Multnomah County Research Paper 1

Research Paper
Traci J. Elliott
Portland State University

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Research Paper

The financial crisis of 2008, dubbed the economic recession, greatly affected the entire
United States of America, but the effects were substantially different in different places and
especially for people of color. Multnomah County located in Oregon and includes Fairview,
Wood Village, Gresham, Troutdale, Maywood Park, and Oregons most populous city, Portland.
Multnomah County is a specifically a useful and significant example of how different
communities of color faced more consequences than white people. One specific community not
often considered as a community of color is the Slavic community, this is particularly true for
Multnomah County as in most of the census data the Slavic community is regarded as white. The
Slavic community of Multnomah County, which is often deemed as white rather than Slavic, was
deeply affected by the economic recession of 2008, which had detrimental consequences to
employment, housing, income, and poverty for the community, this can especially be seen as
significant when compared to the consequences for white people and a comparison to King
County.
Housing
For the Slavic Community of Multnomah County housing can be a very difficult and
harsh process, even before the economic recession the language barrier and community members
that were pursuing Section 8 housing vouchers, this issue though was increased after the
economic recession. When considering housing though for the Slavic Community one much first
consider that it is considered that spend 30% or preferably less on rent, mortgage, etc., which in
2008 there were 38.2% members of the Slavic Community that were paying over 30% of their
whole income that is going to just housing. In comparison, whites were at 57.5% in 2008 but this
can be explained as the white community have a much higher populous than the Slavic

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Community. After the economic recession the Slavic communitys percentage went up to 45.3%,
meaning that in only 3 years the percentage went up by 7.1% a very substantial increase within a
very small timeline while whites percentage only raised by 4.1%, still making it very
understandable as there is such a high percentage of whites occupying Multnomah County.
(Insert citations) The percentage of homeowners in the Slavic community went from 57.6%
while whites were at 62% in 2008 and then in 2011 the Slavic community went down to 54.4%,
a 3.2% difference while white went down to 60.3%, a 1.7% difference. The economic recession
also affects how much the Slavic community loses on average 100,441 dollars with every home
they may own, this an extreme difference from whites who experience a loss of 24,142 dollars,
meaning that the Slavic community is losing four times more than whites in the same housing
market. The value of owned homes of the Slavic community in 2008 was valued at 357,341
dollars and was actually higher than whites whose owned homes were valued at 304,442 dollars,
but after the economic recession the Slavic communities owned homes were valued at 256,900, a
shocking difference that happened within the economic recession (Coalition of Communities of
Color, 2014). These housing pressures and issues significantly affect the Slavic community of
Multnomah County as homes and housing are one of the largest assets for those trying to secure
loans, build credit, begin settling down, etc. Housing is a driving force in the United States and is
crucial, especially to refugee communities like the Slavic community. This is also crucial for
specifically for the Slavic community as many have large families meaning they need a much
larger space. For the Slavic community the issues have only increased exponentially since
throughout the 3 year period between 2008 and 2011 due the economic recession worsening the
financial burden that was already present as well but has now become a forefront issue for the
community as one of the main necessities for basic survival is not being completely fulfilled in a

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manner that is acceptable both financially and personally for the Slavic community in
Multnomah County.
Employment
The Slavic community is employed primarily in service, management and professional,
and production and transportation while there used to be a higher percentage in construction it
went down after 2008. Slavic employment was also deeply affected by the percentages in
management and professional jobs as well as service jobs changed drastically. In 2008, there was
43.5% of management and professional jobs but by 2011 that percentage had dropped to 23.7%,
this is a 19.8% difference in a 3 year period, losing almost half of the Slavic communitys
strongest jobs. Service positions in 2008 were at 11.2% and then almost doubled by 2011 to
21.9%, meaning that the lower wage and stereotypically lower jobs are becoming the main job
sector for the Slavic community to turn to for employment (Coalition of Communities of Color,
2014). These losses in jobs are severely affecting the economic security and stability of member
of the Slavic community. This is especially affecting the older Slavic community members as
many are not receiving any retirement or financial aid that was previously given in Russia but
due to whatever the circumstance the United States government is not assisting with this need.
This also brings to point the fact that many times foreign credentials are not accepted or valued
in the United States, especially after being a refugee, this fact means that though the Slavic
community could present many resources and be of value to the larger overall community as a
whole of Multnomah County the Slavic community is instead downgraded for menial and lower
jobs due to discrimination and the economic recession. The economic recession directly affected
the Slavic community and in some facets the discrimination that the Slavic community faces as
many of Multnomah countys communities were feeling pressure and with white superiority

