this is a great spot to stop and get fresh and authentic Mexican food. Their location also features intricate murals painted by local artist Senen Angon.
The Oregon Public Utility Commission (PUC) approved Portland General Electric’s (PGE’s) program to offer income-qualifying residential customers an ongoing discount to their monthly electric bills, effective April 18, 2022. To qualify, customers must self-certify that their total household income is at or below 60% of the state median income level. This matrix will help you determine if you qualify. I was pleased to have sponsored HB 2475 in the 2021 session, which ultimately led to PGE offering this program. This is a first of its kind program that will allow customers to pay a smaller percentage of their income for energy. For more information, and to learn how to apply, visit this website.
The best way to stay informed and connect with my legislative work is through my Facebook page (State Representative Maxine Dexter), my Twitter account (@RepDexterOR), and my Instagram (@RepDexterOR). In addition, please feel free to reach out to my office at MaxineForOregon@gmail.com.
I am honored to represent you in Salem and look forward to continuing to serve you as we work towards healthy lives, in a healthy community, on a healthy planet.
Clackamas Women’s Services | 503-654-2288 - Call or text | Chat online
211info | 211 (898211) - Call or text | help@211info.org - Email | Connect with resources in your community.
Mobile counseling and crisis support: White Bird Clinic is a collective environment organized to enable people to gain control of their social, emotional, and physical well-being through direct service, education, and community.
Housing assistance, utility assistance, food assistance: United Way of the Columbia-Willamette provides access to critical services like housing assistance and utility assistance and access to food.
Utility assistance: Oregon Energy Fund is a 30-year-old nonprofit that provides energy bill assistance to low-income Oregonians in support of household stability.
Utility assistance: EnergyTrust helps people save money and energy.
Disability assistance: Plan For Work services help individuals with disabilities and provide different services to those in need.
Youth assistance: New Avenues for Youth provides meals, showers, laundry, respite from the streets, engagement activities, and legal counsel.
Community assistance: Oregon Solutions solves community problems using a problem-solving system.
Transportation assistance: Trimet has a reduced fare for low-income rider and seniors age 65+.
Food assistance, water bill assistance, and grants, utility assistance: Care To Share coordinates assistance to families and individuals who seek emergency food and other basic necessities.
Food assistance: Mercy Corps Northwest provides assistance for community members returning from prison.
Food assistance, housing assistance, utility assistance, disability assistance: Department of County Human Services ensures that everyone can reach their potential and contribute to communities.
Follow Representative Dexter on social media to stay connected!
