Dear Friends and Neighbors,

I hope that as you are able to read this newsletter that you, your neighbors and loved ones are safe from the wildfires and the smoke exposure plaguing our beautiful state. Thanks to much needed rain, cooling temperatures, and changing winds, fire fighters have made steady progress to contain the wildfires across Oregon’s landscape. The Oregon Department of Forestry is closely monitoring 9 major Oregon fires, down from 17 originally, and you can find the latest updates on those fires here.

We’ve also seen a break in the smoky conditions that blanketed much of the state for more than a week, which has allowed us to resume many of the outdoor activities that were previously made unsafe by the unhealthy air. That said, air quality can be hazardous even if you’re unable to smell or see it, so it remains important that you continue to monitor local air quality to protect the health of you and your family.

Though there is reason for optimism as the weather conditions improve, the physical and emotional effects of the wildfires remain, and the recovery is only just underway. In this newsletter I will provide resources related to the wildfires and assistance, as well as updates on new unemployment insurance and paid leave programs, child care, PPE, and mortgage relief.

If you need help accessing any of these programs, please contact my office and we will get back to you as soon as possible.

Sincerely,

Andrea Salinas, State Representative

Wildfire Updates

As I mentioned earlier, significant progress has been made on the wildfires burning across Oregon. Favorable conditions have allowed firefighters to strengthen containment lines and statewide agencies have started to shift their efforts towards recovery. That said, the damage from the fires still permeates, and given their size, officials expect larger fires to remain on the landscape until we see strong fall and winter rains.

To keep Oregonians informed on this evolving situation, Governor Brown’s office has put together a website that contains important updates about the status of fires, road and weather conditions, resources for evacuees (and their friends and relatives), information for business and property owners, links to sign up for emergency alerts, and more. You can access this Oregon Wildfire Resources page here.

FEMA Disaster Assistance

Individuals in Clackamas, Douglas, Jackson, Klamath, Lane, Lincoln, Linn and Marion counties may be eligible for FEMA disaster aid for uninsured losses or damages sustained due to the wildfires and straight-line wind event beginning on September 7, 2020. This includes grants for temporary housing and home repairs, low cost loans to cover uninsured property losses, and additional programs to help Oregonians and business owners recover from the disaster.

If you have been impacted by the wildfires, you can find more information about available programs and apply for FEMA disaster assistance here.

Mental Health Resources

As we start to enter the recovery phase, we must recognize the challenging months that lie ahead, and reflect on the difficulties this year has brought for so many. If you are struggling with your mental or emotional health, know that you are not alone. There are a number of resources available that are here to help:  

• SAMHSA’s Disaster Distress Helpline offers 24/7 free and confidential disaster crisis counseling to anyone in the United States at 1-800-985-5990. You can also text TalkWithUs to 66746 to speak with a trained crisis counselor.
• Oregon Behavioral Health Support Line offers free confidential support to Oregonians at 1-800-923-HELP (4357).
• Lines for Life offers 24-hour crisis support for drug addiction, alcohol abuse, and thoughts of suicide to youth, military personnel and their families, and those affected by substance abuse at 1-800-273-8255.
• Multnomah County’s Crisis Intervention Line offers a 24/7 support and immediate assistance to those suffering from acute mental distress involving danger to one's self or others. Call at 503-988-4888 for yourself.
• Clackamas County Support and Crisis Line is available 24/7 to help those in a mental health crisis at 503-655-8585. The number is not just reserved for crises, staff on the line can provide support to anyone who is feeling worried or anxious.

FEMA Health Care Special Enrollment Period

If you were qualified to enroll in marketplace coverage during an Open Enrollment or Special Enrollment Period but were unable to enroll due to the wildfire and wind event beginning on September 7, you may be eligible for an exceptional circumstances special enrollment period.

To qualify, you must also live (or have lived during the event) in a county that is eligible to apply for individual or public assistance by FEMA. Here is a link to a press release which lists the counties in Oregon eligible for individual or public assistance.

If you meet these qualifications, you have from September 7 (the beginning of the FEMA incident period) until 60 days after FEMA’s incident period ends, to select a new health insurance plan or make changes to an existing plan, complete your enrollment in marketplace coverage, and request a retroactive start date based on the date would have picked a plan if not for the disaster. Applications are now being accepted on HealthCare.gov.

The FEMA incident period is still ongoing, but if it ended today, you would have until November 23, 2020 to complete this process.

Oregon Employment Department (OED) Updates

Wildfires and Disaster Unemployment Assistance (DUA)

Disaster Unemployment Assistance (DUA) is an unemployment insurance program that is funded by FEMA and administered by the Oregon Employment Department. DUA is available for people who became unemployed, had their work hours substantially reduced, or are not able to perform self- employment as a result of the wildfires and straight-line winds that began on September 7, 2020.

In order to be eligible, you must reside in a county that has qualified for FEMA individual assistance (Clackamas, Douglas, Jackson, Klamath, Lane, Lincoln, Linn, and Marion county’s), are ineligible for regular state unemployment insurance (UI), Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation (PEUC), other extension programs, or Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA), and have seen your employment or self-employment lost, interrupted, or work hours greatly reduced because of the major disaster.   

