 |
|
|
Helping Oregonians help themselves and investing in local communities to put Oregon back to work
DHS ARRA home | ARRA Investments in Oregon | DHS ARRA Contacts | Weekly report & other data
Over the next two years, the Department of Human Services estimates that American Recovery and Reinvestment Act funding will save, maintain or create a total of 6,900 jobs in Oregon communities. Those jobs will be the result of the department’s use of ARRA funds to provide services to Oregonians in need and distributes funds for public and private projects.
DHS distribution of ARRA funds has so far created the equivalent of 488 full time positions in programs ranging from childcare centers to vocational rehabilitation services to programs that serve meals to seniors. Also, more than 350 state jobs will be created to help DHS meet the needs of Oregonians hit hard by the recession. (See more in The Oregonian)
But the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act is more than jobs - it is about better lives for Oregonians. More than 80% of the DHS budget is spent on services for Oregonians in need. That money does not stay in state coffers but instead creates jobs as it is distributed to community based non-profits and private businesses across the state.
And thousands of Oregonians will benefit directly from ARRA funds distributed through medical, nutrition or child care assistance.
See DHS ARRA dollar distribution by county
Background
Demand for DHS assistance is at a historic high while state revenue has fallen. ARRA funds provide a much needed injection of federal dollars into the state's economy because the services and goods purchased with those dollars bring direct and indirect economic benefits to local economies. In a given year, every $1 million invested in Oregon's long-term care services means the state can access an additional $1.6 million in federal funds and create another $2.7 million in economic activity as dollars move through the community.
County-by-county analysis of DHS economic impact
Here are some highlights of the services ARRA funds have provided since February 2009:
 Medicaid: Most of the ARRA funding supports services to the 420,000 Oregonians who depend on Medicaid for health care, including 27,000 who receive long term care. Medicaid dollars pay for doctors, nurses and home health care workers, jobs for care providers in privately run facilities, medications, supplies and other care related costs. Learn more about ARRA and Medicaid
Food stamps / SNAP: $247 million in ARRA funding went to the SNAP/ food stamp program allowing the department to keep up with the more than 30% increase in demand over last year. Every dollar in food stamp benefits translates into ($7) in local economic activity for the grocers, cashiers, suppliers and other customers who count on those local businesses.
Protection of services
Without ARRA funds Oregonians would be facing severe reductions in many direct services, including:
 Because many of the programs directly funded by ARRA are mandatory government programs (SNAP, TANF) direct ARRA funding for those programs indirectly prevents the reduction or elimination of many other programs. Critical programs that help provide child care for low income families and long term care services for the elderly were significantly threatened by increased need and falling state revenue. Programs indirectly maintained because of the availability of ARRA funding:
See more about indirectly funded programs
Resources
The Oregon Way
|
|
American Recovery and Reinvestment Act
Approximately 1,000 jobs will be created as communities in 11 counties use $28.5 million in ARRA funds to pay for water improvement projects. The 20 projects will affect the health and lives of almost 800,000 Oregonians. 
