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Resources, including accessing benefits

  • Writer: Lisa Reynolds, MD
    Lisa Reynolds, MD
  • Apr 5, 2020
  • 2 min read

Updated: Apr 7, 2020

Resources

Updated: TUE 4/7/2020


Accessing state and federal benefits

Unemployment (enhanced), federal CARES Act, etc

Federal CARES Act Summary: For more details (more components of the program) see my update of 3/29.

  • One time payments

    • Most adults (incomes up to $75K) will receive $1200, children garner $500. Here is a calculator to estimate your family’s payment. These payments will come to you automatically. Congressman Blumenhauer has a great info sheet on this one time payment. Long story short:

      • Payments will start April 13 and be directly deposited into the bank account that the government has listed for you through previous tax returns.

      • Social security recipients will get a payment.

      • If the government does not have bank direct deposit information from you, they will be sending you a check beginning May 5, starting with those at the lower income scale.

      • End of April: There will be a portal through the IRS to allow citizens to check the status of their payment and to update bank/direct deposit information.

  • Expanded unemployment coverage for jobs impacted by COVID19

    • Now includes self-employed, part-time and gig workers (previously not covered by unemployment insurance).

    • The NEW federal COVID19 benefits will add $600/week in unemployment benefit

    • Length of benefits: This package adds 13 weeks of unemployment benefits to the current period (26 weeks) for a total of 39 weeks. The $600/week federal addition is through 7/1/2020 (for now).

    • Oregon’s online system for applying for unemployment benefits, along with FAQs. AND Oregon is hiring claims specialists to help! Details here.

  • Small businesses/non profits/gig employees: “Paycheck Protection Program” APPLY NOW

    • Info on COVID-19 relief options for businesses in the greater Portland area here.

    • Banks/credit unions will provide loans to small businesses/non profits (less than 500 employees) who continue to pay their employees backed by the Small Business Association (SBA, a federal agency). Entities would not have to repay portions spent on paying employees (wages + benefits), rent, mortgage or utilities. The US Treasury will pay back the banks/credit unions. The amount borrowed needs to be used for qualifying expenses within 8 weeks. This applies to gig workers as well.

    • There is also a program directly from the SBA: Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL)

    • Oregonians: Contact your bank. Here is an FAQ from NW Credit Union Assn.




Food/Nutrition

Amazing resource!

Includes information on breakfast and lunch available M-F 11am-1 pm at 15 schools, including Markham Elementary in SW Portland.

Also links to food pantries at schools (once a week pickup), Sunshine Division food and clothing assistance and food finder.


Oregon Food Bank Food Finder

Meals On Wheels: 503-736-6325


Mental Health Issues etc

Lines for Life includes hotlines for Suicide Prevention (800-273-8255), Alcohol/Drug Helpline(800-923-4357), Military personnel Helpline (888-457-4838) and Youthline (877-968-8491)

Multnomah County Hotlines includes hotlines for Mental Health Crises, Domestic Violence , Abuse or Neglect, Military


211 Info

Dial 2-1-1, toll-free. Text your zip code to 898211. Search 211info.org

Up-to-date information on energy assistance, housing, food and hundreds of other local services.


Other

A good resource as well as a way to volunteer/donate goods and services



 
 
 

Comments

This website is written by Lisa Reynolds, MD, Portland, Oregon Pediatrician on the front lines of the coronavirus epidemic. Mom and daughter. Candidate for Oregon HD36.

© 2023 by The Artifact. Proudly created with Wix.com

Lisa Reynolds, M.D., Announces COVID-19 Pandemic Recovery 

Legislative Framework

Proposed framework prioritizes health of all Oregonians, with phased restart of state’s economy

 

April 17, 2020 (Portland, OR) - Lisa Reynolds, M.D., a physician and candidate for Oregon House of Representatives-District 36 (NW/SW Portland), released a legislative framework called the Oregon Pandemic Recovery Act, with the goal of making this the first bill of the 2021-22 legislative session (HB-1). 

 

“In the next weeks and months ahead, I plan to work with state leaders, as well as community and business leaders, to help design Oregon's transition and recovery from the pandemic,” said Reynolds. “If we do this right, Oregon can come out better than ever. And of course, I will continue to reach out to Oregonians about what they need right now so we can help.” 

 

The Oregon Pandemic Recovery Act, a bold response to COVID-19’s unprecedented threat to Oregonians lives and livelihoods, consists of three major components:

 

  1. A large-scale and ongoing public health response that utilizes universal testing, contact tracing, and isolating the ill and the exposed.

  2. The moonshot goal of achieving widespread (“herd”) immunity (80-90 percent) to COVID-19 through demonstrated antibodies and/or vaccination. This is a prerequisite to full economic and societal opening.

  3. Post-pandemic massive investment to modernize Oregon’s healthcare system, schools and infrastructure through the sale of Oregon COVID Bonds.

 

Oregon COVID Bonds would allow Oregonians, as well as others around the country and the world, to invest in Oregon. “This will allow the state to build a healthcare system that improves the health of every Oregonian, to complete long-neglected infrastructure projects and to modernize our schools,” stated Reynolds.  

