In the community

State agency adds 12 jobs to Ontario office

The Oregon Department of Human Services in Ontario is on the way to filling 12 new full-time jobs.

Dan Ramirez, district manager of child welfare and self-sufficiency in Harney, Grant and Malheur Counties, said these are 12 jobs that would not have gone to the area otherwise. The jobs pay $3,000 to $4,900 a month. The application process closed on Monday, Dec. 26. 

The agency in Ontario had been understaffed for quite a long time, Ramirez said 

Stephanie Bilyeu, program manager with DHS, said 14 years ago, fewer than 30 people worked at the Ontario office. 

Ramirez said his state district employs over 200 employees in the district, with most positions in Ontario.  

He said about half work in child welfare while the others work in the eligibility department. 

Bilyeu said the position would primarily determine eligibility for the state’s cash assistance, the supplemental nutrition assistance program, and other services. 

She said the daily task would consist of being on the phone or processing paperwork. 

Ramirez said the position would be part of what DHS calls virtual eligibility centers. He said that the work is shared across the state rather than just regionalized, and the staff would process and determine benefits from applicants all over Oregon. 

He said the position could be remote or in-person, depending on the employees’ preference. However, he said, the initial training would be at the Ontario office. 

In addition to the 12 positions helping the local economy, DHS reached out to the diverse community in Ontario. According to the 2020 U.S. Census, nearly half of the population in Ontario is Hispanic.  

“We’re trying to recruit minorities and other people that we believe could represent the community we’re serving,” Ramirez said. 

In Malheur County, where, according to the Oregon Center for Public Policy, nearly one in four residents has an income below the poverty level, the jobs will allow people to earn a liveable wage. 

“Now we can hire from the community where they did not have this livable wage,” Ramirez said. “That is one person who will not need assistance from us or other resources because they’ll have a permanent position.” 

With the high poverty level in Malheur County, Ramirez said DHS wants to continue to promote the programs to the people in the community who need them. As of Thursday, Dec. 22, Ramirez said there were 35 applications for the positions. 

“We normally get up to 30 applicants for this type of position,” Ramirez said. “They are very popular and in demand, because they telework from home.”

News tip? Contact reporter Steven Mitchell at [email protected].

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