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PCRI invites you to attend an online Community Empowerment Fair on Tuesday, January 19 from 3:30pm – 5:00pm. The fair is hosted by the National Association of Minority Contractors and Energy Trust of Oregon in collaboration with the Portland Housing Bureau.
During this event you will learn about available resources on how to reduce your energy bills, resources for home repair and homeownership and opportunities to start a career in the trades. [Insert your organization’s name] will be presenting on available resources we have to support community members as well. The attached flyer provides some additional information about the fair.
Register by clicking on this link.
Have a wonderful new year and we look forward to seeing you on Tuesday, January 19.
THE OREGON CARES FUND FOR BLACK RELIEF AND RESILIENCY IS ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS NOW
The Oregon Cares Fund
Across the country, the Black community has faced greater harm from the pandemic. The same is true in Oregon. Black Oregonians are approximately four times more likely to contract COVID-19 than white people, according to the Oregon Health Authority (1). The global pandemic has widened and exacerbated the longstanding inequities that existed before the virus, hitting Black Americans harder than whites in terms of job and wage loss, the number of financial reserves on hand and the ability to pay monthly bills (2). Black leaders in Oregon suggest this gap can begin to narrow through targeted economic investments in Black people, Black-owned businesses, and Black community-based organizations.
Background
A convening of Black Community leaders met, over the course of six weeks, to discuss the ways the Black community was being left out of coronavirus funding efforts as well as craft remedial action to address those concerns. The Oregon Cares Fund for Black Relief and Resiliency was born with a request for disaggregated data, targeted universalism, and a $62 million fund for Black people and families, Black-owned businesses, and Black-led community-based organizations. The Oregon Cares Fund highlights the strength of a diverse leadership coalition aligned on behalf of the Black community’s interests.
In July, the Oregon Legislature’s Emergency Board voted to allocate $62 million for The Oregon Cares Fund, a targeted cash investment in the Black Community to weather the global health pandemic and ensuing recession. In addition, the Emergency Board allocated another ~$140 million from the federally funded CARES Act Coronavirus Relief Fund toward other specific communities and sectors.
About the Fund
The Fund provides cash relief to qualifying Black families, Black-owned businesses, and Black-led nonprofits using grants. The Council of Trust, composed of eleven Black leaders from across the state of Oregon, is charged with guiding the Fund. Two nonprofits, The Black United Fund and The Contingent, were selected by the larger Black convening group to administer the grant application and disbursement process. Applications will be reviewed in three application periods. Due to the high volume, it will take a few weeks after submission for applicants to receive funding notifications. Applicants can apply to the fund beginning August 24, 2020, at thecontingent.org/oregon-cares.
In making this targeted investment, Black leaders and the Oregon Legislature have made sure we lift up our most vulnerable communities, not leave them behind. This investment is a small step toward helping a community that would be otherwise devastated by this global health and economic pandemic and struggle to remain afloat.
About The Contingent
The Contingent (previously Portland Leadership Foundation) has been in operation in the state of Oregon since 2008. Key facts about The Contingent:
● The Contingent serves all 36 counties in Oregon.
● Currently, The Contingent partners with the Department of Human Services to
oversee the responsibility for Oregon’s foster family recruitment through Every
Child (www.everychildoregon.org).
● The Contingent also partners with the Department of Corrections to facilitate
Know Me Now.
● The Contingent has a rich history serving the Black community through a wide
range of programs.
About The Black United Fund of Oregon
The Black United Fund has been in operation in the state of Oregon since 1983.
● For over 35 years, Black United Fund of Oregon has been committed to
providing financial support and life-changing programs for low-income
communities and communities of color in Oregon.
● The Black United Fund provides a range of educational programs designed to
help advance students of color. These include: scholarships, mentorship
programs and networking events.
● The Black United Fund supports nonprofits through their Nonprofit Mentorship
Program.
1.) Oregon Health Authority weekly reports June 17 through August 12,
2020,https://www.oregon.gov/oha/erd/pages/covid-19-news.aspx
2.) Financial and health impacts of COVID-19 vary widely by race and ethnicity (Pew Research Center)
Application Here:
Support Funding for the Oregon IDA Initiative! Click here!
Take a moment to email your state legislators and ask them to support the Oregon IDA Initiative in the second special session.
