Pandemic Funds For Struggling Homeowners
U.S. Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley announced that Oregon will be allocated more than $90 million in federal assistance from the
American Rescue Plan for homeowners struggling to pay their mortgage, home insurance and utility payments because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
“No one should have to fear losing their home due to circumstances beyond their control, like a global pandemic,” Wyden said. “The economic fallout of this public health crisis has underlined just how close many Oregonians to losing the roof over their heads to defaults and foreclosures. The
American Rescue Plan has thrown our state and our nation a vital lifeline, and these funds will go a long way toward remedying some of that hardship.”
LA GRANDE â Ambulance fees are increasing in the city of La Grande, and residents enduring financial hardship because of the pandemic could get some utility bill relief.
The La Grande City Council during its meeting Wednesday, April 7, voted 7-0 in favor of bumping up ambulance fees, which the council discussed during a work session March 8.
âWe have not increased our ambulance fees since 2009,â City Manager Robert Strope told the council during the Wednesday night meeting, âand the cost of doing business, as everyone knows, continues to go up.â
In addition to the new fees, Strope said, the city is implementing one rate for people who are residents of La Grande and a higher rate for those outside the city limits. La Grande residents already are paying property taxes in the city, he said, and providing a âdiscountâ acknowledges that.