A Sad Announcement, 2021

It is with a heavy heart that we announce changes to UCP Oregon’s Supported Employment Department (“Employment Solutions”).
 
Employment Solutions supports adults who experience disabilities to find and keep fulfilling jobs in the community. As you might imagine, COVID-19 has had a huge effect on this department.
 
In March of 2020, most of the department’s employed customers lost their jobs due to COVID-19 restrictions, with very few able to be rehired in a contracting economy.
 
Over the intervening months, we have attempted to keep the department as whole as possible. We applied for (and received) COVID-19 relief grants. But three layoffs were necessary in July, and we are now forced to restructure again.
 
Department changes include:

• Eliminating the Department Director and two full-time Job Coach positions.
• Phasing out UCP’s employment services in Washington County. (We will continue to offer services in Multnomah and Clackamas counties.)
• Exiting a few customers from our services.
• Becoming more selective about the job seekers we support.

These changes will have a tremendous impact on UCP Oregon’s community. We are saying goodbye to some of our best and brightest, including our Employment Solutions Director, Melissa Miller. Read more about Melissa, and her contributions, here. 
 
Affected customers and employees have been informed, but if you have questions or need support, please don’t hesitate to contact us.