Moving the Legislative Commission to End Poverty Recommendations Forward

in the Legislature

Outcomes for Regional Convening: Commit to work together on a multi-year

process to implement LCEP recommendations Support two priority issues for 2013 Connect other issues to LCEP

recommendations Plan of action for 1-3 specific action steps

Some Present Realities

OR

Why we need to work together

2011 Federal Poverty Guidelines

Poverty in Minnesota

2008 506,000

2009 563,000

2010 599,516

2011 621,970(US Census Bureau)

Realities

Minnesota minimum wage $6.15

Federal minimum wage $7.25 

A family of four in greater Minnesota would need to make $12.56/hour per worker to meet basic needs

A family of four in Metro--$14.03

Poverty Is Too Expensive for Workers

At Minimum wage of $7.25

Couple with 2 children:

155 hours each week(JOBS NOW Coalition)

Child Poverty in Minnesota 2010

Young children are the age group most likely to be in poverty: 16.1% of Minnesota’s children under age 6 are living in poverty. That’s nearly 1 in 6.

Child Poverty in Minnesota

2010: 192,000 (15.2%)

62% increase from 2000-2010

2011: 194,000

Child Poverty2000-2010

Causes of Poverty

Recognize causes of poverty:

Individual

Community

Exploitation

Structural

Addressing Poverty

ThroughThrough To Address CausesTo Address CausesService Individual

Education Community

Advocacy Exploitation

Structural

A Minnesota Without Poverty Response

We believe there is enough

for all to have enough,

if we all do our part.

BuildOrganizeMobilize

A statewide movementto end poverty in Minnesota by 2020

A Minnesota Without Poverty

A Common Foundation: Shared Principles for

Work on Overcoming Poverty

Originated in 2004 in the Saint Paul Area Synod and Signed by 35 religious leaders

and many faithful citizens

A Surprising Step Forward

March 17, 2006Senator John Hottinger used the

“Common Foundation” as text for the bill to create a bi-partisan Legislative

Commission to End Poverty in Minnesota by 2020

A Major Step Forward2006-2008

Legislative Commission to End Poverty in Minnesota by 2020

Legislative Commission to End Poverty in Minnesota by 2020

Public Launching-Jan 9, 2009

The Case for Ending Poverty

Ending Poverty Benefits All Focuses Attention on Important Issues Right and Compassionate Thing to Do

Key Values

People are Assets Employment is the Best Means Communities, Families and Individuals have Roles

Elements of Economic Well-Being

Income Wealth Place Beliefs, attitudes, values

Measuring Poverty

Federal Poverty Measure National Academy of Sciences Relative Measure at 50% of Median

Issues of Disparity

Race and Poverty Women and Poverty

Poverty and Race in Minnesota

Poverty rate among white Minnesotans: 6th lowest

in the nation

Poverty and Race in Minnesota

Poverty rate among African Americans

in Minnesota:

3rd highest

in the nation

Poverty and Race2010

POVERTY RATE MN US

African Americans 37% 27%

American Indian 39% 28%

Poverty and Gender

1 in 4 women

over the age of

16 is living in

poverty

Poverty and Gender

A single female-headed household with children under age 5 is 12

times more likely to be living in

poverty

Healthcare Crisis

Healthcare Access Healthcare Costs

Legislative Commission to End Poverty Report

Restore Work as Means Out of Poverty

Legislative Commission to End Poverty Report

Restore Work as Means Out of Poverty Refocus Public Assistance

Legislative Commission to End Poverty Report

Restore Work as Means Out of Poverty Refocus Public Assistance Build Financial Assets

Legislative Commission to End Poverty Report

Restore Work as Means Out of Poverty Refocus Public Assistance Build Financial Assets Revitalize Communities

Legislative Commission to End Poverty Report

Restore Work as Means Out of Poverty Refocus Public Assistance Build Financial Assets Revitalize Communities Modernize System of Education

Legislative Commission to End Poverty Report

Restore Work as Means Out of Poverty Refocus Public Assistance Build Financial Assets Revitalize Communities Modernize System of Education Develop Structure to Monitor Efforts

AMWP Priorities for 2012-2015

Legislative Commission to End Poverty Work Plan (facilitate and lead a collaborative process)

Micro-Enterprise Partnerships in various parts of Minnesota

LCEP Work Plan

ORGANIZE to develop work plan

for theLEGISLATIVE COMMISSION TO END POVERTY

recommendations

LCEP Work Plan

Reinvigorate LCEP recommendations by:Convening organizations and key peopleTracking progress Informing legislature and general publicPlanning for implementation

Legislative Commission to End Poverty Work Plan

Sent survey to 70+ organizations regarding which recommendations They have already worked on Are working on Plan to work on

Identified 11 key issues

Legislative Commission to End Poverty Work Plan

Collaborative process with 70+ organizations has now developed into:

Connecting to End Poverty: Moving the Legislative Commission to End Poverty

Recommendations Forward in the Legislature

Connecting to End PovertyDec 5, 2012

Connecting to End Poverty: Moving the Legislative Commission to End Poverty

Recommendations Forward in the Legislature—Dec 5, 2012

Connecting to End PovertyDec 5, 2012

Goals for the Convening: Commit to multi-year process

Identify 1-3 common issues with greatest impact for ending poverty

Connect other issues to LCEP

Connecting to End Poverty

Recommendation 1: Restore work as a way out of poverty

Minimum wage Child care assistance Tax credits

Connecting to End Poverty

Recommendation 2: Refocus public assistance to streamline services and support everyone’s capacity and potential

SNAP Public support program eligibility

Connecting to End Poverty

Recommendation 3: Help Minnesotans build and maintain financial assets

Financial literacy Asset development

Connecting to End Poverty

Recommendation 4: Revitalize communities through infrastructure and person-to-person support

Housing Health care

Connecting to End Poverty

Recommendation 5: Modernize our system of education to build the best workforce in the nation

Early childhood care and education

Connecting to End Poverty

Recommendation 6: Develop ongoing structure to monitor Minnesota’s efforts to end poverty

Poverty impact Projection

Connecting to End Poverty

If we work on this together in 2013, we will have the greatest impact toward ending poverty by 2020. VOTE with your DOTS!

Issues to Work on Together

Family Economic Security Act (FES) Raise minimum wage to $9.50 Childcare assistance Working Family Credit

Issues to Work on Together

Poverty Impact Projection (PIP)Assesses the effect that proposed policy would have on the number of people in poverty.

Next Steps in Connecting to End Poverty

Webpage devoted to Connecting to End Poverty on www.mnwithoutpoverty.org

Documents, legislative bills and updates

Next Steps

Regional Convenings March 12—Duluth

March 13—Mora

March 19—Rochester

March 21—Grand Rapids

April 9—Wadena

April 16—Moorhead

Other possible sites in the fall

Outcomes for Regional Convening: Commit to work together on a multi-year

process to implement LCEP recommendations

Support for two priority issues for 2013 Connect other issues to LCEP

recommendations ACTION PLAN: 1-3 action steps

Resource for Connecting to End Poverty

ENOUGH FOR ALL Video Series Starring the Minnesota Church Ladies

“Budget Holes and Hot Dish”“Wedding Cake Conundrum”“Public Policy Pickles”“Capitol Capers for Our Kids”

Minnesota Church Ladies Videos

DVD/Conversation Guide with all four videos and connecting to Legislative

Commission to End Poverty recommendations—available in March

We are all in this together…

Connecting to End Poverty