Feds send $10.7 million to help low-income Oregonians during COVID-19

WASHINGTON (KTVZ) -- Sens. Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley, D-Ore., announced Tuesday that Oregon will receive $10.7 million in federal funding to help respond to the urgent needs of low-income communities caused statewide by the COVID-19 public health crisis.

“The economic fallout from coronavirus has put huge additional pressure on many Oregonians who already faced financial stresses paying their rent, hunting for a job, or caring for a relative,” Wyden said. “I am gratified these federal resources will help our state’s local governments invest in public health infrastructure, generate jobs and support local businesses so that vulnerable Oregonians stay housed and healthy. I will keep fighting for our state to receive all the resources needed to respond to this pandemic.”  

“Oregon’s most vulnerable communities are among the hardest hit by this pandemic,” said Merkley. “The only way we can effectively battle this virus is with a united effort—and that means we must deliver urgent assistance to our neighbors who were already struggling to keep their lights on and put food on the table for their families before this crisis made things even worse. We’re all in this together.”

This $10.7 million in supplemental Community Development Block Grants from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development follows on $32 million the department previously distributed throughout the state as part of the COVID-19 response. The state will determine the distribution of the $10.7 million.