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came along less losses in the economic recession than the Slavic community, a community
previously invisible as a minority group to many because of the strong consequences that the
economic recession had on the community.
Income. Income is directly influencing the financial stability of the Slavic community of
Multnomah County and the income is rather dismal resulting in an unstable financial situation
that continues and worsens even after the economic recession of 2008. While all the income is
lower than that of whites, the incomes overall range from the lowest being 23,105 dollars for the
Slavic community and 28,706 dollars for whites and the highest being 65,077 for the Slavic
community and 81,517 dollars for whites (Coalition of Communities of Color, 2014). The most
substantial money difference is for married couple families were whites make 81,517 dollars
annually while the Slavic community makes 49,892 dollars annually. This difference though is
not a national concern as the Russian community is nationally more likely to have a high income
and low poverty levels, but that is not how it is in Multnomah County. Comparatively, the United
States for the Slavic population who is full-time, yearly workers in 2011 made 54,487 dollars and
Multnomah Countys Slavic population working the same qualifications made 35,109 dollars.
One of the other feeding devices in this low income is the fact that much more of the Slavic
population in Multnomah County is 31% likely to be a refugee while the national averages is
only 17% likely that a Slavic community member is a refugee, which means you will need to go
through the naturalization process to be able to obtain necessities to increase income but also to
become naturalized you must pay the application which is 680 dollars and is able to take the
course which is another 50 dollars. This presents a clear problem that if one is already making
the very minimum they can, possibly having multiple under the table jobs or unsafe work
conditions, possibly not able to be receiving education, etc. you will need to pay those fees and

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do those steps to possibly get a better job to be able to reach a more suitable and stable income.
In the 3 year period between 2008 and 2011 shows massive losses for the Slavic community in
Multnomah County as they lost 11,000 annually, meaning that 24% of their salary was depleted.
Between 2008 and 2011 married couple incomes also significantly were changed as they were in
2008 at 71,923 dollars and by 2011 they were lowered to 49,892 accounting for a loss of more
than 20,000 dollars annually, which means that they lost 44% of the familys salary (Coalition of
Communities of Color, 2014). These dramatic losses can be very much linked to the economic
recession because the timeline and situational distress that was being faced by the overall
community causing a further discrimination and worsening of the Slavic community.
Poverty. The poverty rates in Multnomah County for the Slavic community has been
increasing exponentially since 2008 and have only gotten worse in the three-year period between
2008 and 2011. One of the worst rates is in child poverty beginning in 2008 at 15.7%, by 2011
the rates were at 29.6%, meaning that in 3 years of economic turmoil the rates almost doubled in
child poverty for the Slavic community, this also means that one in three Slavic children live in
poverty which is double that of the white community (source). The rates of child poverty for
white people was 15.6% in 2011 while the Slavic community was 29.6%, making the Slavic
community not only almost double the percentage of whites, but whites actually have a lower
percentage than what the Slavic community had in 2008. For all people in the Slavic community,
the rates went from 15.4% in 2008 to 20.9% in 2011, which while is not as severe of a change as
the child poverty levels it is still a very prominent change. Another key factor in the rates of
poverty becoming so much more pronounced is the rates of unemployment also going up.
Between 2008 and 2011 the rates increased by 7.4%, in 2008, they started at 5.6% while whites
were at 3.6% and then in 2011 those rates both escalated and the Slavic communitys percentage

