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Benefits navigators at Oregon colleges have served 39,000 students; state funding not included in governor's 2025–27 recommendation
Summary
Donna LaWelling, director of the Office of Community Colleges and Workforce Development, told the Education Subcommittee that campus‑based benefits navigators have helped more than 39,000 students statewide in three years and made more than 21,000 referrals to services that address basic needs.
Donna LaWelling, director of the Office of Community Colleges and Workforce Development, told the Education Subcommittee that campus‑based benefits navigators have helped more than 39,000 students statewide in three years and made more than 21,000 referrals to services that address basic needs.
"These are benefits navigators that are housed at the higher education institutions," LaWelling said, describing the program established under House Bill 2835 (2021). She noted the program is not included in the Governor’s recommended 2025–27 budget, though the statutory mandate for the institutions to provide the services remains in place.
LaWelling said the Legislature granted $5 million for benefits navigators in the 2021–23 biennium;…
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