Portland, OR – Public defense workers represented by Oregon AFSCME are warning that proposed cuts to the Multnomah County budget will gut critical programs that serve some of the county’s most vulnerable residents. At risk are the Partners for Justice (PFJ) Case Managers—who provide life-stabilizing support for people navigating the criminal justice system—and Community Law’s eviction defense, immigration defense, and expungement programs, which serve hundreds of low-income residents each year.
The proposed county budget eliminates $600,000 in funding for PFJ Case Managers, a move that would result in the loss of six vital positions. These Case Managers serve as a direct pipeline to get the most at risk Multnomah County residents directly into services they require. Case Managers assist with securing mental health and substance use treatment, accessing medication, arranging transportation, reducing bail, and preparing release plans—providing the wraparound services that stabilize people and help them avoid recidivism.
Additionally, Community Law is slated to lose over $1 million in funding—about one-third of its total budget. These cuts jeopardize the Multnomah County Project Reset program, the Eviction Prevention Project, the Expungement Access System Improvement program, as well as Immigration Defense positions. Public defense workers are concerned about the sharp increase in unlawful deportations across the country, believing that now is not the time to weaken protections for Oregon’s immigrant communities.
With a caseload of over 300 clients annually and a 94% positive outcome rate, Community Law’s eviction defense attorneys have been a lifeline for Portlanders at risk of losing their homes. “These cuts won’t just cost jobs—they’ll cost lives,” said Stephanie Back, a Staff Attorney in the Community Law division. “When people lose access to housing, they fall deeper into the cycle of poverty and criminalization. Our work helps keep families together, housed, and hopeful for their futures.”
Public defense workers emphasize that these cuts will lead to increased recidivism, more people living unhoused, and greater pressure on county systems that are already overwhelmed. Without PFJ case managers and Community Law attorneys and staff, people in crisis will be left to navigate an impossible maze of legal, housing, and treatment systems on their own.
“Our clients don’t just need a lawyer—they need someone who can walk with them every step of the way,” said Kaitlyn Hoofnagle, a PFJ Case Manager. “Stripping this support away sets our most vulnerable community members up to fail—and that’s something Multnomah County can’t afford.”
Public defense workers are calling on the Multnomah County Commission to prioritize community stability and fairness by preserving the funding for PFJ case managers and Community Law.
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