An Update from RI Interfaith Coalition to Reduce Poverty
2016 Legislative Outcomes
At the Fighting Poverty with Faith vigil, we announced our legislative priorities for 2016. Many of you worked hard to educate others and advocate for these key policy proposals. There were some great wins for Rhode Islanders living in poverty this year — and plenty of places where more work is still left to be done. Here’s where we stand, at the end of this year’s legislative session…
Fully support struggling working families in Rhode Island.
| Expand the Earned Income Tax Credit and Raise the Minimum Wage EITC: | RI EITC increased from 12.5% to 15% of the federal EITC for tax year 2017. This increase will benefit more than 80,000 low- and moderate-income Rhode Islanders. Minimum Wage: Did not pass. RI’s minimum wage remains at $9.60/hour. |
| Allow Undocumented Immigrants to Obtain Driver’s Licenses | Did not pass. |
| End Short-Term Limits for Cash Assistance | Did not pass. |
| Reform Pay Day Lending | Did not pass. However, there is a possibility that new federal regulations will bring change. |
Let education, the most essential pathway out of poverty, start early and continue for a lifetime.
| Expand Child Care Assistance (CCAP) and Early Childhood Education | An exit income pilot program for CCAP was extended for an additional year (through September 2017). This allows families to continue to receive graduated levels of assistance with incomes up to 225% of the federal poverty level. However, a proposal to expand entry eligibility, which would have included families earning up to 200% of the federal poverty level (up from 180% currently) was not passed. A proposal for increased, tiered, quality-based reimbursement rates for care providers also did not pass. Overall funding for CCAP (state plus federal) will increase in 2017 because more children are participating. State funding for Head Start was maintained. The budget also includes $5.2 million in state funding for Pre-K, a $1.2 million increase from FY 2016. |
| Reduce Out-of-School Suspensions | Legislation now requires school districts to: evaluate the discipline data they already collect annually; identify disparities based on race, ethnicity or special education status; develop a plan to reduce any disparities; and restrict the use of out-of-school suspensions to situations when a child’s behavior poses a physical risk or serious disruption that cannot be dealt with by other means. | Expand Opportunities for Workforce Foundational Skills and Occupational | Training Funding for workforce foundational skills (literacy, English language services) remained constant; no new funds were added. |
Provide safe homes for all.
| Implement Opening Doors RI, the State’s Plan to End Homelessness, Including Support for an Affordable Housing Bond | A $50 million housing opportunity bond was passed and will go on the ballot in November. It includes $40 million for affordable housing. |
| Protect Families from Domestic Gun Violence | Did not pass. |
Protect the needs of low-income seniors and people with disabilities.
| Maintain the RIPTA Senior/Disabled Fare Program | The RIPTA Senior/Disabled no-fare bus pass was extended for an additional six months, through December, 2016, with $900,000 included in the budget to cover the cost. However, beginning January, 2017, the fare is scheduled to increase to $0.50/ride (and $0.25/transfer), reduced from a proposed $1.00/ride and ($0.50/transfer). |
| Provide Adequate Funding for Senior Centers | An additional $600,000 in funds for senior centers was not included in the final budget. |
Spiritual Homes for Refugee Families
Our friends at the Refugee Dream Center work with refugees from many countries around the world. We are interested in creating an informal interfaith resource guide listing congregations near to the Center (i.e. congregations in or around the downtown, south or west sides of Providence) with clergy or lay members that speak Spanish, Arabic, Swahili, Kirundi, Dara or Fula, who would welcome refugees to your worship, fellowship and faith activities and help translate and connect. Please e-mail Emily if your congregation is in this area and has any of these language capacities.
