APRIL 10, 2020  — In a letter to Speaker Nancy Pelosi, House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy, Sen. Dianne Feinstein, Sen. Kamala Harris and the California Congressional delegation, End Child Poverty CA’s co-chairs Dolores Huerta and Conway Collis, on behalf of a coalition of 66 organizations, urged the inclusion of 22 “Priorities to Strengthen Families” in future federal stimulus legislation.

The priorities target those in poverty and those left out of or ineligible for the CARES Act. The Priorities also suggest practical changes –for example, waiving work or minimum income requirements at a time when the economy is shedding jobs at record level.

“The attached Priorities to Strengthen Families were developed from our years of work, the experiences of our partners, and the expertise of some of the nation’s preeminent researchers on poverty. Taken together, these Priorities provide a foundation to help low income people recover from the pandemic and contribute to the nation’s overall economic recovery,” the letter states. “Each recommendation is based on a program or service that has been proven to be successful and cost-effective — rigorous data and other analysis has been applied.  The 22 recommendations address the need to provide housing and food stability for vulnerable children; necessary healthcare to protect all Americans; child-care for our essential workers; essential support for our nation’s foster youth; and basic education, workforce and housing support.”

See full letter, followed by the 22 Priorities to Strengthen Families, here.

Organizations signing the letter:

To add your organization (click here). Although the original letter has been sent, we look forward to adding additional names and organizations online.

Alameda County Community Food Bank
Alliance for Boys and Men of Color
Anthony and Jeanne Pritzker Family Foundation
Asian Americans Advancing Justice – Los Angeles
Bay Area Regional Health Inequities Initiative
Burrito Bunch
CA Association for the Education of Young Children (CAAEYC) Public Policy Committee
California Alliance of Child and Family Services
California Alternative Payment Program Association (CAPPA)
California Asset Building Coalition
California Association for the Education of Young Children (CAAEYC)
California Association of Food Banks
California Coalition for Youth
California Latinas for Reproductive Justice
California Partnership
CAPPA Children’s Foundation
CAP OC/OC Food Bank
Catholic Charities of Santa Clara County
Child Care Alliance of Los Angeles
Child Care Law Center
Child Care Resource and Referral Center CA
Child Care Resource Center
Children Now
Children’s Council of San Francisco
Children’s Defense Fund – CA
Children’s Institute
Children’s Resource & Referral
Clergy and Laity United for Economic Justice
Community Action Partnership of San Bernardino County
Compass Family Services
County Welfare Directors Association of CA
Daughters of Charity of St. Vincent De Paul USA
Dolores Huerta Foundation
Economic Security Project Action
Equal Rights Advocates
Fathers & Families of San Joaquin
First 5 Alameda County
First 5 California
First 5 LA
Foster Care Counts
Fresno Barrios Unidos
Fresno EOC
Fresno EOC Street Saints
Friends Committee on Legislation of California
Futures Without Violence
Gardner Health Services
GRACE Institute/End Child Poverty California
Hayward Promise Neighborhoods
Head Start California
Healing Dialogue and Action
Hunger Action LA
Independent in Orange County
Jewish Center for Justice
Jewish Family and Children’s Services of San Francisco, the Peninsula, Marin and Sonoma Counties
John Burton Advocates for Youth
LA Conservation Corps
Latino Business Foundation Silicon Valley
Legal Aid at Work
Los Angeles Community Action Network (LA CAN)
Los Angeles Regional Food Bank
LULAC California
Lutheran Office of Public Policy California
Martin Luther King Jr. Freedom Center
Maryvale
Mid City CAN (Community Advocacy Network)
Mission Economic Development Agency
National Association of Social Workers, California Chapter
National Foster Youth Institute
North Bay Jobs with Justice
Para Los Niños
Parent Voices CA
Restaurant Opportunities Center The Bay
Rise Together
San Diego for Every Child
San Francisco Latino Democratic Club
Save the Children
SHIELDS for Families
South Bay Community Services
Southern California Grantmakers
St. John’s Well Child & Family Center
Stable, Secure and Strong
The Central Valley Urban Institute
The Chicano Federation
The Children’s Movement of Fresno
The Children’s Partnership
The Salvador E. Alvarez Institute for Non-Violence
Time for Change Foundation
Unite LA
United Ways of California
Urban Strategies Council
Western Center on Law and Poverty
YMCA of San Diego County
Youth Justice Coalition L.A.
Youth United for Community Action
Youth Will

Previously, End Child Poverty CA developed recommendations to shape state stimulus legislation. See the letter to Governor Newsom here.

