|
Replies to this message are sent to an unmonitored mailbox.
To contact me, please click here: Rep.Farrah.Chaichi@oregonlegislature.gov
 Over 100 people attended this evening Know Your Rights training in Washington County
On Monday, October 27th, my office organized a Know Your Rights Training for Washington County residents. Opening with a moving story from Commissioner Nafisa Fai about her immigration to the United States and followed by presentations from the Innovation Law Lab and the Oregon Justice Resource Center, the training gave our community a sense of hope and tools to take action.
Nearly 100 community members attended the evening training to learn how to respond to the increasing presence of and continuing harm from Federal ICE agents in our neighborhoods. All of those who attended, including myself, took home crucial information about what to do, who to call, and how to help.
Most importantly, we were given the Portland Immigrant Rights Coalition (PIRC) hotline, 1-888-622-1510, to report ICE activity, and the Oregon For All website to understand the safest and most effective ways to protect our neighbors.
 State Representative Farrah Chaichi with Beaverton City Councilor Nadia Hasan, THPRD Director Barbie Minor, Beaverton School Board Members Tammy Carpenter and Syed Qasim, Washington County Commissioner Nafisa Fai, State Representative Hai Pham, and State Senator Janeen Sollman
The level of support from so many levels of local government was a clear message to the Federal Government - we ALL stand in solidarity and we will defend ALL of those who call Oregon home. I want to highlight the fact that five Beaverton School Board Members, three Oregon State Legislators, one Washington County Commissioner, a Beaverton City Councilor, and the Mayor of Tigard, all attended this training on a Monday evening.
I highly encourage anyone who has not yet attended a MigraWatch or a Know Your Rights training to do so. Go to the Protect Oregon Now website or the Oregon Justice Resource Center to find information and updates about future trainings available in your area.
Photo Credit: Oregon Department of Human Services
The last two or three weeks of news about the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and the shutdown have been outrageous to say the least. Before November 1st, we were terrified about an imminent hunger crisis - where approximately 757,000 Oregonians would not see new money on their Oregon Trail Cards (EBT) cards. Then, last weekend, Governor Kotek declared a hunger emergency and authorized the use of $5 million for rapid response. Finally, on Friday, November 7th, we all breathed a huge sigh of relief when we heard that nearly all EBT benefits had been restored after two Federal judges forced the President to release billions of dollars in an emergency relief fund.
However, some folks may be worried that they are not able to use their SNAP dollars because of recent news from the Supreme Court and the President considering halting and or returning EBT benefits. THIS IS NOT TRUE. Once benefits are on your Oregon EBT card, they belong to you! You can keep using them as usual.
If you believe you should have received November SNAP benefits or a different amount than what you got, please reach out to your local ODHS office (https://bit.ly/ODHSoffices) or call 1-800-699-9075 (Monday – Friday, 7 a.m. – 6 p.m. Pacific Time), or email Oregon.Benefits@odhsoha.oregon.gov. Our office is also here to help you navigate resources that are available to you in our community and to keep you updated as frequently as possible, while we continue to receive guidance from the State of Oregon, our non-profit partners, and the Federal Government.
I recommend looking at this Oregon Food Bank post from October 1st and following their social media accounts for the most up-to-date information on changes to the food stamp program and if you or your family members will be affected. It is absolutely critical for folks who receive SNAP benefits to:
- Check your EBT card balance regularly
- Continue applying for and renewing your benefits
- Continue following SNAP rules and reporting requirements
- Check your mailbox for notices from ODHS and open them right away
- Stay informed by visiting the Oregon Department of Human Services (ODHS) website and subscribing to the ODHS communication channels
- Sign up for an ONE Online account and download the Oregon ONE Mobile app at benefits.oregon.gov to get notices about your SNAP case
- If you think the able-bodied adult without dependents (ABAWD) work requirements may apply to you, don’t wait to start planning how to meet them. Call the ODHS ABAWD team directly at 1-833-947-1694 or email SNAP.ABAWDTeam@odhsoha.oregon.gov.
As your State Representative, and your neighbor in House District 35, I am fully aware of the fear, the stress, and the insecurity that we are all facing right now. It is my top priority to be here to help you get through this extremely challenging moment and to fight for solutions in Salem. Not only will I be donating to our local food banks, but I also want to make sure you know exactly where you can find support:
-
Needfood.oregon.gov has so many resources for folks needing food
- Visit the Oregon Food Bank Food Finder to find the closest food hubs near you
-
Care to Share provides emergency food assistance for families in Washington County, 503-591-9025
- Contact 211info by dialing 2-1-1, texting your ZIP code to 898-211, or visiting www.211info.org to get connected to other social services you might need
- Older adults and people with disabilities can connect with Aging and Disability Resource Connection of Oregon at 1-855-673-2372 or adrcoforegon.org and the Washington County Nutrition and Meal Programs has a handful of local food providers and support systems.
