For immediate release: Thursday, Jan. 29, 2026
Media contact:
Multnomah County Communications, pressoffice@multco.us
This release is online here.
ATTENTION — Detailed information and guidance for applicants for the Multnomah Sanctuary Fund is available in multiple languages: Español | Soomaaliga | 中文 (繁體) | Русский | українсько | Tiếng Việt | English
NEWS RELEASE: Multnomah County allocates funds, launches grant program following Board vote to strengthen sanctuary commitment
Multnomah County, Ore. (Jan. 29, 2026) — Multnomah County today is announcing the upcoming launch of its $75,000 Multnomah Sanctuary Fund, a community grant program created just weeks after the Board of Commissioners unanimously approved a resolution and budget allocation designed to strengthen the County’s sanctuary commitment.
In all, the Board approved $250,000 in community support funding last Dec. 18, part of legislation introduced by Chair Jessica Vega Pederson and District 2 Commissioner Shannon Singleton. Alongside the $75,000 in the grant fund, the County will directly allocate an additional $175,000 to support legal services and other needs.
In addition, the County has received $226,000 in additional Supportive Housing Services (SHS) funding from Metro to support rent assistance for families affected by immigration enforcement. These funds will be distributed to Bienestar de la Familia.
Defending and Assisting Families
Community outreach conducted through the County’s Emergency Operation Center (EOC) has found that increasing federal immigration enforcement and changing immigration policies are creating anxiety and fear for the County’s immigrant and refugee communities — regardless of people’s immigration status. This is causing destabilization and underuse of some programs and increase in demand for other programs such as rent and utility assistance, transportation, and legal services.
Many people detained by federal agents are a main source of income for their households, causing economic and emotional stress for families. Organizations that work directly with immigrants report people are increasingly afraid to leave their homes or shelter to travel to a job, school, government buildings, or even grocery stores. This is leading to housing and financial instability.
To ensure fairness and equal access to services for everyone the County serves, the Multnomah County Board of Commissioners allocated $175,000 to the Department of County Human Services (DCHS). This fund is to support people and families affected by federal enforcement practices and policy changes. Federal immigration policy changes and immigration enforcement tactics were condemned by the full Board of County Commissioners. These funds will increase access to critical services that will help bring some security for families and neighbors throughout Multnomah County.
To get dollars into the community as quickly as possible during a recently extended emergency declaration, funding will be allocated to three service providers who hold existing contracts or are pre-qualified to serve as providers with DCHS:
- $60,000: Multnomah Public Defenders
- $60,000: Ecumenical Ministries of Oregon (EMO) for immigration legal services
- $55,000: The Immigrant and Refugee Community Organization (IRCO)
These funds will provide immediate, direct assistance to clients for needs including legal services with immigration, tenant defense, and other client services. Funds given to Bienestar de la Familia will go towards rent, utilities, food and basic necessities.
Multnomah Sanctuary Fund: A New Provider Grant Program
An additional $75,000 will be allocated toward a new grant program known as the Multnomah Sanctuary Fund that will begin accepting applications this Friday, Jan. 30.
These funds are meant for organizations or businesses not currently contracted with the County. They are intended to address any unique needs of the immigrant and refugee community affected by federal immigration enforcement and immigration policy changes. The program prioritizes distribution across diverse linguistic, ethnic, and cultural communities, especially those that have not recently received similar emergency government funding.
The application deadline is Feb. 18, 2026. Interested organizations must apply online through Multco Marketplace (MMP), the County’s official procurement platform. More information, in multiple languages, can be found at multco.us/federal. In addition, once the grant is posted in Multco Marketplace, translations of the guidance will be available. All funds must be spent by June 30, 2026. There will be limited potential for exceptions.
Metro Funding for Direct Client Assistance
The Metro Council recently passed a resolution that allocated $226,000 through Supportive Housing Services (SHS) administrative funds to Multnomah County’s Bienestar de la Familia.
Bienestar de la Familia was launched nearly 30 years ago to offer a wide array of services to community members in need across Multnomah County, including diverse immigrant and refugee families. Families will be able to access these funds directly through Bienestar De La Familia and by connecting with their SUN Site manager or Family Resource Navigator connect to SUN Community Schools.
Bienestar, a DCHS program, currently operates in Northeast Portland and provides services in various languages. Services include a monthly Mercado that provides food to thousands of families in partnership with the Oregon Food Bank, Hacienda CDC and other partners.
These funds — in alignment with existing, allowable uses of SHS dollars — must serve households at risk of homelessness or housing instability as a result of immigration enforcement activities and policy changes. That could include direct payments to households or other supports that address:
- Housing stability needs,
- Rental assistance payments
- Utility payments
- Food assistance
- Transportation support and other basic needs.