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TRANSCRIPT
How Hawai‘i Eliminated Their TANF Asset Limit
Brent Kakesako Hawai‘i Alliance for Community-Based Economic Development (HACBED) ‘Auli‘i K. George Office of Hawaiian Affairs (OHA) Shriver Center Tuesday, October 22, 2013
Lay the Foundation: Defining Genuine Wealth � We collected stories from families across the
state We learned that… � Genuine wealth is beyond financial � Relationships with each other and the health
and well being of our environment and community is important
� “Ho‘owaiwai” -- when a community has water it was considered wealthy
Ho‘owaiwai Network
Established by the vision and support of… � Hawai‘i families and
service providers � State & National
Funders � State & National
Advocacy Groups
Ho‘owaiwai Network
Established to… � Connect existing
networks to achieve family & community self-sufficiency
� Gather data and develop an asset building policy road map
� Utilize stories as a foundation to effectively raise awareness to a broader community
Asset Building Policy Roadmap
Hawai‘i’s Asset Building Framework � Help People Start & Own
Businesses
� Make Work Pay (Tax Credits & Other Policy)
� Teach Asset Building
� Break Down Barriers to Asset Building (Asset Limits & Predatory Lending)
� Help People Save (IDAs, CSAs)
� Help People Buy Homes
Political Will of the Network
� Recognition by County and State public officials
� Creation of a caucus of 12 legislators both from the House and Senate
Hawaii State Asset Building & Financial Education Task Force
Purpose – Develop policy recommendations for the following: � Financial
Education � Children’s Savings
Accounts � Asset Limits
Members of task force included: � Legislators � State and County
Agencies � Community
Organizations � Foundations � Financial Institutions � Educational
Institutions
Captured Political Will
� Task force report is legislative record
� Tool to address potential opposition
� Used as a resource for future legislative priorities
Network Advocates
� Local and national advocacy groups
� Education and research institutions
� Community-based organizations
2012 Legislative Session
Process � Network partners
introduced asset limit reforming legislation
� Either to increase the asset limit or eliminate the asset limit for TANF
Proposed Legislation � HB2685 increase limit
to $10,000 � HB1987/SB2178
increase limit to $15,000
� SB2936 eliminate asset limit
� H.R. 124 study asset limits
Network Partner Role: Office of Hawaiian Affairs
� Develop message consistent with network partners message
� Keep in contact with network partners including Ho’owaiwai Network and CFED
� Update Board of Trustees on the progress
� Meet with supportive legislators to determine potential opposition in the committees
Asset Limit Study
Purpose � As a result of H.R.124, the state Department of
Human Services (DHS) conducted an asset limit study as it relates to all public assistance programs.
� The Director of DHS, Patricia McManaman, convened a small work group of community members and DHS staff to provide recommendations and determine the fiscal implications
Asset Limit Study
Process & Outcome � The work group comprised of network
members which heavily influenced the content and outcome of the report.
� Included data and research from state and national advocacy groups (including CFED and others)
� Final recommendation was to eliminate asset limits for TANF/TANOF program
2013 Legislative Session
With the support of Director Patricia McManaman, HB868 was introduced in Governor Abercrombie’s legislative package. The bill would eliminate asset limits for the TANF/TANOF program.
Network Message Benefit to the State and Neediest Populations � Other states that eliminated asset limits saw a decrease in
caseload and lessened the administrative burden � TANF recipients are eligible to receive the federal EITC in
which they are entitled a maximum of $5,861. Families can save these funds for emergencies and prevent future use of public assistance rather than divest themselves of these savings.
� Financial savings and asset accumulation enables our neediest families to maintain a safety net to self-sufficiency, prevent job loss, and avoid a return to public assistance.
� Families would have an opportunity to build assets toward retirement, which would lessen their dependence on government in their old age.
Network Message Safeguards to prevent fraud and abuse � There are strict income requirements to be
eligible for TANF, which means that benefits would only go to those who need the assistance.
� The application process for public benefits is tedious and rigorous. In order to receive public benefits, a recipient must review and complete 24 pages of application and informational content.
Asset Limit Bill Becomes Law
� Act 18 was signed by Governor Abercrombie on April 18, 2013
� The law was implemented immediately following the signing.
BRENT ‘AULI’I
ALOHA! HOWZIT!
Support from the Network and beyond … � Department of
Human Services � Department of Labor
& Industrial Relations Office of Community Services
� OHA � HACBED � Hawai‘i State
Commission on the Status of Women
� Bridge to Hope
� Appleseed Center for Law & Justice
� Legal Aid Society of Hawai‘i
� Hawai‘i Women’s Coalition
� AAUW Windward � Community Alliance
for Mental Health � Catholic Charities � Goodwill � ACLU
Lessons Learned � Policies were developed from the stories
told by Hawai‘i families � Be proactive and build relationships in
your community, consider the network approach
� Be accurate and do the research and data gathering (national partners can help)
� Develop factual talking points and be consistent with the message