Winter hit Douglas County hard in late February of 2019. Storms was so severe that on February 28, Governor Brown declared a state of emergency after many rural Oregonians had been living without power for days. More than 42,000 people were impacted by long-lasting power outages, in some cases going up to three weeks without power. But much like the wildfires of 2018, natural disasters often bring people together, especially in smaller communities with lower access to resources.

Roseburg DHS worker and member leader Deanna Boylan brought the issue to SEIU 503’s Board of Directors on March 9 to push for access to hardship funds for her fellow Douglas County members. The Board unanimously approved funding to offer one-time financial assistance of up to $200 for members in Douglas County impacted by inclement weather and power outages. Our union quickly set up an application process and got the word out to members in Douglas County.

Funds helped homecare workers with lost wages, offset hotel stays after nearly 19 days without electricity and helped residents prepare for flooding once the snow started to melt. One member used the funds to help with water and power bills after allowing 17 of their neighbors to stay in their home while waiting for services to return to their communities. Within just a few weeks, our union’s membership assistance fund provided over $17,000 to members and communities in need.