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Hello Friends,
Summer is here, and with it, the heat! I hope you’re staying cool and spending some time with family and friends. Read on for news on summer programs for students, how to beat the heat, a new resource for people in mental health crises, and other important updates.
The last two years have been extremely challenging, particularly so for Oregon’s students. We need to use every tool at our disposal to make up for missed opportunities, so we can keep kids engaged and on the right track. Students can only accomplish so much during a regular school year, which is why I voted in favor of a $150 million investment that the legislature passed to support summer learning programs. This investment has created some amazing opportunities for kids all around the state this summer.
Both 4J and Bethel schools are offering great programs, completely free of charge, that give students the chance to explore their curiosities and find new passions in a structured environment, all summer long. Many programs still have openings, so follow the links below for information on programs offered by each school district!
Schools support kids in ways that extend beyond the classroom, including making sure they have enough to eat. Many students rely on their school cafeteria for access to one or two meals a day, and summer break can put them at risk of missing a meal. Thankfully, Food for Lane County, 4J and Bethel School District are all offering meal programs throughout the summer to children and teens 18 and younger. You can learn more about when, and where to find these programs at the links below.
Heat Resources
Temperatures in Lane County are forecasted to be dangerously high for the next week. Last summer, more than 100 Oregonians tragically lost their lives because they didn’t have access to cool spaces during the heat wave. In response, during the 2022 session, the legislature passed SB 1536 to help keep Oregonians safe during extreme heat waves. SB 1536 made it easier for renters to install AC units, and also funded programs to protect some of the most vulnerable Oregonians, including support for multifamily and manufactured housing landlords to create cooling spaces and for AC units for high risk individuals.
In the meantime, I wanted to share some resources to help keep you and your family safe and comfortable.
COVID Update
Cases and hospitalizations are on the rise in Lane County and across Oregon, as the spread of the highly transmissible BA.4 and BA.5 Omicron sub-variants of COVID-19 continues to sweep through communities. These sub-variants are once again straining our healthcare system, and the most recent data has led Lane County Public Health officials to recommend that individuals wear masks in indoor settings until cases and hospitalizations begin to decline.
It’s critical we all do our part to reduce the spread, so anyone experiencing symptoms should stay home and get tested as soon as possible. You can order free rapid tests to be delivered to your home at covidtests.gov (households that have already ordered one or two sets of tests can order a third set) and most insurance will now cover 8 at homes tests per calendar month at no out of pocket cost to consumers.
Vaccines and Boosters
Even with the surge of Omicron BA.4 and BA.5, all approved COVID-19 vaccines (Pfizer, Moderna, and J&J,) remain effective against severe illness and hospitalization. As of June 20th, 2022 COVID-19 vaccines are available to anyone 6 months and older, and individuals 50 and older, and those with compromised immune systems are encouraged to get their second booster dose of the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine at least 4 months after their initial booster.
If you have questions or concerns about getting you or your family vaccinated, I encourage you to speak with your doctor or other health care provider about the best ways to keep yourself and your family safe.
Cost-of-Living Assistance for Low-Income Households
Too many families are struggling right now with the cost of everyday essentials like groceries, gas, and prescriptions. That's why this year, Oregon Democrats proposed and passed House Bill 4157, which means over 200,000 low-income Oregonians across the state have received a one-time $600 payment this summer.
To qualify, households must have received the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) on their 2020 tax filing and lived in Oregon the last six months of 2020 (for more info on eligibility visit here). No application was needed to receive these payments, which will be tax-free. Payments were made either by direct deposit or by check, as of this month, all payments have been made to qualified households (so if you think you qualify, check your bank account or your mail). To see how the payments helped Oregonians in every corner of the state, click here.
Last week the Eugene City Council passed the first phase of a proposed three phase plan for renter protections. Roughly 52% of Eugene’s population rent their home and city-wide rental vacancies are hovering around 1.5%. Phase one protections will be effective 30 days after the Mayor signs the ordinance and include:
- A $10 cap on application screening fees for each adult applicant.
- Creation of a housing navigator position to:
- Manage data on rentals
- Enforce protections
- Create a tenant hotline
- Requiring landlords to provide move-in and move-out photo documentation, including itemized reports on withholdings from security deposits.
- Requiring landlords to provide rental history up to two times a year, even if the tenant hasn’t given notice that they plan to move.
- Requiring the city to create and update educational material on the rights and obligations of landlords and tenants during eviction or other actions taken to end a tenancy.
988 Suicide and Crisis Hotline
This month, a new resource for people in mental health crisis was launched – the 988 hotline. Modeled after “911,” 988 is a quick and memorable number that can connects people in crisis with a trained mental health professional immediately via phone call or text. The hotline can be reached by calling or texting 9-8-8 or by visiting 988lifeline.org. I’m thrilled to see this program launched nationwide!
As ever, my office and I are here to help! Please don’t hesitate to reach out if you need help navigating local or state government services, or if you have thoughts about bills for the 2023 legislative session. Your input is valuable as I consider what to prioritize in the coming months.
Yours truly,
 Capitol Phone: 503-986-1414
Capitol Address: 900 Court St. NE, H-286, Salem, Oregon 97301
Email: Rep.JulieFahey@oregonlegislature.gov
Website: http://www.oregonlegislature.gov/fahey
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