In Washington County, we have over 20,000 people that rely on the SNAP program to stay fed and to manage the ridiculously high cost of living in the United States today. Luckily, our community is stepping up in amazing and honorable ways to make sure that those who need food are taken care of, see below:
 Photo Credit: APANO Action Fund
This coming Saturday, November 15th, the Portland chapter of Asian American Journalists Association (AAJA) and the Asian Pacific American Network of Oregon (APANO) are hosting an event with a handful of Oregon’s Asian American elected officials. The event is open to all and starts with a meet and greet with the elected officials, then the panel begins at 11:15 am and ends at 12:15 pm with some time for Q&A.
The event honors the seven members in the Oregon State Legislature who, together, constitute the largest group of Asian American lawmakers since Oregon’s statehood in 1859. Participating members are Senator Khanh Pham of Portland, and Representatives Farrah Chaichi of Beaverton, Daniel Nguyen of Lake Oswego, Hai Pham of Hillsboro and Thuy Tran of Portland. (Representative Hoa Nguyen of Portland died of cancer in September and Representative Mari Watanabe of Bethany is recovering from surgery.) They will be joined on the panel by Duncan Hwang, who works as a Director at APANO, and is an elected member of the Metro Council.
The panel will discuss why they sought office, what they have accomplished for their constituents, the issues that affect the Asian American community, and their plans for the future. No need to RSVP. We hope to see you there.
Event Details -
- Date: Saturday, November 15th
- Time: 10:45 am - 12:15 pm
- Location: The APANO Community Center, 8188 SE Division St, Portland, OR 97206, across from the Southeast campus of Portland Community College.
- Light refreshments will be available.
Being an effective legislator means communicating with constituents and being responsive to thoughts, ideas, questions, and concerns. In-district events and constituent meet-ups are a great opportunity for the residents of House District 35 to get face-to-face time with my staff and I when we are not in Salem.
Thank you to the HD 35 constituents who filled out the short community engagement questionnaire that I sent out in my August newsletter. From the responses we received so far, folks seem willing to attend in-person town halls, with a preference for parks and community centers, and showed an equal amount of support for either weekday or weekend meetings.
|
This upcoming year, my goal is to do a “District Tour” around the perimeter of House District 35, with informal gatherings at different locations (parks, community centers, bars/restaurants, coffee shops, etc). It will give all of us a great opportunity to learn the whole district and have important and timely discussions about the issues that affect our community, especially in the lead up to the February Legislative Session.
Due to the winter weather, meeting somewhere inside seems like our best bet for a constituent gathering. Therefore, I would like to host our first constituent meet and greet at 6:30 pm on Tuesday, December 2nd, in-person, at The 649 on 18647 SW Farmington Rd, Beaverton, OR 97007. Please RSVP so that we can plan accordingly for space at the bar/restaurant. As a reminder, this is a totally FREE event, and you do not need to purchase anything upon arriving at the event.
RSVP here. Hope to see you on December 2nd!
 Photo Credit: Washington County
I am so excited to share that the two Centers for Addictions Triage and Treatment (CATT) are now up and running! The Hillsboro Recovery Center (HRC) opened back in May of 2025, and on October 24, 2025, my staff attended the grand-opening and facility tour celebrating the completion of the Beaverton Recovery Center (BRC).
The BRC, which is located at 17911 NW Evergreen Place, will bring 86 treatment beds to our community for residential treatment, withdrawal management, transition services, a peer drop-in center, and much more! The goal has always been to provide comprehensive substance use treatment that is accessible and responsive to our community. Centers like this ensure that people battling addiction get the support they need to have a successful recovery.
As a reminder, help is available NOW in Washington County for folks experiencing the difficulties of substance use. Please visit the County’s addictions page to learn how to connect to services. If you or someone you know is in a crisis, call the Washington County Crisis Line at 503-291-9111, or in the case of a life-threatening emergency, call 9-1-1.
Fall is such a beautiful time in Oregon with the changing colors of the leaves. And I know you may be thinking, “Farrah, why are you talking about leaves in your newsletter!?” Well, I can tell you that clogged stormwater drains sometimes cause localized flooding and can make leaf disposal more difficult for our hardworking City staff.
It is the responsibility of city residents to dispose of the leaves that fall on private property and it is important to help keep our city streets clean and the city’s stormwater system reliable. Go to the Beaverton Leaf Disposal website to learn how to pick up and properly dispose of your fallen leaves. Thank you for doing your part, and remember, you can always take a few minutes to jump into your leaf pile before you dispose of it!
|
Please reach out to my office at any time for legislative or constituent matters. My staff and I are committed to serving the constituents of HD 35 and you can reach us at: Rep.FarrahChaichi@oregonlegislature.gov or 503.986.1435. To keep up with my office, consider following me on Facebook or Instagram.
Thank you again for subscribing to my newsletter and for reading the frequent news and updates from our office. Please encourage your neighbors and friends in our district to subscribe to this newsletter if they seem interested. I am honored and grateful for the opportunity to represent you in the Oregon State Legislature.
In Solidarity,
 Representative Farrah Chaichi, HD 35
| 
