At a packed public hearing in Multnomah County, community members lined up to voice their support for continued funding across a variety of social programs. According to Multnomah County's official news report, 56 individuals testified in person on key issues including housing services, support for refugees and asylum seekers, and youth intervention initiatives.
Emphasizing the critical need for these services, testimonies shed light on the daily struggles faced by vulnerable populations. Among those who shared their experiences were immigrants and refugees, such as Mayrene Chirinos, who told Multnomah County, "We don’t know what is going to happen to us when night time comes. We have faith in you that you will be able to help us. We are trying to protect our youth."
The County is considering Chair Jessica Vega Pederson’s proposed budget, which supports housing and legal services for new arrivals complimenting the Newcomer Support Services Pilot state funding. Principals and residents alike stood before the Board, detailing personal immigrant journeys and the impact of community programs. "That part of their story is, 'People who I didn’t know, people with the power to help me, helped me, and now I can call America my home,'" recounted Rigler Elementary School Principal Chris Silvas.
Another program facing scrutiny is the Community Healing Initiative Early Intervention and Diversion Program. With the Chair's proposed budget seeking to redirect funds meant for this early intervention service, individuals like Olegario Estrada made passionate pleas for full funding. Estrada explained how the initiative aided in understanding his son's process through involvement with the juvenile justice system, as he told Multnomah County.
The Multnomah Mother’s Trust Project, providing $500 monthly to Black mothers and their children, also faces financial uncertainty with the new budget. "The program gave my family a little bit of stability," and participant Voycetta White expressed how joining the program post-prison allowed her to support her daughter's college aspirations and offer their family a new lease on life.
Environmental concerns regarding toxic algae blooms in the Willamette River were also addressed, with residents seeking a $150,000 budget amendment to fund remediation efforts at the Ross Island Lagoon. "This is a man-made problem and it requires a man-made solution," stated Lloyd EcoDistrict Executive Director Kristin Leiber in her plea for action. The final public hearing is scheduled for May 29, indicating the closing window for public input before the Board's budget adoption on June 6.
