Our neighbors are three times more likely to be infected than the rest of Oregonians. See how we are helping.

Our high infection rates are particularly alarming because cases are not generally tied to workplace outbreaks.  Few recent workplace, nursing home, church or daycare outbreaks appear to have contributed to the numbers here. The disease is spreading in clusters in our families and as we socialize with each other.

Hunger is linked to the COVID crisis, too.  Before the crisis, about 40% of our neighborhood was food insecure, meaning that they did not know if they would eat that day.  With the crisis, it is above 60%. 

Backed by the USDA Farmer to Food program, local black, latino, and immigrant/refugee farmers, and Multnomah County, we have been feeding 600 – 800 families every week since April.  We distribute KN95 masks and hand sanitizers.  We do all of this in partnership with five to ten smaller local agencies, most of which are culturally-specific.

The Oregon Health Authority has also contracted with us to do contact tracing, education and wraparound services.  This work forms the core of what we do at our Community Health Unit.