 

“I want everyone to understand that the 2021-22 legislative session must be focused entirely on pandemic response and recovery,” said Reynolds. “I believe we can rebuild Oregon and make us stronger and more equitable in the process.” This legislative framework also accounts for a lack of federal leadership, positioning Oregon as a national leader.

 

The latest numbers in Oregon show that the state is predicted to peak on April 26. As a result of Governor Brown’s Stay Home Order, Oregon’s hospital systems have sufficient capacity to care for those sickest with COVID-19. Reynolds says that eventually, the cumulative number of new illnesses and deaths will plateau. Oregon will then enter a period of transition, and once sufficient herd immunity is achieved, we can move into post-pandemic recovery.

 

“As a physician, I have prepared my entire career for this moment,” says Reynolds. “We cannot rely on the status quo or politics as usual. We need leaders with medical expertise who can work across the aisle and bring fresh perspectives at this critical time in our history. We need courageous and bold action to make sure that Oregon comes out of this crisis stronger and more equitable than before.” 

 

Reynolds, who was recently endorsed by the Portland Tribune “[for] her invaluable insight for these troubling times”, also says that, “every state policy and every state agency will need to prioritize spending and services through the lens of the pandemic.” 

 

Read the full legislative framework here. Visit Reynolds’ COVID-19 website at oregoncoronavirusupdate.com or her campaign website LisaForOregon.com. Follow Dr. Reynolds on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter (@lisafororegon).

 

###

 

Oregon Pandemic Recovery Act Legislative Framework

 

Following is a legislative framework for a successful and equitable recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic called the Oregon Pandemic Recovery Act (HB-1). This legislative framework was drafted by Lisa Reynolds, M.D., candidate for Oregon State House of Representatives-District 36. Dr. Reynolds, who will solicit feedback from voters about what the Oregon State Legislature needs to focus on in the upcoming 2021-2022 legislative session. 

 

Dr. Reynolds will also work with state leaders, as well as community and business leaders, to identify the most impactful and cost-effective steps to get Oregonians back on solid ground. The Oregon Pandemic Recovery Act is a bold response to COVID-19’s unprecedented threat to Oregonians’ lives and livelihood. The framework consists of three major components:

 

  1. A large-scale and ongoing public health response that utilizes universal testing, tracing of all contacts, and isolating the ill and the exposed. Extensive, if not universal, testing, both for the presence of the virus, that is, contagiousness, and presence of antibody, or immunity, is necessary before any significant reopening of the economy. Testing must be followed up with tracing of the contacts of all COVID-19 cases, and isolation for those infected or exposed.

  2. The moonshot goal of achieving widespread (“herd”) immunity (80-90%) to COVID-19 through demonstrated antibodies and/or vaccination. This is a prerequisite to full economic and societal opening. True economic reopening requires widespread immunity, either through previous COVID-19 illness or through widespread vaccination.

  3. Post-pandemic massive investment to modernize Oregon’s healthcare system, schools, and infrastructure through the sale of Oregon COVID Bonds.

 

Any full scale ‘re-opening’ in the near future would risk Oregonians’ lives. Rather, restrictions must be lifted methodically and incrementally. The state needs to start planning for a massive vaccine campaign as soon as the vaccine is available. Oregon should be the first state with demonstrated ‘herd immunity’ so that Oregonians can resume safe interactions with friends, family, and neighbors. 

 

HB1: The Oregon Pandemic Recovery Act of 2021-2022 Outline

 

Intra-Pandemic: Stay Home, Save Lives

  • Goals

    • Primary Goal: Save as many lives as possible

    • Secondary Goal

      • Educate and feed children

      • Protect the vulnerable from economic damage

  • Strategic Initiatives

    • Test/trace/isolate - build a public health workforce 

    • Tech for schools - provide robust learning for every Oregon student

    • Table - feed the hungry, allocate unemployment benefits, provide rent relief and continue to ban evictions

 

Transition: reopening (gradual and partial)

  • Goals

    • Primary Goal: Save as many lives as possible

    • Secondary Goal:

      • Safe return to economic life (incremental, methodical)

      • Safe return to school 

  • Strategic Initiatives

    • Universal testing/tracing/isolation - database

    • Statewide Alert system for Oregonians for disease hot spots

    • Build a vaccine fund - and a system to vaccinate all Oregonians

 

Post-Pandemic (herd immunity; post-vaccine) - a stronger, more equitable Oregon

  • Goals

    • Economic recovery 

    • Prepare Oregon for its greatest decade of economic growth

    • Improved lives for all Oregonians

  • Strategic Initiatives

    • Oregon COVID Bonds - to raise and invest $4B/year for 5 years

      • Basics

        • Modernize public health and healthcare systems

        • 21st-century schools from PreK-post secondary

        • Build Infrastructure - bridges, public transport, bike lanes

        • Build Housing - affordable & supportive housing

      • Boosts: Climate action

        • Give preference and priority for projects that reduce carbon, increase climate resiliency, and increase economic opportunity equitably. 

 

The proposed funding would be through COVID-19 Bonds. This approach would allow Oregonians, as well as others around the country and the world, to invest in Oregon. This will allow the state to build a healthcare system that improves the health of every Oregonian, to complete long-neglected infrastructure projects and to modernize our schools. 

 

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