ABOUT END CHILD POVERTY CA

On both a percentage and numerical basis, California’s child poverty crisis ranks as the worst in America. Almost 2 million California children live in poverty, with 400,000 of them in deep poverty –below 50 percent of the state poverty line and growing up in families working hard to survive on less than about $13,400 annually. State legislation created the Lifting Children and Families Out of Poverty Task Force (Co-Chaired by Collis) to develop an anti-poverty plan to be released just before the new governor and legislature took office in January 2019. The End Child Poverty CA campaign then rallied people and organizations and as a movement urged the state to adopt the Task Force’s End Child Poverty Plan, which would end deep child poverty in just four years when fully implemented. The plan would also reduce overall child poverty by 50 percent over the next decade.
 For more information, visit: https://www.endchildpovertyca.org/

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

END CHILD POVERTY CA CALLS FOR EMERGENCY AID FOR STATE’S MOST VULNERABLE

***Letter Delivered to Gov/Leg from Co-Chairs Dolores Huerta & Conway Collis**

SACRAMENTO — In a letter to Governor Newsom and state legislative leaders, End Child Poverty CA today called the enactment of the following emergency measures for six months of immediate assistance:

1) Child Poverty Emergency Safety Net Payment

A one-time cash payment of up to $1,200  paid through the counties via the general  assistance program to families with at least one child age 6 or under and with income  and earnings at 70% of the Federal Poverty Line, irrespective of immigration status. Families living in deep poverty will be hardest hit by the COVID-19 economic downturn. This safety net payment will help increase stability during this health crisis.

2) Supplemental Emergency CalEITC Payments

The Cal EITC is well positioned to provide cash to lower-wage workers. We propose that all taxpayers eligible for 2019 expanded California EITC would be eligible immediately for a second credit equal to one-half the size of the credit they were eligible for in 2019. In addition, ITIN filers should be included in this payment. 

3) Emergency Assistance Payments

A one-time emergency assistance payment from the state to the counties to provide a necessary supplement for the General Assistance program. The funds would be distributed by the 

counties to households with children having incomes of less than 70 percent of the federal poverty line who are not otherwise eligible for assistance through the first two proposals. This includes families with a recent job loss, were unable to work in the prior year or have major health expenditures. The funds would be available on a one-time  basis for emergency needs such as food, prescription drugs, rents needed to avoid  eviction, or car repair. 

“Children and families in poverty were struggling with housing and food insecurity prior to the  Covid-19 pandemic. With it has come increased job losses or reduced hours, additional health issues and even more trauma and insecurity,” End Child Poverty CA Co-Chairs Dolores Huerta and Conway Collis wrote in today’s letter. “Existing safety net programs such as CalWORKs and Cal EITC are designed to promote self-sufficiency and upward mobility over the long-term, but there are barriers to quickly modifying these 

programs to provide short term emergency relief. Many Californians experiencing deep poverty are not able to participate in existing safety net programs for various reasons, including citizenship status (which limits eligibility for public programs) and disabilities of parents or children. According to estimates prepared by Stanford Center on Poverty and Inequality, approximately 80 percent of children in families living in deep poverty do not participate in CalWORKs.Moreover, the emphasis on job training and employment is less relevant in today’s 

extraordinary circumstance, since near term job prospects are extremely limited.”

The full letter, which includes additional details about the emergency members, is here.

ABOUT END CHILD POVERTY CA

On both both a percentage and numerical basis, California’schild poverty crisis ranks as the worst in America. Almost 2 million California children live in poverty, with 400,000 of them in deep poverty — below 50 percent of the state poverty line and growing up in families working hard to survive on less than about $13,400 annually. State legislation created the Lifting Children and Families Out of Poverty Task Force (Co-Chaired by Collis) to develop an anti-poverty plan to be released just before the new governor and legislature took office in January 2019. The End Child Poverty CA campaign then rallied people and organizations and as a movement urged the state to adopt the Task Force’s End Child Poverty Plan, which would end deep child poverty in just four years when fully implemented. The plan would also reduce overall child poverty by 50 percent over the next decade.

