Press Release: Oregon DHS Employees Vote on No Confidence in Agency Director Amid Home Closures
In a significant move, hundreds of employees from the Oregon Department of Human Services (DHS) are casting ballots in a vote of no confidence against Director Fariborz Pakseresht. The vote, initiated by Oregon AFSCME Local 1246, involves around 650 workers from the department’s Stabilization and Crisis Unit, which caters to nearly 100 Oregonians with developmental and intellectual disabilities and mental health needs across group homes from Portland to Eugene.
The voting began on November 23 and concludes on Sunday, coinciding with the agency’s controversial plan to close two of its 20 group homes—one in Lebanon and the other in Portland—by the end of January. Union leaders assert the closures could have been prevented had management adequately addressed long-standing issues raised by employees over the last two years, including concerns about financial mismanagement and workplace safety.
Christina Sydenstricker-Brown, president of Local 1246, emphasized that the employees, many of whom feel disillusioned by the leadership, view this vote as a necessary means to express their mounting frustrations. “This isn’t fair to the individuals. It isn’t fair to us,” she stated, underscoring the urgent need for transparency in management practices.
In response, Pakseresht acknowledged the agency’s operational challenges but affirmed that the remaining group homes would still serve 91 individuals, despite the closure of the two homes. He also noted ongoing budget pressures due to escalating operational costs.
As the ballots are set to be counted on Monday, concerns remain high among union members and community advocates about the potential impact of these closures on vulnerable populations. The situation underscores a broader crisis in managing care for Oregon’s most at-risk residents, prompting calls for an urgent discussion on the future of these essential services.
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