The Food Stamp Program provides a basic safety net for nearly a quarter million poor and near-poor Oregonians. The federal
Raising Incomes
Realizing our human potential depends on having the resources to meet our material needs. Raising the incomes of the lowest-paid workers not only increases economic opportunity but also makes for a more prosperous state.
Raising Incomes
Realizing our human potential depends on having the resources to meet our material needs. Raising the incomes of the lowest-paid workers not only increases economic opportunity but also makes for a more prosperous state.
Latest Articles
DHR produced a chart comparing monthly spendable income from public assistance (cash and foodstamps) to monthly spendable income from work
News Release The Oregon Center for Public Policy, a Silverton-based public policy research organization, released data this Labor Day weekend
Across the nation, the number of people receiving cash assistance has declined sharply since the mid-1990s. In Oregon, the number
News Release The voter-approved minimum wage increase of 1996 reversed a three-year decline in starting wages for welfare recipients, according
Minimum Wage Increase “Proved Successful” New data released today by the Oregon Center for Public Policy, a Silverton-based public policy
The Rich Get Richer While The Poor and Middle Class Lose Income Over Last Two Decades
The 1997 Oregon Legislative Assembly chose to set aside $4.9 million in the Emergency Fund to address some of the
Latest Podcasts
Oregon Child Care Crisis: How ERDC Running Out of Funds Could Hurt 12,000 Families
Listen to prior episodes of the show Follow Policy for the People on your favorite podcast app Transcript
February 12, 2026
Underpaid, Overworked, and Essential: Oregon’s Long-Term Care Crisis
In this episode, we examine the crisis in Oregon’s system of long-term care. Demand for long-term care is rising as
January 8, 2026
Income Inequality in Oregon: What Does the Latest Data Show?
Income inequality in Oregon remains vast, but history shows this is not inevitable.
December 11, 2025