January 4, 2022 3:20 a.m.

Over $3 million in funding is available for projects supporting older adults and people with disabilities in the state.

A release from the Oregon Department of Human Services said early this year, it will invite funding requests for equity related proposals serving residents who have experienced barriers in accessing services and supports.

The ODHS Office of Aging and People with Disabilities provides the Innovation Fund to support projects that are not only unique in approach, but have the potential to be long-lasting. APD will be encouraging culturally specific organizations to submit proposals. Culturally specific organizations are defined as:

*Serving a particular cultural community and are primarily staffed and led by members of that community

*Demonstrating personal knowledge of lived experience of the community including, but not limited to, the impact of structural and individual racism or discrimination on the community.

*Knowledge about specific barriers faced in the community and how those barriers influence the structure of their program or service

*Able to describe the community’s cultural practices, health and safety beliefs and practices, positive cultural identity, immigration dynamics, religious beliefs and other traditions and how their services have adapted to honor those traditions

For more information, visit APD’s webpage: https://www.oregon.gov/dhs/SENIORS-DISABILITIES/SPPD/Pages/funding-opportunities.aspx