Allocations Committee Approves Measure to Reward Counties Who Have
Spent the Least
on TANF Families
On Thursday, April 29, 1999 the Works Allocations Committee approved a
proposal to adjust the funding formula counties use to calculate the amount of
funds they are required to provide for the Colorado Works Program (called the
Maintenance of Effort or MOE). This new formula, offered by Committee
Chair, Commissioner Barbara Kirkmeyer, Weld County, will benefit those counties
who have spent the least amount of money on recipient programs and
services by allowing them to reduce their MOE contributions. Counties such as
Denver and El Paso who have been creative in establishing programs such as:
setting up county diversion programs; increasing access to mental health
services; and income support for former recipients will be penalized and forced
to pay an additional MOE amount to cover the counties who have reduced their
contribution.
A coalition of constituency-based economic justice organizations,
including People United for Families-Denver, AFDC Coalition-Adams/Arapahoe Co.,
Women United-Boulder Co., RESPECT-Larimer Co., San Luis Valley Welfare
Advocates-Alamosa Co. urged committee members to maintain the current formula
until the 2 year Colorado Works evaluation is complete. We knew there was a
possibility that the Chair would try to rush this policy through without public
comment. We lobbied members of the Allocations Committee, including Fremont
County Commissioner Joe Rall and Director of Denver’s Department of Human
Services, Phil Hernandez, who told us they were interested what the public had
to say and would ask the Chair to allow comments from the audience. (See Counties, p. 2)
How Can the Religious Community
Help Low Income Families in Light of Welfare Reform?
The
Justice and Peace Studies at the Iliff School of Theology and members of People
United for Families participated in a 1 ½ day seminar titled, “Welfare Reform: Naming, Navigating and
Stopping the Gaps”. The goal of this event was to bring together the
faith-based community and low income and working poor families to discuss the
effects of welfare reform on families and explore how the religious community
can help repair the holes that were left in America’s “Social Safety Net” as a
result of the dismantling of the Aid to Families with Dependent Children (AFDC)
public assistance program.
PUFF
members described their experience with the “System” and talked their personal
struggles. They also came with suggestions for how ministers and congregations
can support them as they move from poverty to prosperity. Ultimately, our
advice was to “go beyond the food pantry” and deal with the systemic issues
that perpetuate poverty such as: punitive public assistance policies which keep
families from obtaining the tools and support they need to achieve financial
security; the lack of affordable housing for families with an annual income of
$20,000 and below; low-wage jobs that keep working people financially
vulnerable; and the lack of affordable health care. Food pantries and clothing
banks meet the immediate needs of families, but they are Band-Aid approaches
and don’t address the root causes that keep people from having to rely on those
services.
Some
recommendations for short-term solutions
were:
Recruit professionals in your congregation
(i.e., lawyers, hair dressers, dentists, doctors, teachers) to establish free
services in the community.
(But don’t try to convert them);
Don’t be judgmental when someone asks for
help;
(See Faith, p. 3)
(Counties, from p.1) However, they did not deliver on this pledge
and made no reference to our previous conversations.
PUFF member, Heather Line, who
attended the meeting said, “Barbara Kirkmeyer said she would allow public
comment at the end of the meeting. No one bothered to talk to her though. What would be the point? The damage had
already been done.” (See below for
Heather’s testimony.)
El Paso, Boulder and Mesa County
Commissioners publicly opposed the proposed formula because they also believed it would encourage counties to
spend less on programs and services to help families transition off TANF.
Boulder County Commissioners said, “Under this proposal, some counties will end
up subsidizing the MOE of other counties that lower their required county
expenditures…” County Commissioners and representatives from county Departments
of Human Services were allowed to speak at the meeting. However, Colorado
Counties, Inc. (CCI) and Committee Chairperson Kirkmeyer refused to let any
advocates testify and when they attempted to speak out, they were immediately
shut down.
We are concerned this new formula will result in a “race to the bottom”
where counties who offer the most supportive and helpful welfare-to-work
services will attract more low-income families, thus taking on more of the
burden. This will also result in “class-cleansing” in counties who don’t
want poor people living there.
And what about Democratic
process? Why were we not allowed to present our point of view? Is this the way
public business is supposed to take place? Part of the reason welfare programs
were taken to the county level is because it is closest to the People. Low
income people and advocates have been shut out once again. Shame on Colorado
Counties, Inc. and the Colorado Works Allocations Committee.
Here is what Heather would have said if she had been allowed to
testify:
“Good Afternoon. I am Heather
Line, a Colorado Works participant and
member of PUFF.
I am not an economist, and don’t
understand all of the formulas, but as someone who is directly impacted by this
in Denver County, I do understand that this new Maintenance of Effort proposal
will end up penalizing the people that this program was intended to assist.
When there is a reduction in spending
in smaller counties, you’re apt to see an increase in caseloads in bigger
counties where the poor WILL be assisted. Therefore, putting a strain on the
bigger counties.
