Many public services and programs are available for Oregon residents, regardless of their immigration status. Learn more about these programs here.
In Oregon, noncitizens are able to access healthcare, housing, food assistance and more. Oregon is considered a “sanctuary state.”
Government Benefits
Government schemes provide benefits to help citizens in times of need. They can help people with medical expenses, food, housing assistance, and job training. They can also help develop infrastructure and promote social cohesion. They can even support entrepreneurship and encourage economic growth. They can also address environmental issues, reduce inequality, and prevent disasters and emergencies.
The ArrayRx program in Oregon offers prescription medication discounts to people who do not have insurance. It also helps people with limited incomes manage their medication costs and avoid overdoses or drug abuse. You can learn more about the program on its website. In addition, the state has many programs that can help you with other basic needs like housing or utilities. You can find out more about these programs on the state’s website.
The TANF cash assistance program can help you pay for food and other basics, including child care and healthcare. The SSI disability benefit can help you pay for living expenses when you cannot work due to a disabling condition. The unemployment insurance program can help you pay your bills while looking for a new job. You can also get free school meals for your children through the Partners for a Hunger-Free Oregon program. You can also apply for the Paid Leave Oregon program if you need time off from work to take care of a family member or attend school.
Refugee Resettlement Agencies
Resettlement agencies provide services to refugees, asylum seekers and displaced people. Their programs help them transition into their new communities and recover from often traumatic life experiences. These organizations also help them navigate government benefits and community support networks. Local refugee resettlement agencies are often able to serve people in need at a much more individualized level than a national organization.
Local refugee resettlement agencies offer various services, including cultural orientation and job training. They may also provide counseling, housing assistance, cash and medical aid, English language instruction and case management. These programs are available to refugees from around the world who have been approved for resettlement in the United States.
In addition to assisting refugees with acclimating to their new homes, local refugee resettlement agencies often help them access public benefits and community services. These programs can help refugee families with things like childcare, job training and employment, health care, education, social activities, cultural meals and transportation.
Newly arrived refugees can get extended case management for up to 24 months after arrival in the United States. These services can include assistance with navigating local social service systems, understanding complex legal documents and accessing government benefits. Other services offered by local refugee resettlement agencies include school age child support, school enrollment, school outreach and orientations, and enhanced academic support to help children succeed in school.
Language Access Rights
Those who don’t speak English have rights when they visit government agencies and places that receive government funding. They have a civil right, in accordance with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act 1964 and Executive Order 13166, to have access to information and services in their preferred language. This means they must be provided with interpreters and translators, free of charge.
A new law has been passed in the state of Oregon, known as HB 2359. It requires health care providers to work with interpreters who are vetted by the Oregon Health Authority. Proponents claim that this will help ensure quality language access for residents of the northwestern US state who have limited English proficiency. However, the law has detractors.
One of the biggest concerns is that this law could make it more difficult for people who have LEP to get immediate healthcare when they need it. Healthcare providers often have to search the registry for an interpreter to meet a patient’s language needs, and they may find there isn’t anyone available.
Another concern is that the law prioritizes onsite interpretation over remote, which will have a negative impact on the wages and job opportunities of interpreters who work remotely. The American Translators Association (ATA), the professional association of interpreters and translators, has opposed the bill because it will reduce their ability to provide quality interpretation services to clients who have LEP.
Public Benefits for Immigrants
Many of Oregon’s cash benefit programs help people pay for things like food, child care and rent while they work toward supporting themselves. The state also provides free public college tuition to undocumented students, and people who are residing here without legal status can access driver licenses and other forms of identification.
However, the federal government has implemented new rules that could affect immigrants’ access to these services. The rule is known as “Public Charge.” The public charge test looks at a person’s use of certain government benefits to determine their ability to enter the U.S. or gain legal permanent resident status (a green card). The tests look at a person’s use of several types of benefits, including food assistance, Medicaid, Medicare and long-term care.
The rules apply to anyone who is applying to become a lawful permanent resident or receiving a green card through family petition. This includes many people who are already legal residents. The rules also apply to members of mixed-status households—households with at least one unauthorized immigrant. These restrictions can affect children in the household, as well.
Studies show that unauthorized families tend to avoid using public benefits because they fear being found out and deported. In addition, some fear that using public benefits will affect their future chances of obtaining legal status.