For more information, visit: https://www.endchildpovertyca.org/

###

March 18, 2020

The Honorable Gavin Newsom Governor, State of California State Capitol, Suite 1173 Sacramento, CA 95814

Dear Governor Newsom:

To help carry out your efforts to bolster the safety net for our most vulnerable families and provide direct economic stimulus we urge you to consider adoption of the one-time emergency measures listed below. Children and families in poverty were struggling with housing and food insecurity prior to the COVID-19 pandemic. With it has come increased job losses or reduced hours, additional health issues and even more trauma and insecurity. The proposals on the attached memo include:

• One- time Child Poverty Emergency Safety Net Payment
• One-time Supplemental Emergency CalEITC payment, to include families with ITIN filers
• One-time Emergency Assistance Payments

Thank you for your leadership and for considering the immediate implementation of these emergency income supports for these families in desperate need of assistance.

For further information or follow up please contact Conway Collis at conwaycollis@grace-inc.org or (626) 356–4205 or Jackie Wong at jackiewong@grace-in.org or (916) 498–3320.

Sincerely,

Dolores Huerta
President, Dolores Huerta Foundation

and

Conway Collis
President and CEO, GRACE & End Child Poverty California

CC: Ann O’Leary, Ana Matosantos, Keely Bosler Attachment

COVID-19 ANTI-POVERTY STIMULUS PACKAGE

The following one -time payments respond to the current COVID-19 crisis for California’s most vulnerable children and families. They also provide an immediate economic stimulus as research shows that 80% of cash supports are spent locally.

Prior to the pandemic, California families were already faced with health, hunger, and housing instability. COVID-19 has exacerbated this crisis. We need to provide immediate cash assistance for vulnerable families NOW to allow parents and caregivers to stay home with their children, purchase necessities, and keep their families housed as California addresses this health and economic crisis.

Proposal # 1 Child Poverty Emergency Safety Net Payment

Families living in deep poverty will be hardest hit by the COVID-19 economic downturn. This safety net payment will help increase stability during this health crisis. A one-time cash payment of up to $1,200 would be paid through the counties via the general assistance program to families with at least one child ages 6 or under and with income and earnings at 70% of the Federal Poverty Line, irrespective of immigration status.

Cost estimate: One-time GF cost of $150 million. Counties would also incur administrative costs, which would be reimbursable from the state.

Proposal #2: Supplemental Emergency CalEITC Payments

The Cal EITC is well positioned to provide cash to lower-wage workers. We propose that all taxpayers eligible for 2019 expanded California EITC would be eligible immediately for a second credit equal to one-half the size of the credit they were eligible for in 2019. In addition, ITIN filers should be included in this payment.

Cost estimate: One-time GF cost of approximately $550 million.

Proposal #3: Emergency Assistance Payments.

One-time emergency assistance from the state to the counties to provide a necessary supplement for the General Assistance program. The funds would be distributed by the counties to households with children having incomes of less than 70 percent of the federal poverty line who are not otherwise eligible for assistance through the first two proposals. This includes families with a recent job loss, were unable to work in the prior year or have major health expenditures. The funds would be available on a one-time basis for emergency needs such as food, prescription drugs, rents needed to avoid eviction, or car repair.

Cost Estimate: Variable, but recommended GF allocation of $300 million.
Need for Immediate Implementation Through Recommended Payment Mechanisms

Given the urgency of the moment, the priority is to quickly and efficiently get cash in the hands of low-income families with children who are in dire need of immediate resources to protect them from the drastic COVID-19 economic downturn. Existing safety net programs such as CalWORKs and Cal EITC are designed to promote self-sufficiency and upward mobility over the long-term, but there are barriers to quickly modifying these programs to provide short term emergency relief.

Many Californian’s experiencing deep poverty are not able to participate in existing safety net programs for various reasons, including citizenship status (which limits eligibility for public programs) and disabilities of parents or children. According to estimates prepared by Stanford Center on Poverty and Inequality, approximately 80 percent of children in families living in deep poverty do not participate in CalWORKs. Moreover, the emphasis on job training and employment is less relevant in today’s extraordinary circumstance, since near term job prospects are extremely limited.

Nuestro objetivo para este año es claro como el cristal: aprobar el resto del Plan para Acabar con la Pobreza Infantil. Para hacerlo, necesitamos todas las manos  en el timón para demostrarle a los legisladores que estamos firmes y que no vamos a descansar hasta que ningún niño en California viva en pobreza extrema. 

