Multnomah County commissioners approve 2025–2029 area plan for aging, disability and veterans services

The Multnomah County Board of Commissioners on Thursday approved the Aging, Disability and Veterans Services Division (ADVSD) 2025–2029 area plan, a federally required road map for distributing Older Americans Act funding and coordinating services for older adults, people with disabilities and caregivers.

The plan, adopted by unanimous roll-call vote, maps priorities and measurable objectives for the next four years and will be submitted to the Oregon Department of Human Services for state review and federal funding authorization.

County officials said the plan was built from extensive public outreach and a data-driven needs assessment. "We offered the survey in 14 languages and received 2,410 responses," Alex Garcia Luba, the division’s project manager, told the board, describing the outreach and focus groups used to identify needs. The plan’s priorities include expanding information and referral services, nutrition programs, caregiver support and culturally specific services.

Irma Jimenez, division director for Aging, Disability and Veterans Services, said the area plan is the mechanism by which the county secures Older Americans Act funding from the state. "This plan is due to the state on March 31; we are on task to submit it," Jimenez said during the briefing. County staff described a multistep planning process that included advisory council review, targeted focus groups, community listening sessions and a partnership with Portland State University for population analysis.

Public commenters endorsed the plan. Scott Moore, co-chair of the Portland Ryan White HIV Services Planning Council, told commissioners he supported the plan’s explicit commitments to diversity, inclusion and services for LGBTQIA2S+ older adults. "By prioritizing diversity and inclusion, this plan demonstrates a commitment to create a safe and supportive environment for all older adults in Multnomah County," Moore said. Longtime community volunteer Charles Johnson urged commissioners to visit service centers and make them welcoming, saying residents sometimes do not know where or how to access county services.

Commissioners thanked the division for outreach efforts and for early engagement with advisory councils. Commissioner Jones Dixon moved approval; Commissioner Brim Edwards seconded. The roll call vote was: Commissioner Moyer—Yes; Commissioner Singleton—Yes; Commissioner Brim Edwards—Yes; Commissioner Jones Dixon—Yes; Chair Vega Peterson—Aye. The resolution was adopted.

What the plan does and why it matters: the Older Americans Act requires a four‑year area plan to channel federal funds to local providers. ADVSD officials said the plan will support roughly 160,000 county residents and direct funding through 16 community partners, many described as culturally specific or culturally responsive. The plan sets time‑bound objectives with measurable tasks, and staff told commissioners they will return with annual updates on progress.

Next steps: with board approval, ADVSD will submit the plan to the Oregon Department of Human Services and begin the plan’s first-year implementation and reporting cycle. Staff said they will provide yearly updates to the board.

Speakers quoted in this article are people who appeared on the record at the meeting and are listed below.