The current recession has hit our community hard. One out of four households in Multnomah County report that over the past 12 months they have been unable to pay for essential services such as housing, heat, or food, according to a 2009 Oregonian poll. With unemployment rates of nearly 12% and 2% of homeowners in mortgage default, households in Multnomah County are feeling the impacts of the recession in big and small ways. More public school students are homeless. More families are going without healthcare, even for serious medical conditions. Poverty is not a new concept in Multnomah County, but there are now more households new to poverty that may not know how to access support services and assistance.

Your input will inform how federal dollars are spent on programs addressing the impacts of our current recession for households in Multnomah County.

Where: Floyd Light Middle School: 10800 SE Washington St.
Date: Wednesday, October 21, 2009
Time: 6:00-8:00 pm
Trimet: Bus line 20 & Max Blue Line
Dinner will be provided. Childcare and translation are available upon request by calling (503) 823-2396 three days in advance of the hearing.

We are especially interested in your answers to these questions:
• What has been the impact of the recession on low-income households?
• What temporary strategies should the City support to counter these impacts?
• Has the recession had a greater impact on communities of color and immigrants?
• How can we expand access to economic opportunities for households in need?
• How are schools and public services affected?

Co-sponsored by: Housing and Community Development Committee along with the
Multnomah County Commission on Children, Families & Community