Understanding Oregon's Benefits and Services

Overcoming Challenges

In recent years, homelessness statistics in Oregon have been steadily increasing, with the number of families experiencing housing insecurity rising a full 16% between 2022 and 2023 and Portland alone containing the highest percentage of unsheltered families among all the major cities–at 74% in 2023. With these numbers continuing to rise alongside the increasing price of food, the social class disparity, and job scarcity it is of utmost importance for struggling families and individuals to take advantage of state sponsored benefits programs to stay afloat. Thankfully, the Oregon Department of Human Services offers an extensive amount of programs and services that present opportunities to be compensated for expenses like food, medical bills, and childcare which can, and should, be fully utilized to overcome situations of extreme poverty. 

The biggest challenge in accessing these state benefits is simply not knowing they exist: even as a native Oregonian, I did not know about the full extent of Oregon benefits and services until just recently. There is still very little advertising or proper education given about them, both on and off the internet, so if one does not already know about them it is unlikely that they will ever find out how accessible they really are. It is for this reason that I will be compiling some of the most pertinent information about a few of the ODHS benefits and what you can do–should you qualify–to access them.

 Who Can Apply?

While certain benefits are designed more for specific demographics or circumstances, there are no explicit rules about who can or cannot apply to receive benefits through the Oregon Department of Human Services besides the base requirement of being an Oregon resident. Additionally, while advertising for these programs may be less than serviceable, reaching out to and applying for them can be a relatively straightforward process, with several available methods of contact and a plethora of accessibility options therein. 

On the ODHS website, there are several available options for those with disabilities as well as non-English speakers to more easily navigate the process. Applicants with disabilities that affect their sight or hearing have access to materials in braille or sign language interpreters through ODHS offices found in cities throughout Oregon. The website and phone service also provide an extensive list of language options for immigrants and non-English speakers, as well as a population of bilingual staff at their in-person offices speaking Spanish, Russian, and Vietnamese. 

Pertinent Benefits

SNAP: The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP, is a food stamp program that offers low-income applicants assistance with purchasing food and groceries. Based on the applicant’s income and housing situation, the amount of money dispersed on a monthly basis is subject to change–but, since money held in the applicant’s SNAP account rolls over every month, there is no pressure to have to spend the entirety of your disbursement each month. While not every business may accept the included SNAP card, the majority of common grocery stores, farmers markets, and convenience stores will accept SNAP as a form of payment for food and drink items. An applicant's SNAP card will not cover anything non-food or drink related and, in many cases, will not be accepted in exchange for hot food or meals at restaurants.

Apply for SNAP here

TANF: Temporary Assistance for Needy Families, or TANF, is a service specifically designed for families with children under a certain income level who are experiencing home or income insecurity. TANF will, depending on the size and income of the family, supply these families with cash on a monthly basis while they search for jobs or other sources of income. This cash, transferred directly to an account accessed by an EBT card, can be used for any material expense the family is struggling to pay for in a similar way to a credit or debit card. While the amount of money dispersed by TANF might not be exorbitant–typically around $400-$600–it is extremely helpful to aid or eliminate fringe expenses that might make life difficult for poor families.

Apply for TANF here

ERDC: Employment Related Day Care, or ERDC, is another program which helps underprivileged families with children have a safe space for their children to be attended to while the parents are busy providing. Parents who cannot monitor their children’s safety while at work, school, or other responsibilities can have their child-care paid for through ODHS’s collaboration with select child-care facilities throughout the state of Oregon. To qualify, an applicant must be currently employed, enrolled in school, or be currently receiving TANF benefits as well as be within a certain income demographic. For families with small children who need to be watched and cared for, having a reliable place for those children to stay can be a life saving tool when trying to find work or finish school. 

Apply for ERDC here

These are only a few of several extremely useful and beneficial programs offered by the state of Oregon, on the Oregon.gov website and local offices there are a plethora of other services designed to help other situations of disenfranchisement and insecurity occurring to Oregon residents. If you or anyone that you know is going through a period of instability now, do not hesitate to use these resources to your advantage and better your situation.

Links

In order to apply for or ask questions regarding benefits, you may contact the Oregon Department of Human Services through three different means:

The ODHS Website: https://www.oregon.gov/odhs/Pages/default.aspx

The ONE Customer Service Phone Number: 800-699-9075

Visiting a Local ODHS Office: https://www.oregon.gov/odhs/Pages/Office-Finder.aspx?serviceid=22