En octubre, estuvimos en San Bernardino, uniendo fuerzas con nuestros hermanos y hermanas del Inland Empire en este movimiento. En enero, llevamos el movimiento a Sacramento — y varios líderes legislativos y nuevos colaboradores  se unieron a nosotros. El 21 de febrero de 2020, llevaremos nuestro movimiento a Los Ángeles, la Ciudad de los Sueños, junto a la líder de derechos civiles y fundadora de la Fundación Dolores Huerta, Dolores Huerta.

Con su ayuda, este evento será divertido para los niños y estimulante  para los padres y los miembros de la comunidad. ¿Puedes contribuir hoy?

Su donación nos ayudará a proporcionar: 

• Transportación para que asistan las familias 
• Meriendas para los niños
• Materiales de Arte para hacer letreros 
• Apoyo a la causa

TODOS los niños en California deben crecer con salud, comida y alojamiento. Las familias que trabajan de dos a  tres empleos y gastan su dinero localmente para a mantener la prosperidad económica de California no deben quedar atrás — y sus hijos no deben sufrir debido a las  decisiones políticas fallidas del pasado. Es por eso que este año, abogamos por la aprobación del Crédito Tributario por la Pobreza Infantil, que brindará a las familias viviendo en extrema pobreza el dinero necesario para poder estabilizarse. 

Pero no vamos a para ahí. También estamos luchando por el acceso al cuidado infantil  para las decenas de miles de familias que están en la lista de espera subsidiada para el cuidado  infantil en California. Cuidado infantil que sea seguro, confiable, y cercano al hogar es vital para los padres y les permite que continúen trabajando para mantener a sus familias. 

La creación de apoyo político para estos elementos del Plan para  Terminar con la Pobreza Infantil nos llevará a todos a – nuestras voces y apoyo financiero. Nosotros esperamos contar con sus voces y apoyo en el lanzamiento de nuestra campaña de Los Ángeles el 21 de febrero.

¿Puede contribuir para impulsar esta próxima fase de nuestra organización en el terreno y ayudarnos a hacer realidad los sueños de los niños de California?

įEstén atentos la próxima semana para recibir una invitación al evento del Los Angeles — esperamos ver a muchos de ustedes allí! 

Más por venir,
El Equipo de Acabar con la Pobreza Infantil CA

La semana pasada, los legisladores de California recibieron una visita de padres, hijos y colaboradores  de #EndChildPovertyCA que llegaron a Sacramento con un mensaje sencillo: tenemos las soluciones para acabar con la pobreza infantil extrema — ahora necesitamos que los campeones políticos se unan a nuestro movimiento.

Agregue su voz a la nuestra: Firme nuestra petición antes de la medianoche del viernes para decirles a nuestros legisladores que este es el año para acabar con la pobreza infantil extrema en California — ¡Ayúdenos a alcanzar nuestra meta de 1,000 firmas!

En Sacramento, una madre de Parent Voices California, Monique Rosas, les recordó a los legisladores que la tasa de pobreza infantil de California no es un fracaso de las personas — es el resultado de la desinversión en sistemas públicos para comunidades y familias. “No poder pagar el cuidado de niños o la vivienda tiene mucho que ver con un sistema roto, no con las personas,” dijo. “Continuaremos luchando hasta que nuestros hijos sean alojados, alimentados y apoyados en el amor.”

Tenemos la oportunidad de reparar ese sistema roto este año, y el apoyo entre nuestros líderes electos está creciendo. El presupuesto del Gobernador  incluye tres de nuestras cinco prioridades legislativas para 2020, y ahora vamos a decirle a los legisladores que es hora de aprobar las cinco.

¿Puede firmar nuestra petición antes de la medianoche del viernes para ayudarnos a alcanzar nuestra meta de 1,000 firmas?

California es el lugar más rico de la nación, con más millonarios y multimillonarios que cualquier otro estado. Este mensaje de Abigail Disney que testificando en una audiencia para una de nuestras prioridades de política lo resume: “En el lugar más feliz del mundo, tenemos empleados y [familias] que viven usando cupones de alimentos y en automóviles.” 

Acabar con la pobreza infantil extrema aquí no es un sueño imposible. Es algo que podemos lograr y lo lograremos, con la ayuda de nuestros legisladores, nuestros colaboradores  y usted.

