POWER endorses: Four bills you can support to attempt to lessen poverty in Washington.

author : POWER topic : POWER | Welfare Rights Olympia

HB2896 - Increase public assistance grants to account for cost of living.

Sponsored by Rep. Darneille, HB2896 directs DSHS to annually increase general assistance and TANF grant levels to recipients of the program at a rate equal to the annual percentage increase in the consumer price index for all urban consumers as reported by the bureau of labor statistics of the US Dept. of Labor. HB2896 was referred to the Early Learning and Children's Services Committee but has not been scheduled for a hearing. What a TANF grant will pay for has been steadily decreasing. In 1983 it paid for 63% of a family's basic needs, in 1993, 48%, today, just over a third. The state's basic standard of living is $1545 for a family of three, the TANF grant $546. In the meantime, housing costs, out of pocket health care costs and work expenses have continued to increase. Combining TANF with food assistance brings a family of three to only 62% of the need standard. The waiting list for housing is over 5 years and in many areas the wait list is closed. In fact, only 1 in 5 TANF recipients receive housing vouchers. People suffer and take longer to achieve self-sufficiency when abandoned to homelessness or substandard housing, lack of heat, water, electricity, a telephone.

HB2897 - Revise resource limitations for public assistance for the purpose of removing barriers to obtaining and maintaining employment.

In addition to using a family’s income to determine eligibility for public benefit programs, WA State also limits eligibility to those with no more than $1000 for cash and medical or $3000 for food assistance, or a car worth over $5,000. A family must deplete longer-term savings in order to receive what is usually short-term public assistance. The average stay on cash assistance has always been less than two years. In addition, welfare reform’s time limits and work requirements make asset limits obsolete. Personal savings and assets are precisely the kind of resources that allow families to move off and stay off public benefit programs. Virginia and Ohio eliminated asset limits without an increase in caseload or other negative fiscal effects to the state.

SB6809 - Provide a tax exemption for working families measured by the federal earned income tax credit.

Sponsored by Sen. Pridemore, SB6809 creates a working families' tax exemption, in the form of a remittance, for eligible low-income persons for sales tax paid under the RCW chapter in which it is being created. Eligibility is delineated. The working families' tax exemption is a retail sales tax exemption equal to 10% of the credit granted. Washington’s regressive tax system places a higher tax burden on low-income people. Twenty-three states have implemented a state EITC to help working families and individuals meet their basic needs.

SB6533.

This historic bill to outlaw discrimination based on a renter's source of income has already passed the House and now must pass the Senate. Currently, it is legal for a landlord to not even let a section 8 renter apply for housing. This bill will force discriminatory landlords to take down their "no section 8" banners and put up the welcome sign for all renters. Tenant-based rental assistance is Washington's largest source of affordable housing. Renters from across the state rely on this support to stabilize their lives, raise families and engage in their communities. We should ensure that people in need of housing assistance are able to effectively use section 8 vouchers and other forms of assistance that help them pay the rent and to stabilize their lives. Prejudice and discrimination are unfair roadblocks to safe, decent and affordable housing for too many Washington residents. SB 6533 will fix this and will ensure equal opportunity to apply and compete for housing.

Join POWER and the Thurston County Tenants Union this legislative session in fighting poverty. If you have a personal story regarding one of these issues, contact POWER right away! Use your story to make change.

POWER is an organization of low-income parents and allies advocating for a strong social safety net while working toward a world where children and care giving are truly valued, and the devastation of poverty has been eradicated.