Multnomah County approves $100,000 emergency fund for food security as SNAP benefits lapse

Multnomah County commissioners voted 5–0 on Nov. 5 to transfer $100,000 from general fund contingency to support food security and hunger relief as federal SNAP benefits remained suspended.

The board’s budget modification, brought by Commissioner Susheela Moyer, proposed directing $75,000 to the Oregon Food Bank for rapid wholesale purchases and distribution and reserving $25,000 for district-directed distributions to community partners identified by commissioners. Moyer told colleagues that the county’s emergency operations center had assessed partner needs and that monetary support would enable organizations to stretch purchasing power and obtain culturally specific foods. “SNAP is absolutely a lifeline for families in Multnomah County,” Moyer said during her presentation.

Commissioners debated a late amendment from Commissioner Brim (Brehm) Edwards that would have earmarked $62,000 for SUN School pantry sites to keep five sites open and increased the district-directed pot. Supporters of…