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Lake Oswego staff recommend using $20,000 in municipal grant funds for local food pantry after SNAP disruption
Summary
Staff proposed allocating the remaining municipal grant balance (about $20,000) to Hunger Fighters Oregon and launching a short community campaign; councilors also reviewed utility‑billing assistance, temporary hardship funds and Meals on Wheels options to help residents affected by SNAP benefit uncertainty.
Lake Oswego city staff asked the City Council on Nov. 18 to quickly deploy roughly $20,000 left in this year’s municipal grant cycle to local hunger relief as part of a package of options to help residents affected by recent disruptions in SNAP benefits. Assistant City Manager Megan Phelan told councilors staff’s recommended first step is to allocate the unspent funds to Hunger Fighters Oregon and to begin a brief community outreach campaign.
Phelan summarized the options staff assembled for council, which fall into three main buckets: utility‑billing assistance, targeted grant allocations, and enhanced coordination with food‑delivery and pantry partners. On utility assistance she said the city runs two programs: an income‑qualified program that reduces eligible customers’ monthly utility bills by 50% for those at or below 60% of the state median income (37 participants currently) and a temporary hardship program that can provide up to two months limited to $200 per month and is administered through Saint Vincent de Paul.
"Staff is recommending that the council immediately allocate the remaining municipal grant funds of approximately $20,000 to Hunger Fighters Oregon and begin a community campaign in the month of November," Phelan said.
The staff memo also described ways the city could boost Meals on Wheels and the adult community center’s meal efforts. Staff noted it costs roughly $8.50 to prepare a meal through Meals on Wheels; with additional funding the provider and the city’s senior services could expand delivery or provide meals to households that do not qualify for Meals on Wheels but have lost SNAP benefits. Phelan pointed to a recent city‑led fundraising event that raised both food and money as a model for broader outreach.
Councilors asked practical questions about access and outreach, including how easy it is for residents to find program information on the city website and whether billing staff proactively work with customers facing shutoffs. Staff replied utility‑billing personnel routinely walk callers through eligibility and application processes and that the temporary hardship funds currently have money available through the Saint Vincent de Paul partnership.
No formal vote was taken at the session. Phelan said if council agrees with the immediate allocation concept, staff will return with an amended grant resolution for formal action at a future meeting.
Next steps: staff will bring a draft amended grant resolution back to the council for consideration and continue coordinating with Hunger Fighters Oregon, Meals on Wheels and the county to support residents experiencing food insecurity.
