Report says Virginia not doing enough for poor
POVERTY IN VIRGINIA: Has the state's safety net failed?
Even during the good times, Virginia isn't doing enough to meet the needs of its poorest residents.
That's the message from the Commonwealth Institute for Fiscal Analysis, which released a report yesterday suggesting that more needs to be done to help those who live in poverty.
The report found that despite a 122 percent increase in unemployment between December 2007 and February 2009, the number of people seeking food stamps rose just 18 percent during that time, and those seeking Temporary Assistance to Needy Families went up by 9.8 percent.
The report pointed out that in 2007, the number of children enrolled in the TANF program was more than 50,000. Yet more than 233,000 children were then living at or below the federal poverty level, which is defined as a household income of $21,000 for a family of four.
Those are "key signals that our safety net programs are not responding as they should," said Michael Cassidy, executive director of the Commonwealth Institute.
The report will likely be part of the discussion today at Virginia's Summit on Poverty and Economic Opportunity at the Omni Hotel in Richmond. Gov. Timothy M. Kaine will deliver opening remarks to nearly 100 businesses, community and nonprofit leaders, as well as legislators and state agency representatives, who have convened to create and implement a sustainable plan to fight poverty in Virginia.
The institute's report says the state's strict eligibility requirements for programs like TANF or Medicaid are barriers for many people.
The report suggests that the state should take advantage of stimulus money to create new initiatives and improve insurance assistance for unemployed Virginians.
Virginia could increase the minimum wage, the report says, and expand public health insurance for working parents. The report said currently parents earning more than $6,000 a year likely don't qualify for Medicaid coverage.
Another suggestion was to eliminate unnecessary asset tests, and raise the income test, for those seeking food stamps. Other options called for making the state's earned income tax credit refundable, and overall, doing a better job of reaching out to individuals and families so they're aware of the services available to them.
Contact Holly Prestidge at (804) 649-6945 or
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Reader Reactions
Jer1234: “2 weeks ago an industry in PA had 22,000 but no one was applying except illegal workers. Why is that?“
Please document so we we know this isn’t a madeup bit of truthiness.
MeToo: I have first-hand experience with residents of Whitcomb Court because I assist them but will not elaborate further as to protect confidentiality. Viagra is not a pain medication and last time I checked it was for men. You’re stereotype are showing.
So you live or work in Whitcomb court and are speaking from personal experience? Are you one of these people, selling your viagra for top dollar?
MeToo: Whitcomb Court. Take a break from the canvas and visit the real world.
citycynic: Where exactly did you get that welfare recipients sell prescription medication for high profit? Please share the source of that “fact”.
Your name says it all- you only believe what you want, not what actually exists. Congrats on your A in Econ… I got an A in Art!!
Is it really that the state isn’t doing enough or that eligible people aren’t apply for benefit programs?
I’m sure it’s a mix of the two, but leaning more on people not applying. Many people who aren’t getting any gov’t help, but many should be are those caught in the middle. They work, but don’t make enough to afford health insurance, pay all the bills, etc; but make too much to qualify for Medicaid, food stamps, etc.
FanTastic: Got news for you - grandma ain’t the only one on 75 prescriptions. A lot of welfare recipients doctor shop for pain meds so they can sell them at a high profit. It’s more likely you are paying for them than grandma’s blood pressure medication. PS: I got an A in Econ.
To be perfectly honest, I love welfare. I am a bleeding heart liberal and I really think that given the choice between feeding/housing Americans or murdering Arabs, I’ll take the former, but thats a subject for another day
Here’s what you fools who havent taken an Econ class dont understand: welfare guarantees me and you a job, how do you not see this? The percentage of my tax dollars that go to pay for old fogies to retire, for welfare queens sit in a crappy apartment, for people to get locked up, sit at bus stops or whatever is really not a high price to pay to eliminate those people from competing in the job market.
These kids at ghetto high schools who think they’re sticking it to the man by not taking school seriously are really doing exactly what the man, and the man’s kids NEED them to do. If they all made the effort to compete for jobs and education, more tax payers like you and me would have a hard time finding a job. Its like paying farmers not to farm, only it actually benefits me personally. I celebrate welfare and you should too, who really cares? If I’m going to gripe about something it’s paying for your grandmother to be on 75 perscriptions.
The report suggests that the state should take advantage of stimulus money to create new initiatives and improve insurance assistance for unemployed Virginians.
Why is improving insurance assistance a responsibility of “the state?” When you subsidize poverty and failure, you get more of both.
tammy: the system is not set up to keep people on welfare. The vast majority of adults on welfare choose to continue receiving it and count on nieve bleeding heart liberals to make sure the rest of us fund it. What keeps people on welfare is the culture of entitlement. Why work when they can get it free? And the more kids they have, the more they get. I appplaud lawmakers in Virginia for making it harder to qualiify and receive public assistance. But I think there is another reason many Virginians don’t take advantage of public assistance and I’m sure this will spark debate: it’s the old Southern “I don’t want a handout and will provide for my own” attitude. When I was laid off from my job I took on two part time jobs and did freelance to support myself. By government standards I was considered at the “poverty” level but as long as I was able-bodied I worked and would not have dreamed of taking a handout I didn’t deserve. And I think a lot of other Virgininas feel the same way. I applaud them as well.
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