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Board approves $863,122 in CEAP funds to expand utility assistance to about 1,400 households
Summary
The Board approved a budget modification to add $863,122 in State of Oregon COVID Energy Assistance Program (CEAP) funds to the Youth and Family Services energy assistance program; the funds, rolled over from prior-year unspent allocations, will be used for client payments before a June 30 deadline.
The Multnomah County Board of Commissioners on March 15 approved a budget modification (R6) to add $863,122 in State of Oregon COVID Energy Assistance Program (CEAP) funds to the Department of County Human Services (DCHS) COVID-19 response fund. DCHS staff said the funds are rollover monies from state-administered CEAP admin and program-delivery dollars that were underspent in FY24 and authorized for use through June 30, 2025.
Rachel Pearl, deputy director for DCHS, said the department moved the funds from admin and program-delivery categories into client vendor payments so the money could support households rather than be used for indirect costs. “This funding will be added to program offer YFS energy assistance 25119 and will be used for client assistance serving over 1,400 additional households in FY25,” Pearl said.
Pearl and other staff told the board the bulk of the rollover funds were underspent in FY24 and that state OHCS approved use of the rollover through June 30, 2025. The board voted unanimously to approve the modification (roll-call: Moyer Aye; Singleton Aye; Broom Edwards Aye; Chair Vega Peterson Aye).
Several commissioners thanked DCHS for repurposing the funds to direct assistance but raised process questions about timing and board visibility. Commissioner Broom Edwards and Commissioner Moyer asked how much of the $863,122 had already been spent and why the item was brought to the board late in the fiscal year. DCHS staff said assistance is ongoing and that a budget modification is required to formalize the rollover and allow continued payments; they agreed to provide commissioners with detail on what portion, if any, has already been expended.
The board approved the R6 modification to increase the FY25 DCHS COVID-19 response fund appropriation by $863,122 in OHCS funding to serve additional households with energy-assistance payments; staff said the funds must be used by June 30, 2025.
