street roots
3
Dec. .5, 2014
Clackamas Co. lawsuit alleges misuse of hinds intended for disabled caregivers
BY JAKE THOMAS
S T A FF W R ITE R
lawsuit alleging widespread
corruption in its social service
programs has been filed against
Clackamas County.
Filed Nov. 17 by Galina Burley, a former
human services manager with the county,
the lawsuit states that Clackamas County’s
Social Services Division improperly made
payments from a fund meant to help people
caring for disabled family members to the
agency’s staff. The lawsuit alleges that the
funds were then used by the agency’s staff
to pay for travel, lodging, personal
computers, facials and massages. It also
states that money was embezzled from a
program that manage the finances of some
of the county’s most vulnerable people.
While the lawsuit alleges widespread
misuse of funds in Clackamas County social
service programs, the litigation focuses on
the county’s Family Caregiver Support
Program, which provides financial and
emotional support to unpaid individuals
providing in-home care to a family member.
According to the lawsuit, the program’s
coordinator was approving grants for
unqualified caregivers without proper
documentation for expenses not in line with
the program.
The lawsuit states that Burley also sought
■
to address “apparent embezzlement” in
Clackamas County’s Money Management
Program. Easter Seals Oregon, a nonprofit
that works with disabled people, contracts
with the county to provide the program,
which aids seniors and disabled individuals
in managing their federal benefits. The
program serves as a representative payee,
an individual or an organization tasked by
the Social Security Administration with
administering the federal disability or old-
age benefits of individuals who, due to a
physical or cognitive impairment, need help
managing their money.
In fiscal year 2012, there were about 5.9
million representative payees who managed
$72 billion annually for 8.4 million
beneficiaries.
Over tiie last decade, government
watchdog agencies have issued a stream of
reports raising serious issues with the
Social Security Administration’s ability to
monitor the program and prevent fraud and
abuse from occurring. This spring, Street
Roots reported on a federal investigation
into Oregon’s largest payee service, Safety
Net, and it’s subsequent closure. That
investigation is ongoing.
Burely’s lawyer wouldn’t comment on the
case, and a spokesperson for Clackamas
County didn’t respond to Street Roots’
questions by press time.
Governor’s budget promises a new
infusion to affordable housing
_______
« V E im il-V G R EEN
STAFF W R IT E R
ov. John Kitzhaber’s proposed budget
— includes an unprecedented >.
V j l investment of $100 million to
increase housing for homeless families with
children - a hefty investment when
compared with a similarly funded investment
of only $7.5 million during the last budget
cycle.
“Oregon cannot meet any of its long-term
health or education goals when children are
homeless, and Oregon should find the very
idea of homeless families to be
unacceptable,” Kitzhaber states in the
budget plan.
Last month Street Roots reported that
20,000 Oregon students experienced
homelessness during the 2013-14 school
year.
“I’m thrilled that the governor recognizes
the role housing plays in achieving state
goals,” said Janet Byrd, executive director
for Neighborhood Partnerships, a member
I
of the Oregon Housing Alliance. “We are
excited to be a part of this historic
investment.”
She also said that because this would be
paid for with bonds, the rent could be very
low and house those who are at the greatest
risk of being homeless.
Alison McIntosh with Oregon Housing
and Community Services says the
investment would help OHCS double its
affordable housing production for five years,
building an additional 5,000 homes in
Oregon. Funding would come from a
combination of lottery and general
obligation-backed bonds.
It would be the first time that general
obligation bonds are used to fund affording
housing development
In Multnomah County alone, authorities
calculate that there are 23,000 fewer
affordable homes than there are households
that qualify for them. This creates a scenario
where many. Oregon families must choose
between paying rent and buying medicine or
T k e T a ft H o m e
Where senior and disabled adults
receive the care and respect they deserve.
Call us for more information
(503)223-2144
1337 S.W. Washington, Portland, OR 97205
www.tafthome.org
1
,
Clackamas County Courthouse
Easter Seals Oregon contracts with local
government agencies and nonprofit groups
across the state to manage its payee service
for 500 clients. David Cheveallier, the
president and CEO of fa ste r Seals Oregon,
said that his organization has contracted
with Clackamas County for the past seven
years to provide the payee service to 300
clients.
He said that the program undergoes
regular audits, which haven’t uncovered any
evidence of embezzlement Cheveallier also
said that all organizations that contract with
Easter Seals of Oregon for its payee service
are required to notify it if there are
problems with the program.
“We haven’t been notified,” he said.
“They’ve been a great partner for the last
seven years.”
groceries.
“While I am still digesting Gov.
Kitzhaber’s budget, I can tell you I am
cheering the $100 million in bond funding
hehas marked to build affordable housing
for families,” says Multnomah County Chair
Deborah Kafoury. “As we know at
Multnomah County, a stable home is
necessary for success, whether it’s tackling
a drug addiction, seeking treatment for
mental health issues or graduating from
high school. Every family in our community
deserves access to safe, stable housing.
Unfortunately, too many families in our
community are struggling. People are
doubling up, they’re in shelters, they’re on
the street. It’s a crisis. This investment will
not only create jobs, it will save fives.”
Even if it clears the legislative process,
the governor’s proposal is not a slam dunk.
Byrd says there are “technical issues” within
Article 11 of the Oregon Constitution that
would need to be amended to allow for the
governor’s affordable housing proposal to go
into effect But she says, she does not
believe it will prevent plans from moving
forward. Until amended by a public vote, the
constitution prevents Oregon lending its
credit for such projects.
The governor’s budget for the
Department of Human Services increased
by 7.8 percent from the last cycle. In the
DHS arena, Kitzhaber plans to redesign the
Temporary Assistance for Needy Families
program and increase investments in
Employment Related Day Care, which has
long been on the state chopping block when
budgets are tight.
The governor’s budget also includes a
$53.2 million increase in the states
investment in community mental health and
addiction services and a $1 million
investment to expand 211Info, the toll-free
phone line that connects Oregonians in need
with support programs.
Formerly with the state, Liesl Wendt is
the recently appointed director of
Multnomah County’s Department of Human
Services. She says that the proposed budget
recognizes the interconnection of family
needs.
“We know it takes housing, safe and
quality child care, basic needs support and a
path out of poverty through education and
employment for families to be successful,”
Wendt told Street Roots. “This budget
addresses all these areas and provides much
needed hope for people who are struggling
to support their families.”