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went to 13% and whites went up 7.5% (Coalition of Communities of Color, 2014). The economic
recession directly affected these poverty rates, as well as the unemployment rates, through the
loss of financial security and stability that was more maintained before the economic recession as
well as the fact that they are doing substantially worse than whites despite often being labeled as
white on census data and such, making them seem like less of a minority despite having many
similar problems as other communities of color.
Comparison to King County. The stark differences between King County and
Multnomah County are very significant when observing the rates of poverty, employment, and
housing to truly verify the magnitude of the economic recession consequences for the Slavic
community in both counties. Beginning with child poverty Multnomah county the average from
2006-2010 averaged at 10.4% while King County had 5.2%, which equals out to half the child
poverty rates comparatively. Occupations that were in a management or professional that were
held by the Slavic community in Multnomah County was 46.2% and King County was 58%. The
unemployment rate for the Slavic community in Multnomah County was 7.7% while King
County was 5.4%. Those who in the Slavic community were paying over 30% of their income to
pay off their rent or mortgage who were in the Multnomah county was 54% and King County
was 39.8%, in King County this percentage is actually lower than the percentage of whites
currently facing rent burden (Coalition of Communities of Color, 2014). These comparisons are
all valuable because it shows that Multnomah County is doing significantly worse for those in
the Slavic community that were here during the economic recession and have since been dealing
with the consequences that are centered around the lack of financial security and stability, as well
as increased personal struggle for the members of the entire community. The point in comparing
and contrasting King County and Multnomah County is a way to elaborate on how much the

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economic recession affected the Slavic community so strongly and highlight that other Slavic
communities in differing counties are doing significantly better than Multnomah County even
when they are very close by much like King County they continue to have better rates than that
of Multnomah County.
Invisibility and Whiteness. The Slavic community is often discounted as white and
pushed back as the norm despite having higher consequences than whites and have faced
discrimination before the economic recession due to bullying for language and cultural barriers.
The reasons for this invisibility of the Slavic community is that often census data does not ask
what your ancestry, language, or country of birth and so there is no other information to choose
anything other than white on the data form. There is also a heavy fear within the community that
there will possibly be a mass deportation of Slavic communities because of the anger between
Russia and the United States, this is especially adamant among the refugees that have come from
the past Soviet Union and this fear is usually passed down generations which allows a stronger
fear in the United States government as well. Whiteness is especially important to consider
because of the fact while the Slavic community is labeled as white, the community was doing
significantly worse than whites. The superiority and privilege of whiteness was not something
that was presented alongside the label that was given to the Slavic community when they were
given the title of white. The power in labeling the Slavic community white, but maintaining them
as a minority, is that there is no power with the label, the Slavic community will be discriminated
against as well as worse off financially, occupationally, etc. because they are not actually
signified. Whiteness is not something strived for but sought after, because even when a
community is labeled as white they will still be a minority when it comes to events and crisis
such as the economic recession.

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Conclusion. Often referred to as the economic recession of 2008, the financial crisis that
vastly affected the entirety of the United States of America, but the economic recession
especially affected communities of color. Multnomah County, located in Oregon, includes
Maywood Park, Fairview, Gresham, Troutdale, Wood Village, and Oregons largest city,
Portland. Multnomah County is a particularly beneficial example for how different communities
of color are significantly affected more than the white community. The Slavic community is a
prime example of how communities of color can be harshly affected due to the economic
recession, because many consider the Slavic community as white rather than a community of
color. The Slavic community of Multnomah County is often downgraded as white and not looked
at as a community of color, yet was detrimentally affected by the economic recession ranging
from 2008 into 2011, these consequences included income, poverty, housing, and employment
that were all affected negatively due to the recession, this can be seen as even more significant
concerning Multnomah County when contrasted with King County and the consequences that
white people faced due to the economic recession.

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Annotated Bibliography
Research Question: My paper will be asking the question how the 2007 economic recession
effected the Slavic community in Multnomah County, thus addressing the consequences the
recession had on the Slavic community, consequences such as higher rates of poverty,
employment problems, etc. The reasons this question was specifically chosen was because the
economic recession had such a large effect on the lives of others, I wanted to know if the Slavic
community in Multnomah County had been effected more due to their ethnicity than whites had
been effected and the ramifications from the effects of the recession. Minorities often have much
more repercussions from such crises like the economic recession and so asking the question of
how it affected the Slavic community and the consequences that followed is of interest to me to
further see how institutionalized discrimination is in our society. The overall topic of the
economic recession has always been an interest to me, because the effects of the recession are
not only still around but are extremely varied across many different standards as well and I
wanted to see how much these changes varied specifically for the Slavic community in
Multnomah County especially compared to the white population in Multnomah County. This
question and the answer that accompanies it is important because it looks at how the same crisis,
in this case the economic recession, effected the minority, the Slavic community, while
comparing those effects to the white majority and can demonstrate how institutionalized
discrimination has effected the Slavic community in Multnomah County.
Bibliography:
Multnomah County Department of County Human Services Community Services Division (April
2014). Poverty in Multnomah County. Retrieved from https://multco.us/file/34343/download

