Our Responsibility to Each Other
We measure prosperity by how we treat all our neighbors. Solidifying and expanding the safety net is about more than policy; it’s fulfillment of our mission and furthering the legacy of our founders.
A compassionate safety net provides the level of stability and protection necessary to weather difficult and unpredictable situations. It reduces additional anxiety caused by looming threats like hunger, homelessness, or sickness.
A dynamic safety net adapts to our individual and collective needs, understanding that assistance should be tailored to the specific circumstances people are facing.
A durable safety net assists each generation in their journey toward growth and happiness.
Food Justice
More than fuel, food is nourishment, culture, and language wrapped into a meal. However, despite its significance, our reality is that millions face ongoing hunger and widespread food insecurity. Too many Californians are limited in access, availability, and affordability of food, especially healthy and nutritious items. This flies in the face of decades of research highlighting the effectiveness of anti-hunger and food assistance programs in keeping millions out of poverty year over year. We fight food insecurity through the protection and expansion of existing programs and the introduction of equitable, innovative solutions to end hunger.
Public Benefits
The increasingly prohibitive costs of living are putting us all in danger. However, the welfare of our low-income children and families are further at risk. These households acutely experience the struggle of insufficient wages, ballooning expenses, inaccessible services, and limited high quality job opportunities. We advocate for proven alternatives to end poverty: cash aid and supportive services including CalWORKs, guaranteed income, workforce development, and other programs with life-saving impact. We’re at the forefront of reimagining how benefits and services can transform to more effectively repower and stabilize communities.
Read more about our safety net advocacy in the Policy & Advocacy Hub.
ECPCA engages in lobbying and direct and grassroots advocacy activities via the GRACE End Child Poverty Institute.