Local Leaders Sound Alarm Over Threats to Safety Net Programs

October 15, 2026 - 23:39

The Multnomah County Board of Commissioners was briefed Tuesday, Oct. 13, on the harmful and ongoing effects of House Resolution 1. County and state officials used the session to warn that the legislation, if fully implemented, would strip away critical funding from programs that low income residents depend on for food, health care, and housing assistance.

During the briefing, staff described how the resolution would reshape federal spending on Medicaid, the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, and other supports that flow through state and county agencies. They said the changes would force local governments to make difficult choices about which services to keep and which to cut, at a time when demand for help remains high.

Commissioners pressed for details on how the county would absorb the losses. Officials said they are already coordinating with state partners to map out contingency plans, but they cautioned that no amount of local budgeting can replace the scale of federal dollars at stake. They also noted that the people most affected are families, seniors, and people with disabilities who rely on a steady safety net to meet basic needs.

Community advocates who attended the meeting echoed those concerns. They said the debate in Washington often ignores the real world consequences for neighborhoods where food pantries, clinics, and rental aid programs are already stretched thin. Several speakers urged the board to keep raising the issue publicly and to push back against any proposal that shifts costs onto local taxpayers.

The board did not take a formal vote on the matter. Commissioners said they will continue tracking the legislation and plan to send a formal position to state and federal representatives in the coming weeks.