lune 23, 2010
Itlort Innb Obstruer
Page 7
L aw
Food Stamps at
Record Level
Need grows through tough times
A student at Gresham’s Highland Elementary takes a paint brush to help create a mural on a
wall that was previously blighted with graffiti.
Kids Paint Out Taggers
Gresham ’s Highland Elemen­
tary School finished the school
year by taking a stand against
graffiti.
The students designed and
painted a mural to cover up un­
sightly graffiti on a wall behind
their school.
"The students have done ev­
erything themselves," said 5he
Grade Teacher Christine Johnson. the mural they will think twice
"They have spent weeks working about tagging it. Nationally mu­
on this and we've even linked de­ rals have proven to be good graf­
signing the mural to math class."
fiti d e te rre n ts," said C ath y
The city's graffiti abatement pro­ Harrington Community Services
gram helped the students by clean­ Manager for the city. "We hope
ing and getting the wall ready for that this mural will inspire other
their mural. The city also provided groups to pick up brushes and
the supplies used to paint the mural. help us fight graffiti in Gresham."
"We hope that when people see
Investment Scam Nets Sentencing
Marvin Lee Armstrong, 60, o f
Portland, was sentenced by U.S.
District Judge Robert E. Jones to 51
months in prison for orchestrating
an investment fraud scheme that
targeted senior women.
Armstrong was ordered to pay
full restitution o f $239,063 to his
victims and to serve three years o f
supervised release.
Armstrong admitted that begin-
ning in October 2006 and continu-
ing through December 2007, he
promised three senior women that
Urban League Reaches Out
The Urban League o f Portland
will hold its annual membership
meeting on W ednesday June 30,
from 5:30 pm to 7 p.m. at the Rose
Garden Arena’s Rose Room.
The public is invited to celebrate
the organization's achievem ents
and share ideas about its future, as
the League enters its 65th year serv­
ing Oregon.
As unveiled in the Urban League
o f Portland's State o f Black Oregon
report deep disparities for African
lQ iiT \q p t* 1 h p
1 • U y J n
\J U S t
I
V 1 1 U C
$60 p er year
(please include check)
I N ame :
Americans in Oregon has had a sig­
nificant impact around the state.
The League will report on its fol­
low-up work and future efforts to
achieve the policy changes recom­
mended in the State o f Black Oregon
report.
The annual meeting is a unique
chance to meet and connect with
Urban League o f Portland board
members, young professionals and
staff. Refreshments will be provided
at the event.
503-288-0033
he would invest their money for
them. Instead, he took their money
and spent all o f it for his own per-
sonal use.
Jones ordered Armstrong to pay
restitution, stating, “I don’t know
how you sleep at night.”
More Oregonians than ever be­ ment, underemployment or incapaci­
fore continue to count on public tation o f a primary wage earner.
services to help their families get
In order to keep up with the in­
through econom ic tough times. creased demand, DHS has trans­
Demand for Supplemental Nutrition formed its intake process to reduce
A ssista n c e P ro g ram b e n e fits wait times and eliminate backlogs.
(SNAP, formerly food stamps) and Because o f our streamlining efforts,
Temporary Assistance for Needy Oregonians receive their SNAP ben­
Families increased again last month, efits an average o f nine days sooner
and the trend is expected to con­
0»
tinue into next year.
In May, a total o f 706,653 Or­
egonians received SNAP benefits,
an increase o f 17 percent from one
year ago and 46 percent since the
beginning o f the recession in July
2008, when Oregon's unemploy­
ment rate was just above 6 per­
cent. Last month, a total o f 26,885
families received temporary as­
sistance — up 5 percent from a
year ago and 35 percent from July
1 O
-
2008; this program is available only f i .
-
for very low-income Oregon fami­
lies.
SNAP benefits provide an im- than they did before - and in most
portant bridge for people who are places across the state, it is same-
unemployed or underemployed and day service.
earn too little to meet their basic
There are 160 DHS locations
nutrition needs. TANF helps fami- across the state where Oregonians
lies pay for shelter and other neces- can apply for SNAP, TANF and
sities that parents would not be able other benefits for which they may
to otherwise afford. It also provides be eligible. Many state and federal
case management services for fami- programs have online applications:
lies struggling due to unemploy- G otooregon.gov/D H S/assistance.
Take Action Get Tested
Multnomah County Health Department's
HIV Community Test Site offers
confidential HIV testing _
with or without your name |
at these locations: I
Downtown Community Test Site
Call 503.988.3775 for an appt.
Mon |Thurs | Fri
426 SW Stark St., 6th Floor,
Portland, 97204
i
Attn- Subscriptions, The
|
Portland Observer, PO Box |
3137, Portland OR 97208. I
I
I
I
I
I
I T elephone :
I
I A ddress :
I
I or email subscriptions@portlandobserver.com |
with this
|
|
|
|
Northeast Health Center
coupon”
Just walk in
Tuesdays I 5:30 - 7:15 pm i
5329 NE MLK Jr. Blvd, 2nd Floor, I
Portland, 97211 |
Se habla español: other interpretation by appointment.