Hardship Fund Relaunched!

It’s been over a year since the pandemic started, and while many people are vaccinated and waiting for a return to whatever our new normal will entail, there’s no question that the pandemic brought about significant economic hardship for many working families.

In 2019, our bargaining team was proud to have negotiated a hardship fund with OHSU to assist our members who are struggling financially. Our union has distributed tens of thousands of dollars to help members with housing, utilities, child care and more.

Acceptance of new applications was temporarily paused earlier this year in order in order to build a more effective program with our partner, Labor’s Community Service. The improvements will more than double the capacity to help our members and ensure a timely response to meeting our members’ needs.

I’m pleased to announce that the hardship fund is back online and accepting applications now.

Have you or someone in your household been out of work or had your hours reduced? Missed work due to a medical issue? Faced a loss of housing? Experienced unpaid child support, a death in the family or domestic violence? Faced food insecurity? Been dealing with a financial hardship that keeps your basic needs from being met? Help is available! If you or a coworker represented by Local 328 are facing a serious financial hardship, please visit www.local328.org/hardship to view a flyer and access the online referral form. 

While the pandemic has strained a lot of people, there is no requirement that one's financial hardship be related to COVID-19. Also, to ensure that those of us who are still truly struggling can be helped, anyone who received assistance in previous years can reapply in 2021. (Eligibility will reset each calendar year that the hardship fund is active.)

To be clear, we want our members to utilize this fund! In 2022, when we negotiate the fate of the hardship fund, we want to be able to demonstrate to OHSU that the more than 7,100 members of our bargaining unit have real financial needs. Please help us get the word out. Thank you.