May 12, 2020 10:10 a.m.
U.S. Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley have announced that Oregon will receive $10.7 million in federal funding to help respond to the urgent needs of low-income communities, caused by the COVID-19 public health crisis.
Wyden said 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. He said he is gratified that federal resources will help the state’s government invest in public health infrastructure, generate jobs and support local businesses.
Merkley said that Oregon’s most vulnerable communities are among the hardest hit by the pandemic. He said the only way to effectively battle this virus is a unified effort. Merkley said, “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”.
The funds are coming in the form of supplemental Community Development Block Grants from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. The money follows $32 million the department previously distributed throughout the state as part of the COVID-19 response. The release said the state will determine the distribution of the money.