SALEM, Ore.––With hundreds of people and perhaps more still in line at some credit unions and banks across Oregon, the state on Friday ran out of money to fund the $500 emergency relief payments being made to those facing financial hardship due to the coronavirus pandemic.
In some cases, media reports revealed “high tensions” and “scary situations” at branches of the eight credit unions and two banks that were distribution points for the $35 million the state had allocated for the payments. Seventy-thousand people received funds from the program CUToday.info originally reported here.,
The funds were first available on Aug. 19 and were exhausted by the morning of Aug. 21, when people were lined up at the branches across Oregon. Media reports were full of stories from people in desperate straits saying they needed the help and were uncertain what to do now.
"All this time we had to sit here, stand here, for nothing. I don’t think that’s fair," Penny Mott, who had been waiting in line two days in a row at the Lloyd Center OnPoint Community Credit Union, told one media outlet.
House Speaker Tina Kotek, who along with Senate President Peter Courtney spearheaded the program, which drew the funds from Oregon's allocation of the CARES Act, said, "I think if we did anything wrong, we didn’t allocate enough money. It’s very uncomfortable to see Oregonians waiting in line for help. I think it’s a very clear and stark reminder of what has happened to so many people who are in financial distress.”
Fights Break Out
In some cases tensions led to fights breaking out. KGW filed reports of “hostile, and sometimes violent, crowds outside a credit union in Troutdale. The same thing in Southwest Portland where officers took several people into custody.”
FOX 12 Oregon reported video showing thousands of people waiting in line to receive their payments on the first day of eligibility, “with extended wait times in some cases leading to high tensions and scary situations.”
Tory McVay, chief retail officer of OnPoint Community Credit Union, told FOX 12 when the relief program began on Wednesday the CU immediately began processing checks for anyone–including members and non-members–who met the state’s qualifications.
McVay told the news outlet OnPoint Community was seeing a “huge influx” of people looking to access the funds. By Wednesday it had funded nearly 5,000 relief payments, and on Thursday the demand was even greater.
“We knew that there was going to be 70,000 checks made available to Oregonians, or 35 million dollars, I don't think anyone anticipated how quick the need, or the word got out … I think it caught us all a little bit off guard,” McVay told FOX 12. “We anticipated it to be kind of a slow leak, if you will, and the word got out very quickly, and we have a lot of Oregonians experiencing financial hardship.”
According to police, on Thursday said someone was sprayed with mace and was treated by medics at the Gresham OnPoint Community Credit Union. The suspect fled the scene. Police said another man with a gun was also spotted, but he also took off, according to FOX 12.
In addition to OnPoint Community CU, other CUs that participated included Central Willamette CU, Clackamas FCU, InRoads CU, Old West FCU, Oregon Community CU, Rogue CU and SELCO Community Credit Union.
One Bright Spot
There was at least one bright spot. In Hillsboro, Ore., KOIN reported people were waiting outside a branch of OnPoint Community when a man driving a luxury vehicle pulled up. Initially, the man seemed irritated at first that people were blocking the ATM but those gathered explained that they were waiting for emergency funds. When the man reacted by asking, “Really, you guys need help?” the man responded by breaking “open a stack of $100 bills. And he said distribute this down the line. He just said here take it and he didn’t ask for any thanks he just drove off,” one person told KOIN.
That same person, who formerly worked with armored transit services, believes the man handed over $10,000.
In Baker City, Ore., Bob Kavanaugh, manager of marketing, business development and member experience for Old West Credit Union, told the Baker City Herald the CU had been preparing for weeks for the influx of people applying for the $500 checks.
Aaron Goff, CEO at Clackamas Federal Credit Union, said he was not surprised by the overwhelming response and viewed participating in the program as an essential part of the credit union’s mission.
”We know there are lot of people in our community in need. These emergency funds will be a huge help to many who are struggling with reduced income due to COVID-19. We are happy knowing every check dispersed is helping people pay rent and put food on the table,” he said. “I am truly proud of the Clackamas team and their commitment to our mission helping our members and the communities we serve.”
A video of one local media report featuring credit unions involved in the program can be viewed here.