Economic Security
Strong communities, healthy families, and a thriving economy that benefits us all: That is the future we want for Washington state. Yet far too many residents are struggling to put food on the table and afford a roof over their heads, much less to save for the future. Economic progress for our state means that everyone can share in a growing state economy.
Our state must provide people with the foundations they need to gain economic security. To do that, it must protect investments in programs that are critical to so many families with middle and low incomes, like the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, Working Connections Child Care, mental health services, housing assistance, and job training programs. When Washingtonians have access to programs that strengthen their ability to provide for themselves and their families, this can lead to improved long-term outcomes for families, communities, and the economy.
Highlights:
- Local View: Food stamps critical to people with disabilities, their families (The Columbian op-ed)
- How Eliminating Asset Caps in Public Programs Could Reduce Administrative Costs and Help Participants (fact sheet)
- We Must Ensure All Washingtonians Have Food Security (fact sheet)
- Intergenerational Poverty Bill Would Help Lift Children and their Parents out of Poverty (blog post and infographic)
- Census Data Highlights Disparities in Economic Well-Being for Children of Color (blog post and infographic)
-
High Interest, Lost Opportunity: Mapping the cost of payday lending in Washington State
- January 31, 2007 - Basic financial services available to lower income families such as cashing checks and short-term loans often come with interest rates that soar well above 300 percent.
-
State could do more to support struggling families: Benefit levels have not kept up with the cost of living
- January 2007 - The monthly WorkFirst cash assistance benefit is a key part of the state’s social safety net, but it has not been increased since 1993.
-
Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF): New federal welfare requirements pose tough choices for Washington
- February, 2006 - The budget agreement makes the most significant changes to the TANF program since it was enacted in 1996 – effectively ending years of debate regarding the program’s reauthorization.
-
How the 2006 Federal Budget Agreement matters to Washington State: Impact on low and moderate-income Washingtonians
- February, 2006 - This brief describes fiscal and policy changes to other key areas included in the budget agreement.
-
Gap between rich and poor in Washington - Third fastest growth in Nation: Incomes of Poorest Families Stagnant Over Past Decade
- Jan. 26, 2006 - A new report today found Washington State wealthy families have over seven times higher incomes than low-income families.