DUA benefits are available to individuals for weeks of unemployment beginning September 13, 2020 and will remain available until March 20, 2021, as long as your unemployment remains a direct result of the major disaster.

Applications for this program are now available and the initial application deadline is October 23, 2020.

Here is more information on the DUA program, further explanation of eligibility requirements, and instructions on how to apply.

Lost Wages Assistance (LWA)

FEMA requires all claimants seeking LWA benefits to certify they are receiving benefits for COVID-19 related reasons and recently, OED updated their website so claimants can self-certify for LWA benefits online. This is the temporary emergency program that gives an additional $300 per week to people out of work due to COVID-19 and who receive unemployment benefits.

You automatically qualify for LWA if you:

• Have received unemployment benefits from July 26, 2020, through September 5, 2020; and

• Self-certify they are unemployed or partially unemployed due to disruptions caused by COVID-19.

LWA is retroactive to eligible claimants and covers the weeks of July 26, 2020 through September 5. 2020.

The online self-certification form is available here. Claimants should scroll down and select “Lost Wages Assistance.” Those with language access needs can contact OED by email at OED_LanguageAccess@oregon.gov or call the OED language hotline at 503-606-6969.

Step-by-Step Guides

OED has updated their website to include step-by-step guides on how to file for different unemployment insurance programs during the COVID-19 pandemic. Here, you can find PDF guides that walk you through the various programs, video guides, and links to previously recorded OED webinars.

COVID-19 Temporary Paid Leave Program

The COVID-19 Temporary Paid Leave Program created by the Oregon Legislature’s Emergency Board is now accepting applications. People who work in Oregon and need to quarantine or isolate due to COVID-19 exposure, but do not have access to COVID-19 related paid sick leave, are eligible for a $120 per-day payment for up to 10 working days ($1,200 total) for the time they are required to quarantine.

You must meet all of the following requirements to be eligible for the program:

• Work in Oregon and required to file an Oregon personal income tax return.
• Directed to quarantine by a local or tribal public health authority or health care provider because of exposure to someone infected, or isolating because you have COVID-19-related symptoms and are seeking a medical diagnosis.
• Not able to work (including telework) because you need to quarantine or isolate.
• Do not expect to earn more than $60,000 individually or $120,000 jointly in 2020.
• Your employer does not provide COVID-19-related paid sick leave or you have exhausted your available COVID-19-related paid sick leave.
• Are not applying for or receiving unemployment insurance benefits for the time off due to quarantine or isolation.
• Are not applying for or receiving workers’ compensation claim benefits due to quarantine or isolation.
• Are not seeking or using benefits from similar COVID-19 quarantine relief programs in Oregon or another state.
• Are not applying for or receiving other forms of paid leave from your employer during your quarantine or isolation, such as banked sick leave or vacation leave.
• Are not laid off or furloughed by your employer.
• Must have notified your employer that you need to quarantine or isolate.

Employees can apply online here. Application forms are available in English, Spanish, and Russian.

Those who do not have access to electric applications can call 833-685-0850 (toll-free) or 503-947-0130. Those who need help in a language other than these three can call 503-947-0131 for help.

Funds are only available to quarantine periods that were in place on or after September 16. Applicants can claim only one quarantine period.

COVID-19 Mortgage Assistance

The Oregon Homeownership Stabilization Initiative recently launched the COVID-19 Mortgage Relief Program to assist Oregonians who have fallen behind on their mortgage payments during the pandemic. You can learn more about eligibility requirements, how to apply, and links for application assistance here.

Free PPE for Small Businesses and Child Care Providers

In collaboration with the Oregon Legislature’s Emergency Board, the Governor’s office allocated $10 million from federal CARES Act funding for the purchase of supplies, including masks and gloves, for small businesses.

Small businesses are eligible to receive free PPE if they:

• Have 50 or fewer employees.
• Are headquartered in Oregon.
• Have principal operations in-state.

The State of Oregon is fulfilling orders at no charge until resources are exhausted. Eligible small businesses and child care providers can apply here.

Child Care Resources

Finding child care options during the COVID-19 pandemic can be a challenge. Below you will find resources on how to locate child care programs, and how to receive financial assistance to pay for these programs:

Finding Child Care:

• Call: 211 or 1-866-698-6155.
• Text: keyword "children" or "niños" to 898211 (TXT211).
• Email: children@211info.org.
• Hours: Monday-Friday 7am-11pm; Saturday & Sunday 8am-8pm.
• Search for child care providers: https://tinyurl.com/FindChildCare.

Affording Child Care:

Employment-Related Day Care (ERDC) is a subsidy to help parents and other caretakers afford child care. ERDC will pay a maximum of $1,415 per month to providers for each eligible child in the family, depending on child age, provider type, and location within the state.

Contact your local DHS self-sufficiency office to apply. 2-1-1 can also help you apply. It is recommended that you apply soon for maximum benefit opportunities. 

See this graphic for eligibility requirements and additional information.

email: Rep.AndreaSalinas@oregonlegislature.gov I phone: 503-986-1438
address: 900 Court St NE, H-485, Salem, OR, 97301
website: http://www.oregonlegislature.gov/salinas