CHANGE 2012: Communities Creating Hope to Achieve Needed Growth for Everyone

Vital Stats

Erica S

Spokane, WA

  • people helped500
  • People Doing It 2

The Problem

In the aftermath of the 2010 election, families living in poverty in Washington State are left with fewer resources than ever. WA State DSHS is eliminating the State Food Assistance program, which enrolls families in Food Stamp benefits if they are legal citizens of the state, but not yet US citizens. Without the program 13,000 families in the state are now left in a more discouraging economic condition. State DSHS is also proposing to eliminate Apple Health for Kids, which provides healthcare services to children from families with low incomes. 27,000 children will be eliminated from the program on if legislation decides to finalize the cut. Working Connections, a program that provides childcare for working parents with low incomes also suffered cuts, along with Maternity Support Services. These cuts more disproportionately affect children of color; one in three African American, and one in four Latino and Native American. Children are left growing up in a deeper state of poverty than ever before, which has a devastating effect on the eradication of generational poverty. In the current biennial budget for WA State, essential public services for families with low incomes have suffered cuts totaling more than $4.3 billion. As a result, programs that ensure the health of children and families living in poverty have been cut by 9.3%. At least 44,000 low income workers have ceased receiving Basic Health Plan benefits; investments in education and opportunity, from preschool to universities, have been cut by 11.3%; efforts to create thriving communities, such as public safety and economic development, have been cut by 7.3%; Disability Lifeline services (GAU) faces complete eradication; housing foreclosures are at an all time high, and accelerating, and the overall outlook for social services funding continues to look more grim than ever.

Plan of Action

A new model of civic engagement is crucial to improving the quality of life for families living in poverty. CHANGE 2012 is the new model. Research has proven that more people become empowered to vote when they have knowledge about their choices and are informed and sure of the voting process. Communities who are systematically oppressed by legislation become more civically engaged when they have – reasons why to vote from a peer perspective, help with or training about how to vote, basic information about what’s on the ballot, choosing a party, or what the offices up for election are all about, and accessible voter registration. Voters must be informed about the urgency of voting, and how it can have a direct impact of the quality of life for their families and community. VOICES and community partners, both organization-affiliated and individual will identify a group of 30-50 emerging leaders, or a “Peer Leadership Team” (PLT), who belong to and represent Spokane and greater Eastern Washington’s unique communities. Emphasis will be on representation of communities with high poverty rates and rural communities. PLT members, represented by a working “Guidance Group” of 7-10 individuals, will hold town hall meetings in order to collect stories from individuals of all ages who belong to families living in poverty so that they are able to voice their concerns and ideas. The goal of VOICES, community partners, and most of all, emerging leaders, is to facilitate town halls as a community ally, meeting families on their level, with candidness and honesty. Families will be informed and educated about taking action around their concerns. They will be given the tools and tasks necessary to reach real, achievable changes around legislation affecting families living in poverty. If community concerns do not involve issues that are already legislation, VOICES, community partners, and emerging leaders will provide the necessary tools and education to families so that their issues may become legislation. The overreaching goal of town hall meetings is to empower communities to educate and inform each other, as human beings experiencing the same or similar concerns. Communities will reach a level of empowerment and solidarity to the point that they are able to challenge social norms as a group and become more unified through their connections. The outcome will be 500 families in Spokane and Eastern Washington who are committed to voting and being civically engaged. These families will encourage even greater numbers to vote or commit to a social change action, so that November 2012, and future elections, yield a balanced approach to the budget deficit that includes reduced spending and revenue increases. A balanced budget is crucial to setting the stage for economic recovery in the state and restoring social service funding for families living in poverty.
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Homelessness
Hunger
Homelessness and Poverty

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