Information on ECO Bridge Funding
Equity Corps of Oregon is an effort to facilitate universal representation so that every eligible Oregonian can defend against an unjust or unfair deportation on account of immigration status. The Equity Corps program launched in October 2018 with funding from the City of Portland and Multnomah County. In June 2019, the State of Oregon provided $2 million in funding to expand the Equity Corps pilot. The funding covered services from October 1, 2019 to June 30, 2021. The City of Portland provided additional support for services for eligible individuals with $250,000 in funding from September 1, 2020 to August 31, 2021. In June 2021, the State of Oregon provided $2 million in funding for the period July 1, 2021 to June 30, 2023. The City of Portland provided $2 million in funding through December 1, 2024. On March 23, 2022, the State of Oregon enacted a permanent fund called the Universal Representation Fund. See Senate Bill 1543 (2022 Regular Session), Oregon Laws 2022, Chapter 88. The legislation allocates $10.5 million in funding to Oregon Worker Relief for the purposes of providing universal representation, in addition to $4.5 million provided to the Oregon State Bar for similar purposes.
ECO Bridge Navigation
Innovation Law Lab will contract with Pueblo Unido for legal service navigations to the statewide universal representation’s Clearinghouse to meet the program deliverables. Assuming compliance with the contract, Pueblo Unido may receive up to $186,000.
Download the Navigation Services Implementation Plan here.
ECO Bridge Limited-Scope Legal Services
Innovation Law Lab will contract with an Oregon organization to provide limited-scope legal representation to individuals referred by the Equity Corps clearinghouse. Assuming compliance with the contract, the Awardee could receive up to $300,000.
Download the Limited-Scope Legal Services RFP here.
Applications are due October 1, 2021 4pm Pacific time.
On October 4, 2021, the Limited-Scope legal representation contract was awarded to PCC CLEAR Clinic. Read the Notice of Award here.
ECO Bridge Full-Scope Legal Services
Innovation Law Lab will contract with the Oregon State Bar to provide fiscal and regulatory oversight for legal service providers receiving bridge funding and providing legal representation to individuals referred by the Equity Corps clearinghouse. Innovation Law Lab anticipates the OSB will subcontract with culturally-responsive Legal Service Providers to meet the program deliverables.
Download the Full-Scope Legal Services Implementation Plan here.
ECO Panel Attorneys
Equity Corps has established an Attorney Panel to represent persons eligible for services and who are not otherwise represented by the program. Panel attorneys will be contracted to provide full-scope and limited-scope representation to individuals needing immigration services in order to achieve this goal.
Download the ECO Panel Attorney Guidance (effective October 1, 2022) here.
To apply and register as an ECO Panel Attorney, go here.
SB1543 Clearinghouse Request for Proposal
Oregon Worker Relief will contract with an Awardee to provide Clearinghouse Services. “Clearinghouse Services” means the applied, developed and coordinated logistics for case management, data management, user management, and ancillary support for operations, design flows, process flows, and work flows to achieve program eligibility verification, priority recommendations, and referrals for services within the meaning and objectives of SB1543’s Universal Representation. The Clearinghouse manages the verification eligibility, priority recommendations, and referrals for service delivery; provides the case management technology that enables navigations, record creation, and casework; shepherds cases through the representation process; provides legal and technical support to the attorneys housed by the collaborative’s legal service providers; manages the technology that connects the components; and coordinates the system. The Awardee must apply best practices at all times in the delivery of service for logistics, technical and strategic legal support, engineering and technology support, queue and helpdesk support, and coalition coordination.
Download the Request for Proposal here.
Proposals must be submitted by email to info@equitycorps.org before 5pm July 29, 2022 to be considered. Only proposals that satisfy all criteria will be processed.
On August 9, 2022, the Clearinghouse Services contract was awarded by Oregon Worker Relief to Innovation Law Lab. Read the Notice of Award here.