Multnomah County, Ore. (Nov. 6, 2025) — The Multnomah Board of Commissioners on Thursday, Nov. 6, unanimously approved $100,000 in contingency funding to help community organizations purchase and distribute food amid delays in federal food assistance for tens of thousands of community members.
Thursday’s allocation, initially brought forward by Chair Jessica Vega Pederson, will provide $75,000 to the Oregon Food Bank — which helps supply food to a large network of organizations, including culturally specific providers and SUN schools — and an additional $25,000 for County commissioners to directly allocate to other providers.
Federal Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits have been delayed since Nov. 1. That decision by the federal government affects roughly 143,000 County residents, including 38,000 youth and 18,000 seniors.
“The bedrock of Oregon Food Bank’s work in Multnomah County is our network of food assistance providers,” said Jen Turner, Oregon Food Bank’s associate director of partnership and programs, who also noted that 40% of people in receiving food assistance from the organization in Multnomah County identify as Black, Indigenous or as a person of color.
“Where the rubber hits the road for us is our work with hundreds of organizations,” she told the Board.
Board receives comprehensive report on federal impacts, next steps
The allocation follows an emergency meeting Friday, Oct. 31, where the Board approved a resolution to track and then direct an expansion of the County’s response to this looming crisis. That resulting report, which also touched on federal impacts such as immigration enforcement, was released to the Board on Wednesday, Nov. 5.
Beyond financial contributions to community partners, other recommendations include
- Helping to coordinate volunteer opportunities in the County
- Working with utilities to advocate against shutoffs for families who don’t have food assistance
- Tracking data and working with community partners to identify any emerging needs around rent assistance or other financial impacts
- Continuing to share information with the community
Read the full Board report documenting the County’s work to date here.
Board of Commissioners’ statements
To find full comments by the Board of Commissioners, and to follow along with the discussion, here is a link to the Board’s meeting archive on YouTube.
Chair Jessica Vega Pederson: “With the Trump administration providing mixed messaging and the restoration of benefits remaining in limbo on an unknown timeline, we needed to act immediately for the nearly one in five people throughout the County who rely on SNAP to help buy groceries,” said Chair Jessica Vega Pederson. “While we cannot possibly pick up the slack for the federal government, what we can do is convene, partner, and drive collective action to support our community — and we can make targeted, strategic investments in areas where our community needs it most.”
District 1 Commissioner Meghan Moyer: “This is the first action of what I hope to be the County’s greater response in addressing the humanitarian crisis thrust upon our community by the Trump administration,” Commissioner Meghan Moyer said. “Nobody should go hungry in the richest nation in the world. We must come together as a community to be there for each other. I’m committed to the County doing all it can to help as many people as possible.”
District 2 Commissioner Shannon Singleton: “I am glad that we are able to move this much needed resource to community networks. With all the cuts happening to programs, our families are being asked to pay for more with the same amount of insufficient income,” Commissioner Shannon Singleton said. “The lack of action by this federal regime to put contingency funds into SNAP is appalling. I’m grateful that we could step up and put local resources into food assistance today, and I don’t expect this will be the last action we take to center and support our community.”
District 3 Commissioner Julia Brim-Edwards: “The County and our community partners will do everything we can to help bridge the gap to ensure families and individuals have access to healthy food,” Commissioner Julia Brim-Edwards said. “I connected with all of the County’s school districts, as well as the State’s Department of Education, and I am hearing a growing need for food and assistance in schools – and in particular, for evening and weekend meals. This funding allocated today will help get more food to the County’s SUN Schools food pantries, and I will continue coordinating with school partners to make sure students and families in East Portland and throughout Multnomah County have access to resources and essential food options.”
District 4 Commissioner Vince Jones-Dixon: “Oregonians in local government are sending a clear message to the communities we represent. We will be resilient in ensuring your health and safety,” said Commissioner Jones-Dixon. “I will see that these resources, and any other County funding, result in direct food access benefits to the areas of Multnomah County that have been the most impacted by the delay of SNAP funding.”
Find resources as response work remains underway
Already, to prepare for Nov. 1, the Department of County Human Services has created a resource page at multco.us/food to help anyone who needs food assistance — or knows someone who needs it — during this crisis.
The page includes an updated list of dozens of free food programs, as well as information on how community members can support community food programs through volunteering or donations.
Community members can also call 211 to learn about available resources.
At Chair Vega Pederson’s direction, the County moved toward a partial activation of its emergency response protocols Oct. 28, adding to its ongoing work to coordinate with community partners, food pantries, local governments and more. That activation allows the County to act in the short-term while also developing a response that lasts for the long-term if necessary.
The County is also adding case workers and other staff at its in-person social services locations on Nov. 1 to support people in need.
Harm from this federal crisis won’t be limited to food — and it may take time to unfold, requiring additional assistance and coordination in the coming weeks. Families will be forced to choose between paying their housing costs, risking eviction, or their utility bills, risking service disconnections, to try to keep their children from going hungry.
“Getting food in people’s hands as this happens is critical for us,” said Chris Voss, director of Multnomah County Emergency Management.