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In Poverty in Multnomah County the focus is centered on the effects of poverty in

Multnomah County, such as the impacts on housing, medical care, the geography of poverty and
how this geography has shifted, the demographics that are highly effected by poverty, and
poverty over the last 20 years in Multnomah County, as well as analyzes all of this information
and shows how poverty rates have increased. The conclusion of the informational piece is how
Multnomah County should take steps towards lowering the poverty rates, such as investing in the
development of children to secure the future of the county. The bulk of the authors conclusion is
just taking measures to prevent higher poverty rates and lower the rates currently as they are
negatively effecting people at a very high level. The evidence presented is primarily census and
map driven presented and then analyzed and evaluated to consider what the data means, the
Coalition of Communities of Color data is also used in the piece. This information paper
affiliates in my own research by not only giving me data to analyze, but also allowing me to
analyze further from the pieces initial observations, it also helps by giving me background into
Multnomah Countys poverty both before and after the economic recession.
Sheila A. Martin and Amy S. Vander Vilet (2005). Portlands Regional Economy: The
Dynamics of Change. Received from http://pdxscholar.library.pdx.edu/metropolitianstudies/67/
Sheila A. Martin and Amy S. Vander Vilets article goes in to how the recession has
effected the regional economies as well as how it will effect it in the future, this is all
considerably important considering both the socioeconomic and employment effects that comes
along side regional economies. The conclusion of the piece is rather just clarifying that while
recessions usually tend to advances changes in businesses the authors are not sure what will
happen to the economy, but hope for the best. Much of the evidence provided in the article is
with tables and data, as well as two example stories of business in Portland that provide

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information on how the recession has effected businesses and how businesses are operating in
Portland, the figures presented in the piece help to give background into the information that the
authors are presenting. This piece was helpful towards the research paper as it not only provided
background for the economy of Portland, but helped provide me with employment information
regarding both before and after the recession and into current times.
Coalition of Communities of Color (2014). The Slavic Community in Multnomah County: An
Unsettling Profile. Received from
http://static1.squarespace.com/static/5501f6d4e4b0ee23fb3097ff/t/556d3c6be4b0728bb8d51045/
1433222251042/Slavic-Report-FINAL-COMPLETE.pdf
The Slavic Community in Multnomah County: An Unsettling Profile covers a large bulk
of the information about the Slavic Community in Multnomah County, it particularly focuses on
a wide arrange of material including health care, education, the processes around becoming a
naturalized citizen in the United States, education, housing etc. There is a wide array of subject
material in the piece all focused around the Slavic community in Multnomah county. The
evidence is often presented through data in forms of graphs and statistics to strengthen the case
that the Slavic community is in disproportionate to white people in Multnomah County as well as
to analyze the information in various forms. The conclusion is both a number of policy
recommendations concerning both specifically the Slavic community and their wants for their
community and more visibility to themselves as well as the Coalition of Communities of Colors
recommendations which focus of culturally-specific services as well as policies to better the lives
of people of color and promote community development. This piece was absolutely vital to my
research paper as it lays out the issues, census data, and analyzation of both and helps not only
strengthen my research but make the research question. The highlights that specifically provided

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information was concerning poverty, health care, education, housing, and especially
employment.
Oregon Center for Public Policy (December 16 2015). Poverty Despite Work: A Growing
Problem in Oregon. Retrieved from
http://www.ocpp.org/media/uploads/pdf/2015/12/fs20151216PovertyDespiteWork_fnl.pdf
The Oregon Center for Public Policy is presenting information surrounding the problem
that many Oregonians are working poor, meaning that while they may have employment they
are still in poverty, and the facts that surround this issue. The conclusion for the piece is the
premise of raging minimum wage to lower poverty. The information in the piece is presented
with more data in the form of charts to show the percentages of those in employment and those
in poverty and comparing and contrasting to further prove their point that the minimum wage
needs to be raised to combat poverty. The reason this piece was specifically helpful to my own
research was to understand more statistics and get further background on the subject of having
employment while still maintaining to be in the poverty levels.