PEOPLE UNITED FOR FAMILIES (PUFF)

POVERTY è to è PROSPERITY

Newsletter

April 1999

 

PUFF is a Denver-based grassroots membership organization made up of low-income individuals & families working together to make our voices heard on the issues that directly impact us and to break through the negative stereotypes many single parents face.

PUFF, c/o Community Resource Center, 655 Broadway, Suite 300, Denver, CO 80203

Phone: 303-623-1540 ext. 15 FAX: 303-623-1567 e-mail: peopleunited@juno.com

The Beginning of the End?

By Evon Yearby

As we all know, the 24-month Clock is fast approaching. When July 1, 1999 rolls around, all TANF recipients in the State of Colorado must be in a "countable" or "allowable" work activity, which is defined by each County’s Department of Human Services. As reported in our last issue, PUFF was recently involved in revising Denver’s work activity policy that was adopted by the Denver Welfare Reform Board. This policy states several activities that a recipient can be involved and not risk losing their cash assistance. The Denver Welfare Reform Board established a set of "County Only Allowable activities" which includes mental health evaluation and treatment, parenting classes, vocational education, and community service (volunteering). This policy is meant as a guide for case managers in preventing recipients from losing TANF benefits when they hit the 2-year limit.

We are not the first state to reach this time limit. It is important for Denver County to take a good look at the outcomes of other states who have been affected by such time limits. In a recent newspaper article we found that many low-income families in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, have turned to charities. The resource of homeless shelters, food banks, and low wage jobs are being exhausted. What are you doing to better your chances for survival in Denver County?

Out of all people that have drastically decreased the roles in Denver alone, for finding employment, moving in with family, sanctions and etc., that Denver Department of Social Services says there are 410 TANF recipients who are not in any work activity and are at risk of losing their TANF benefits when they hit the 24-month limit. I find it very hard to believe that there are that many people who have not been contacted yet or have had any type of problem in the past two years. My belief is that we are all at risk and can easily become one of those 410 recipients by July 1.

How easy is it to get back on welfare once you lose your benefits? Not easy at all. The new way of processing applications takes much longer than it did before when AFDC was in place. Through my experience of watching other mothers apply, the process takes all day, even if you have a new born baby. Take Bianca Pearson’s case, she arrived at the welfare at 7:00 AM filled out the mountain of paperwork, attended the orientation and was still told that she had to be working at least 20 hours a week before she could even qualify for TANF. Who can find child care for an infant in such a short amount of time, and who would want to put their brand new baby in day care so soon anyway? This is just one example of how the new system is not only pushing people off the roles, but also make it impossible to apply in the first place.

Before your 24-month clock alarm rings, you should receive a letter from the Denver Department of Human Services about the status of your particular case. If you are not sure if you are in an appropriate work activity, call your case manager as soon as possible. If you have any other questions, or have problems reaching your case manager, call Evon or Beth at the PUFF office, 303-623-1540. We can help.

Congress Proposes to Divert TANF Funds to Pay for Education Needs

The Children’s Defense Fund reports the House Budget Committee Chairman, John Kasich of Ohio, has proposed allowing states to spend federal TANF funds for general education purposes such as school construction. House Resolution 68 (HR68) would basically shrink already inadequate resources for poor families and pit popular education needs against the needs of politically vulnerable poor children and families.

This isn't to say that Congress shouldn't invest more in education. We all know that schools are over-crowded, many school buildings are in need of repair, textbooks are outdated, and many schools ended music and art programs due to budget constraints. Unfortunately, this list is just the tip of the iceberg. What is alarming is that Representative Kasich is actually recommending raiding the funds that are supposed to be allocated to protect and strengthen children and families living in poverty to pay for these education necessities.

No doubt the idea to divert TANF funds is a result of the drastic decline in caseloads since welfare reform legislation passed in 1996. Conservative lawmakers must be under the impression that there is no longer a need for a "social safety net" and parents who leave welfare for work are better off economically. HA! In March 1998, more than 70% of working adults who had formally received TANF earned below poverty wages. It is far too early to declare welfare reform a success.

To add insult to injury, the Congressional Budget Office has estimated there will be a federal budget surplus of $2.6 trillion (give or take) over the next 10 years. Education needs could easily be paid for out of this surplus. Why sacrifice poor children?

Tell your Representative to oppose HR68 and protect TANF funds that are critical to the success of true welfare reform -- helping families out of poverty for the long haul. Colorado's members of Congress are listed below along with their phone numbers and web page addresses. If you don't know who your Congressperson is, call the PUFF office, (303) 623-1540.

