Every year, Housing Oregon selects leaders across the housing and community development sector who have worked tirelessly to build up their communities. This year, FHDC’s Board Secretary, Reyna Lopez, was recognized as the fearless activist she is and for the role she played in advocating for and implementing the Oregon Worker Relief Fund. She was this year’s recipient of the Greth Kafoury award. As an elected official who always stood up for what is right, Gretchen Kafoury had a profound and lasting impact on our state and its people.
The Oregon Worker Relief Fund (OWRF) is a historic initiative supported by stakeholders at all levels to invest in immigrant Oregonians who were excluded from federal relief funds during the COVID-19 pandemic. FHDC served as a fiscal administrator for the OWRF, distributing tens of millions of dollars in resources to more than 37,000 individuals who do not qualify for State or Federal relief funds and social services.
Leading the way was none other than FHDC’s Board Secretary and PCUN’s Executive Director, Reyna Lopez. With a fierce vision for the redistribution of wealth, protection for all workers, and that “Si Se Puede” outlook, the OWRF created a safety net for immigrant essential workers who experienced exacerbated inequities due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The success of the OWRF resulted in the fostering of deep coalition partnerships, utilizing community-led design serves as a stepping stone for policy advocacy and community organizing that can be replicated across domains and jurisdictions to transform systems to be more equitable, inclusive, and effective.