In a lengthy interview withÂ
Portland Monthly, Desi Thonis, an employee at Oregonâs COVID-19-born Pandemic Unemployment Assistance, says she believes inefficient leadership in the program caused tens of thousands of self-employed Oregonians to go without any income for months after the state closures of businesses in March. We interviewed dozens of self-employed Portlanders who were all trying to fight through the problems to get the money they were owed and needed.
At last count, Oregon had over 360,000 small businesses, according to state estimates, many of which have shuttered or seen their profits drastically drop as the coronavirus pandemic spreads. And many were counting on their insurance policies to see them through. But an investigation byÂ