TANF Cuts: Punishing Families With The Most Severe Barriers to Work

Posted on May 24, 2012 in DC Policies and Plans, Fundraising Event, Poverty, TANF | 0 comments

DC’s TANF program is currently undergoing a long overdue redesign. As part of the redesign, each parent will complete an assessment to identify her or his potential barriers to work, any health issues of family members that impact work, talents and job qualifications, educational background, and the overall needs of the family. Once a parent has been assessed, they will then receive services crafted to fit her or his individual needs and...

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Could You Survive On $3 A Day?

Posted on May 22, 2012 in DC Budget, DC Policies and Plans, Fundraising Event, Poverty, TANF, Wealth Gap | 0 comments

Budget choices speak loudly about the priorities of a city.  Last week, the DC Council – after much negotiation, review, and analysis of the Mayor’s proposed budget for Fiscal Year 2013 — voted unanimously to prioritize the well-being of low-income children in the District of Columbia.  One in 3 children in the District is poor.  Prioritizing low-income kids is vital to ensuring a brighter future for the thousands of District children...

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The DC Budget: It’s Time to Take Action

Posted on May 2, 2012 in Budget Cuts, Clients, DC Budget, DC Policies and Plans, Fundraising Event, Homelessness, Housing, Poverty, Shelter, TANF | 0 comments

You read our blog posts last week about the crisis faced by hundreds of homeless residents.  You heard directly from families struggling to protect their kids.  In exactly two weeks, the Council will vote on a budget.  Whether or not that budget responds to the needs of DC’s most vulnerable residents will depend in part on how many of us raise our voices to demand that it does.  It’s up to all of us to urge the council to pass a budget that...

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Housing Can Break This Foster Care Cycle

Posted on Apr 25, 2012 in Budget Cuts, DC Budget, DC Policies and Plans, Fundraising Event, Homelessness, Housing, Poverty, Shelter | 0 comments

At last Thursday’s Council hearing on the DHS budget, Raynette Tolen shared with Councilmember Jim Graham and other members of the Council’s Human Services Committee her desperate wish to reunite with her two oldest children – boys who are presently in the foster care system and who won’t be reunified with their mom and siblings until Ms. Tolen has safe and adequate housing.  Ms. Tolen, who herself grew up in foster care and aged out of...

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Speaking Out About Homeless Services

Posted on Apr 23, 2012 in Advocates, Fundraising Event, People | 0 comments

Last Thursday, April 19th, the DC Council Committee on Human Services held a budget hearing on Mayor Gray’s proposed DHS budget for FY 2013.  Committee Chairman Jim Graham heard testimony from DHS officials, legal services attorneys, advocates, service providers, faith leaders and most importantly, people who are experiencing homelessness or who receive Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF). Witness after witness expressed concern...

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