En Solaridad,
Jackie Thu-Huong Wong
Vice Presidente de Política y Defensa
Acabar con la Pobreza Infantil en CA

There’s a question we should be asking our leaders in 2020: What kind of people are we in California?

If you ask me, Californians are people who don’t shy away from tough problems. We’ve saved lives by passing the country’s strictest gun-safety laws. We’ve fought climate change by implementing ambitious clean-air rules. We’re pioneers. And we know that, in our fight to end extreme child poverty, we can make California a model for the nation.

Sign the petition to tell elected officials: Let’s make 2020 the year we pass the End Child Poverty Plan in FULL.

We’re the only state with a research-based, achievable plan for ending deep child poverty, and we’re counting on our leaders in Sacramento to make it a reality. But California’s otherwise solid 2020-2021 state budget proposal, which Governor Newsom released Jan. 10, is missing an absolutely crucial element of the plan: the Child Poverty Tax Credit. Read our full statement on the budget here.

The Child Poverty Tax Credit is a critical tool for lifting 450,000 children out of extreme poverty — and they can’t wait another year. Right now, too many parents have to choose between paying rent, putting food on the table or paying for transportation to work. They’re losing jobs because they don’t have the sick leave to take care of their children or the child care to cover their schedules. Many are living with their kids in cars, with no water or power.

Without the Child Poverty Tax Credit, the hurdles are enormous for California parents to climb out of poverty and give their kids an equal chance at a better life.

Let’s tell our elected officials: Fully enact the End Child Poverty Plan in 2020. Together, we can end extreme poverty for 450,000 California kids and cut the overall child poverty rate in half!

California parents are striving to build a bright future for their kids, and your signature is a powerful symbol that you’re with them. We look forward to sharing this petition — and your voice — with our elected officials soon.

Let’s do this,

Conway Collis
President and CEO
Grace and End Child Poverty California

Hay una pregunta que deberíamos hacerle a nuestros líderes en 2020: ¿Qué clase  de gente somos en California?

Si me preguntas, los californianos son personas que evitan los problemas difíciles. Hemos salvado vidas aprobando las leyes de seguridad de armas más estrictas del país. Hemos luchado contra el cambio climático mediante la implementación de ambiciosas reglas de aire limpio. Somos pioneros. Y sabemos que, en nuestra lucha para acabar con la pobreza infantil extrema, podemos hacer de California un modelo para la nación.

Firme la petición para decirles a nuestros líderes: Hagamos 2020 el año en que aprobemos el Plan para Acabar con la Pobreza Infantil en COMPLETO.

Somos el único estado con un plan alcanzable y basado en investigación para acabar con la pobreza infantil extrema, y contamos con nuestros líderes en Sacramento para hacerlo realidad. Pero el presupuesto estatal 2020-2021 de California, que el gobernador Newsom publicó el viernes, no tiene un elemento clave del plan: el Crédito Tributario por Pobreza Infantil o Child Poverty Tax Credit. Lea nuestra declaración de presupuesto completa aquí.

El Crédito Tributario por Pobreza Infantil  es una herramienta crítica para sacar a 450,000 niños de la pobreza extrema, y ​​no podemos esperar otro año para implementarlo. En este momento, demasiados  padres tienen que elegir entre pagar la renta o poner gasolina en sus automóviles. Están perdiendo empleos porque no tienen tiempo de enfermedad para cuidar a sus hijos o el cuidado de niños para cubrir sus horarios. Muchos viven con sus hijos en automóviles, sin agua ni electricidad.

Sin el Crédito Tributario por Pobreza Infantil , es casi imposible para  los padres de California salgan de la pobreza y darles  a sus hijos una oportunidad de una vida mejor.

Digamos a nuestros líderes: promulgar completamente el Plan para Acabar con la Pobreza Infantil en 2020. ¡Juntos, podemos acabar con la pobreza extrema para 450,000 niños de California y reducir la tasa general de pobreza infantil por la mitad!

Los padres de California se esfuerzan por construir un futuro brillante para sus hijos, y su firma es un poderoso símbolo de que están con ellos. Esperamos poder compartir esta petición — y su voz — con nuestros líderes electos pronto.

Hagamos esto,
Conway Collis
Presidente y CEO
GRACE y Acabar con la Pobreza Infantil California