Free Community Covid-19 Testing
For Immigrants and Refugees and Black, Indigenous, and Communities of Color (BIPOC)
SATURDAY, JULY 25, 2020 12PM – 6PM
Village Church 330 SW Murray Blvd Beaverton, OR 97005
No appointments, insurance, or symptoms needed.
For more information click here
For printable PDF version click here
COVID-19 Rent Relief Fund: 211info.org OPEN ONLY 7/21/20. If you have had income loss due to COVID get your name on the rent assistance list today. This list does not open often. Note: The 211info waitlist for the COVID-19 Rent Relief Fund is CLOSED.
The waitlist opens periodically; if it’s closed, continue to check back regularly for updates. Being placed on the waitlist does not guarantee assistance.
COVID-19 FINANCIAL RELIEF PROGRAM INFORMATION
HOUSING/SHELTER MULTNOMAH COUNTY COVID-19 RENT RELIEF PROGRAM INFORMATION https://www.211info.org/multco-rent
1 mile from you (view map for COVID-19 FINANCIAL RELIEF PROGRAM INFORMATION)
CALL: 211 or 1-866-698-6155 (Language interpreters available by phone)
TTY: dial 711 and call 1-866-698-6155
TEXT: your zip code to 898211 (TXT211) (text available English and Spanish)
EMAIL: help@211info.org (email available in English and Spanish)
For general information about 211 Covid 19 resources go here: https://covid19.211info.org/
The Pantries are located at:
Park Terrace Community Center. 315 N. Alberta St.
Margaret Carter Community Center. 626 NE Brazee St.
Maya Angelou Community Center. 4012 N Borthwick Ave.
Maya Angelou Community Center. 4012 N Borthwick Ave.
Park Terrace Community Center. 315 N. Alberta St.
Pantry hours: Wednesdays 10:30 AM – Noon.
For more information contact Victoria @ (503) 282-1359
Beatrice Morrow Community Center. 3340 NE MLK Jr. Blvd.
Pantry hours: Fridays 1PM – 2PM.
For more information contact Victoria @ (971) 279-2105
Margaret Carter Community Center. 626 NE Brazee St.
Pantry hours: Thursday 12:30 PM – 2:30 PM.
For more information contact Jasmine @ (971) 341-6047
Maya Angelou Community Center. 4012 N Borthwick Ave.
Pantry hours: Fridays 10:30 AM – 12:30 PM.
For more information contact Jasmine @ (971) 341-6047
Emergency Household Stabilization Funds Available Beginning April 27
April 21, 2020) – The Portland Housing Bureau has reallocated $1 million from its budget into a COVID-19 Emergency Household Stabilization Fund for households suffering a loss of income due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The fund will provide limited direct cash assistance to at least 2,000 households to help cover urgent needs like groceries, rent, utilities, and medical expenses.
$200,000 of these funds will be available to the public next week through an open application. The remaining funds are being distributed via internal referrals through a network of social service providers serving culturally specific communities, and individuals and families experiencing homelessness and housing instability.
How to Apply
Households can apply for $250 in emergency assistance beginning Monday, April 27 at 10am by contacting 2-1-1 or going to https://www.211info.org/covid19. Applications from eligible households will be processed on a first-come-first-served basis. Assistance with language interpretation or accessibility is available.
211 staff will also be able to connect applicants to additional community resources and assistance, such as discounts for sewer and water charges, crisis vouchers, and the Utility Safety Net program offered by the Bureau of Environmental Services and the Portland Water Bureau.
Eligibility
To be eligible for Emergency Household Stabilization Fund assistance, a household must be experiencing a loss of employment, income, dependent care, or some other hardship as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic and earning no more than 50% Area Median Income prior to any loss of employment or income due to COVID-19.
Applicants will need to include documentation of the COVID-related hardship they are experiencing with their application, such as a letter from an employer, clients or customers, a healthcare provider, or school citing COVID-19 as a reason for reduced hours, termination, loss of business, school closure, loss of childcare, or inability to work, etc.
To access the application* and list of acceptable documentation, visit: https://www.211info.org/covid19
*Application available in English, Spanish, Chinese, Russian and Vietnamese.
Portland Community Reinvestment Initiatives Inc.