  • Rep. Joel Hefley (719) 520-0055

No web site.

  • Rep. Scott McInnis (719) 543-8200

www.house.gov/mcinnis

  • Rep. Mark Udall (303) 457-4500

www.markudall.com

  • Rep. Bob Schaffer Phone: (970) 493-9132 www.house.gov/shaffer
  • Rep. Tom Tancredo (303) 796-7479

No web site

  • Rep. Diana DeGette (303) 844-4988

www.house.gov/degette

PUFF has requested a meeting with Congresswoman Diana DeGette, Senator Wayne Allard and Senator Ben Nighthorse Campbell. If you would like to participate in these meetings call Evon, (303) 623-1540 for more information.

 

Spotlight on Chamaine Barros

Charmaine Barros knew the difference between the Haves and the Have-Nots at an early age. One of 12 children of migrant farm workers, she made 60 cents an hour harvesting beans. She remembers how excited she was when her older sister was "promoted" to stacking the 50 lb. bushel baskets on the truck for $1 per hour. "I thought this was a sign that if we worked hard, we could start climbing the ladder out of poverty", she said. The lifting and stacking was unbelievably hard on the teen-age girl’s body. She had constant back pain and vericose veins in her legs at the age of 15. Today she can barely walk. Charmaine realized then that if people want equality, to be treated as humans, they had to speak out and act. She has dedicated her life to making things better for the underdogs in society.

In the late 1970s, Charmaine worked with the National Union for the Homeless, a nation-wide organization addressing affordable housing issues. They identified homes and apartment buildings which were owned by HUD but had remained empty for at least 2 years. If their letter writing campaigns or accountability meetings with HUD officials didn’t succeed in getting HUD to renovate and open these buildings, they organized housing "take-overs" where members and their families simply moved in to these buildings on their own and held them. The resulting pressure from the media and the general public often forced HUD to restore these buildings and move people in off the street. "Houses all over the country are still available today as affordable housing," she says proudly. "We had a lot of successes and helped create homeless shelters all across the country that were run by homeless people for homeless people. It was true empowerment." Charmaine also worked as a labor union organizer helping undocumented farm workers in California and Texas to demand more humane living and working conditions. She participated in a March on Washington that started in Seattle in 1978. Thousands of people participated in the 3 1/2 month march to bring attention to the plight of undocumented migrant workers in America.

Charmaine has been an active PUFF member since August 1998. She had been concerned about what was going to happen to families under the new rules, and whether or not case workers were prepared to implement the new program. She read about PUFF in a newspaper article and knew she had to get involved. "The welfare rolls are down," she notes, "but where is everyone? Do people have adequate child care, housing, all the other things they need to be self-sufficient?" is particularly concerned about the number of people that she personally knows who are being sanctioned. "They are sanctioning people they don't understand. The system and society as a whole sets poor families up for failure. They can't just say 5 years and you’re out of here. Are they trying to end poverty or welfare? There are so many jobs out there, but you need a couple of those jobs to meet basic needs." is also alarmed about the limited amount of time Colorado Works allows for job training and education activities. "People need the skills to get a job that will allow them to earn enough to support their families. For most people 6 weeks or 8 months of training is not going to do it. And what about freedom of choice? It seems like case workers want to tell us what kind of job they want us to have."

Amazingly enough, Charmaine found time during her rabble-rousing days to raise 5 children. Her 2 youngest are in high school and she also has 9 grand children. Charmaine is a student at Metro State College. She is taking psychology and massage therapy classes and hopes to work with children who have been victims of child abuse as a massage therapist. She is also working on a project with the Chicano Studies Department at Metro and high school students in Denver Public Schools to increase awareness of the significant contributions of the Chicano and indigenous peoples throughout history to the American culture.

"I am happy because my children are healthy, and they are good kids. I would like to see all kids have access to quality education; all families have access to health insurance. Everyone should have the best, not just the rich." She believes there is always something you can do about a problem. Charmaine Barros brings hope to the table.

 

A Whole New Meaning for

the Expression "Kiddie Kollege"

Keeping a 4-year-old in day care costs almost 66% more than a college education at a public university. The average annual cost for day care for a 4-year-old in Denver in 1997 was $4,576. Tuition for one year at a public college in Colorado was $2,562 in 1997.

Source: Child Care Challenges, Children’s Defense Fund

 

YOU Are Invited to the Next

PUFF Meeting

When: Saturday, April 23

Time: 10:30 - Noon

Children are welcome! Child care and lunch is provided free of charge!

Transportation assistance available.

Call Beth to reserve child care, 303-623-1540.

Please come and bring your friends!