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How Hawaii Eliminated Their TANF Asset Limit Brent Kakesako Hawaii Alliance for Community-Based Economic Development (HACBED) ‘Auli‘i K. George Office of Hawaiian Affairs (OHA) Shriver Center Tuesday, October 22, 2013

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Page 1: i Alliance for How Hawai i Community-Based Eliminated ...povertylaw.org/files/docs/Hawaii-TANF-asset-limits.pdf · Connect existing ... partners message ! Keep in contact with network

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

Page 2: i Alliance for How Hawai i Community-Based Eliminated ...povertylaw.org/files/docs/Hawaii-TANF-asset-limits.pdf · Connect existing ... partners message ! Keep in contact with network

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

Page 3: i Alliance for How Hawai i Community-Based Eliminated ...povertylaw.org/files/docs/Hawaii-TANF-asset-limits.pdf · Connect existing ... partners message ! Keep in contact with network

Ho‘owaiwai Network

Established by the vision and support of… � Hawai‘i families and

service providers � State & National

Funders � State & National

Advocacy Groups

Page 4: i Alliance for How Hawai i Community-Based Eliminated ...povertylaw.org/files/docs/Hawaii-TANF-asset-limits.pdf · Connect existing ... partners message ! Keep in contact with network

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

Page 5: i Alliance for How Hawai i Community-Based Eliminated ...povertylaw.org/files/docs/Hawaii-TANF-asset-limits.pdf · Connect existing ... partners message ! Keep in contact with network

Asset Building Policy Roadmap

Page 6: i Alliance for How Hawai i Community-Based Eliminated ...povertylaw.org/files/docs/Hawaii-TANF-asset-limits.pdf · Connect existing ... partners message ! Keep in contact with network

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

Page 7: i Alliance for How Hawai i Community-Based Eliminated ...povertylaw.org/files/docs/Hawaii-TANF-asset-limits.pdf · Connect existing ... partners message ! Keep in contact with network

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

Page 8: i Alliance for How Hawai i Community-Based Eliminated ...povertylaw.org/files/docs/Hawaii-TANF-asset-limits.pdf · Connect existing ... partners message ! Keep in contact with network

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

Page 9: i Alliance for How Hawai i Community-Based Eliminated ...povertylaw.org/files/docs/Hawaii-TANF-asset-limits.pdf · Connect existing ... partners message ! Keep in contact with network

Captured Political Will

� Task force report is legislative record

� Tool to address potential opposition

� Used as a resource for future legislative priorities

Page 10: i Alliance for How Hawai i Community-Based Eliminated ...povertylaw.org/files/docs/Hawaii-TANF-asset-limits.pdf · Connect existing ... partners message ! Keep in contact with network

Network Advocates

� Local and national advocacy groups

� Education and research institutions

� Community-based organizations

Page 11: i Alliance for How Hawai i Community-Based Eliminated ...povertylaw.org/files/docs/Hawaii-TANF-asset-limits.pdf · Connect existing ... partners message ! Keep in contact with network

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

Page 12: i Alliance for How Hawai i Community-Based Eliminated ...povertylaw.org/files/docs/Hawaii-TANF-asset-limits.pdf · Connect existing ... partners message ! Keep in contact with network

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

Page 13: i Alliance for How Hawai i Community-Based Eliminated ...povertylaw.org/files/docs/Hawaii-TANF-asset-limits.pdf · Connect existing ... partners message ! Keep in contact with network

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

Page 14: i Alliance for How Hawai i Community-Based Eliminated ...povertylaw.org/files/docs/Hawaii-TANF-asset-limits.pdf · Connect existing ... partners message ! Keep in contact with network

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

Page 15: i Alliance for How Hawai i Community-Based Eliminated ...povertylaw.org/files/docs/Hawaii-TANF-asset-limits.pdf · Connect existing ... partners message ! Keep in contact with network

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.

Page 16: i Alliance for How Hawai i Community-Based Eliminated ...povertylaw.org/files/docs/Hawaii-TANF-asset-limits.pdf · Connect existing ... partners message ! Keep in contact with network

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.

Page 17: i Alliance for How Hawai i Community-Based Eliminated ...povertylaw.org/files/docs/Hawaii-TANF-asset-limits.pdf · Connect existing ... partners message ! Keep in contact with network

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.

Page 18: i Alliance for How Hawai i Community-Based Eliminated ...povertylaw.org/files/docs/Hawaii-TANF-asset-limits.pdf · Connect existing ... partners message ! Keep in contact with network

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!

Page 19: i Alliance for How Hawai i Community-Based Eliminated ...povertylaw.org/files/docs/Hawaii-TANF-asset-limits.pdf · Connect existing ... partners message ! Keep in contact with network

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

Page 20: i Alliance for How Hawai i Community-Based Eliminated ...povertylaw.org/files/docs/Hawaii-TANF-asset-limits.pdf · Connect existing ... partners message ! Keep in contact with network

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

Page 21: i Alliance for How Hawai i Community-Based Eliminated ...povertylaw.org/files/docs/Hawaii-TANF-asset-limits.pdf · Connect existing ... partners message ! Keep in contact with network

Mahalo!

Brent Kakesako [email protected]

‘Auli‘i George [email protected]