There is so much more all
counties could be doing in helping families out of poverty if they would just
be creative. Child care, transportation, education, and housing assistance, to
name just a few, are essential bridges for needy families to successfully
transition from poverty to self-sufficiency. Please reconsider this proposal
until after the Colorado Works evaluation is completed. It is premature to
consider the plan when you don’t have enough historical data to determine the
success rate. Thank you.”
We will continue monitoring this
issue and working with State and local representatives and agencies to ensure
the Social Safety Net (or what is left of it) for Colorado families is not
compromised any further. If you have any questions about what this may mean for
you, or need more information, please contact Beth, (303) 623-1540.
An Angel Watches Over You
[food for thought submitted by CC
Adejoh]
An angel wrote:
Many people will walk in and out of your life, but only true friends
will leave footprints in your heart.
Great minds discuss ideas;
Average minds discuss events;
Small minds discuss people.
To handle yourself, use your head;
To handle others, use your heart.
A
Note to a Friend and Supporter…
Brandie Haun, I
hardly knew you, but you have brought a bright spot into my life. In the short time we shared, you have helped me more than you’ll ever
know. I’m sorry that the Department of
Human Services has not to renewed your contract. I believe they do not know what a prize they will be losing when
you leave. You are so valuable, they
should have you teaching case
managers their jobs. Well, our loss is
your gain. Good luck in your new life
in the mountains. God Speed.
CC
Provide transportation assistance (bus fare, a ride, van pools, etc.);
Establish a child care co-op or Mom’s Day Out
program;
Get out of the church office, participate in community
activities and build
relationships with people who are disenfranchised from society.
Long term solutions:
Support constituency-based organizations, like PUFF, by providing meeting space, child
care volunteers, contributing money for refreshments for meetings or general
operating support.
Get politically involved – put faith into
action. Educate members of
your congregation on economic and social justice issues (affordable housing,
corporate responsibility, livable wage, etc.) and testify in front of
legislative committees, County Commissioners or Boards that design programs and
approve policy on welfare reform.
Meet with your local, state and national
representatives to share your
concerns about the needs of America’s most vulnerable population, our children.
Urge them to support programs that strengthen and preserve all families.
Hold press conferences or write letters to the
Editor on economic justice issues and empowering low-income people to make
their own choices. Every
faith shares a basic belief in “treating your neighbor as you would like to be
treated” and to show goodwill and compassion to those who have fallen on to
hard times. Policy-makers, service providers,
and the general public need to hear your message asserting the
importance of asking people what they need, rather than telling them what they
need to do to improve their circumstances.
May Calendar
Friday, 5/7 10:00 AM, 1575 Sherman St.
State Board of Human Services
Meeting
Sunday, 5/9 All Day, Everywhere
Mother’s Day!
Saturday, 5/15 10:30 AM – 12:30 PM
1st Unitarian Church, 1400 Lafayette
PUFF Membership Meeting
Wednesday, 5/19 5:00 – 7:00 PM, DDHS
1200 Federal Blvd.
Denver Welfare Reform Board Meeting
[Editor’s
Note: CC Adejoh, PUFF member
extraordinaire, has agreed to share her wisdom and practical household tips
with us through a her new monthly column, Good News from the Broom Closet, in the PUFF Newsletter.]
Hello Friends, we’re going to try a new feature. My name is CC and I would like to share some
friendly tips with all of you. I like to start my day off with an
affirmation and so I’ll begin my column with one also.
“I am getting better and better every day, in every way.”
Did you know that
your food stamps can help you clean your house? In addition, it’s biodegradable, please be wise, never waste your
children’s food. If you’re like me you
may already have these supplies in your kitchen. You may want to keep lemons
and baking soda on hand at all times! They are great deodorizers…
When you cut lemons, before you toss
them out, use them to wipe your cutting boards and counter tops. This will
disinfect and makes a great deodorizer.
Baking soda can be used as a mild
scouring powder for sinks, tubs, and counter tops. It can be mixed with water to create a paste for cleaning really
dirty jobs, it even deodorizes.
Happy
Mother’s Day
We
would like to take this opportunity to let you Moms out there know that we
honor and are indebted to you for the wonderful work that you do all day,
everyday. Thank you for all that you do for your families and the community.
YOU Are Invited
to the Next
PUFF Meeting
When: Saturday, May 15th
Time: 10:30 - Noon
Where: First Unitarian Church,
1400 Lafayette St.
Join us to plan action
on the
Issues you care about
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!
PUFF
(People United for Families)
655
Broadway, Suite 300
Denver,
CO 80203
Phone:
303-623-1540 x. 15
In this issue:
Colorado counties
allowed to reduce their
contributions to TANF programs – this is a bad
sign…
How can the
religious community help repair the gaping holes in the Social Safety Net?
This
newsletter is written by low-income women for low-income women to:
Keep
people informed of the issues we are working on;
Be
a voice where we have had none;
Share
information;
Provide
group support; and
Protect
our rights.
We welcome your articles,
poems, recipes, and letters! Deadline for submissions is the first Frida of the
month. Call Beth if you would like to help with the newsletter, 303-623-1540 x.
15.
