Council amends emergency declaration to permit funding agreements for immigrant‑family supports

Hood River — The City Council approved a narrow amendment to an existing emergency declaration to authorize distribution of funds to community organizations responding to federal immigration enforcement impacts, and separately authorized a funding agreement with Next Door Inc.

City staff said the emergency-declaration amendment was required to create funding agreements with organizations identified by council; the language in the packet authorizes funding agreements and reporting. Next Door executive director Janet Hamada told council the organization proposed $20,000 to support roughly seven hours per week of community-health-worker time for a year to deliver informal counseling, referrals to behavioral-health treatment and community-preparedness navigation. “So the proposal was for $20,000, and it will support about 7 hours of time per week for a year for, for a community health worker,” Hamada said.

Council moved, seconded and approved the amendment and the funding authorization; mayor and council voted in favor on the record. Council members praised the Next Door’s existing services but asked staff to track reporting requirements outlined in the funding agreement.