POLICIES
MANNA,
Inc. is currently concerned with the following issues:
Local:
Living
Wage Campaign
MANNA and Alternative Connections believe that a low
wage job cannot adequately feed a family. Many grass-roots groups and
labor organizations are active in the Living Wage campaign, organized
by the Tennessee Industrial Renewal Network (TIRN). The Living Wage
Ordinance is a small way for Nashvillians to make sure that people who
work full time earn enough to live decently. The coalition wants the
ordinance to be passed first in the Metropolitan government of Nashville,
then in other sectors of the economy. The ordinance assures that all
workers paid with Metro government money earn a living wage. Members
of the coalition will meet with Metro council members in April and May
to show their support for the ordinance.
State:
Child
Support
Families throughout Tennessee are not receiving their child support
payments in an orderly and routine fashion. Without reliable child support
payments, these families face even greater obstacles to maintaining
their basic needs. Tennessee's Department of Human Services (DHS) contracts
with Maximus, a for-profit agency, to collect payments. Then DHS disburses
the payments to the custodial parent. Alternative Connections, in coalition
with Tennessee State Welfare Allies, sees several things which keep
this process from working smoothly. They are working to eliminate
these barriers:
1. It
is often unknown whether Maximus has collected the payment, because
some custodial parents do not receive money on time from DHS.
2. Absentee/Non-custodial
parents do not show up for court. They receive Contempt of Court Warrants,
but there is no follow-through.
3. Procedures
for enforcement when custodial and absentee parents are in separate
counties are unclear.
4. When
a new court date is set, the custodial parent is not notified.
5. Accountability
seems vague. DHS is supposed to monitor Maximus, but no one is certain
that this occurs. Parents do not know where to voice their grievances,
or where to appeal.
Members
of Alternative Connections, with State Welfare Allies, met with the
new Assistant Commissioner in March, 2001 to discuss these concerns.
They say he was receptive. The group feels hopeful about continued communication
with him, and changes that will result from their meeting.
Eligibility
for Benefits. (SB264/HB782)*
People who have been convicted of felony charges for possession, use
or sale of illegal drugs are currently barred for life from receiving
either Families First or food stamps. There is a possibility for legislation
that would restore Families First and Food Stamp benefits to people
who have been convicted of felony drug charges. MANNA is interested
in this effort. The bill would also promote treatment by allowing a
felon convicted of drug charges to remain eligible for these benefits,
if the individual has completed, is participating in, or is seeking
to participate in drug treatment. It is supported also by Renewal House,
and is sponsored by Senators Henry and Arriola.
Families First Extension of Eligibility.(SB511/HB1294)*
This bill allows Families First recipients to receive benefits beyond
the life time limits if attending school full time or unable to find
work beyond their control. DHS staff is trying to determine if the bill's
changes can and should be made administratively. Senators Henry and
Arriola are the sponsors for this bill.
First
Wheels
The First Wheels Program allows Families First recipients to have much-needed
access to reliable transportation through interest-free car loans. Alternative
Connections will monitor the program and advocate for changes, including
on-going funding, as needed.
Immigration
MANNA, Inc. is working with the Tennessee Justice Center (TJC)
to make sure that the growing population of immigrants in Nashville,
and throughout the state, is aware of their opportunities to access
public benefits. In 2000, our agencies worked to enforce Title VI regulations.
We verified that the number of Spanish-only speaking households was
large enough to warrant translation of application materials into Spanish.
The Department of Human Services is working on this. MANNA and TJC are
also trying to spread the word about Federal regulations that allow
immigrant parents to apply for their U.S. citizen children, without
having to reveal their immigration status.
Tax
Reform*
Currently, Tennessee's poorest citizens feel the greatest impact of
a tax system, which provides inadequate revenue to the state budget.
With the major source of the state's revenue coming from sales taxes,
families with low incomes pay up to three-fourths of their money on
taxable items, including food. With technical and staff support from
the Tennessee Partnership on Organizing and Public Policy (TPOPP, a
Ford Foundation Devolution project), MANNA and Alternative Connections
are working with Tennesseans for Fair Taxation (TFT) on tax reform
measures. Alternative Connections focuses on communicating the needs
for reform to members of low-income communities. There are bills in
the legislature now, which focus on tax reform See www.yourtax.org/tft
for more information.
*To review
the full text, committee status, and other important information, visit
the state legislature's website, at www.legislature.state.tn.us,
Click bills, click filed bills index, click on bill number.
Federal:
Bread
for the World/Hunger to Harvest
MANNA,
Inc. has worked to raise Nashville's awareness of world hunger for years.
Bread for the World works on consciousness of hunger at the national
level. "Hunger to Harvest" is Bread's campaign for U.S. commitment to
reduce hunger in Africa. It includes an increase of $1 billion in poverty-focussed
assistance, including debt-relief. This measure will support efforts
by people who are poor in Africa to improve their lives. Many African
people still suffer from hunger and poverty. Our U.S. budget surpluses
mean we can do more to help long-term development. When U.S. aid is
targeted to improve health care, education, agriculture and small-scale
business in Africa, it can make a big difference in people's lives.
Please click on www.Bread.org for
more information.
Nutrition
Assistance for Working Families and Seniors Act (S.583)
This
bill responds to the needs of elderly and working families who are hungry.
Participation in the Food Stamp Program has declined 34% over the past
four years, four times more than poverty. This has left over 2 million
more people in poverty AND without food stamps today, than in 1995.
Many of those who would benefit the most under this bill are immigrants,
children and seniors. Senators Kennedy and Spector sponsor this bill.
For more information, contact www.frac.org.
Tax
Cuts and a Refundable Child Tax Credit
President Bush's tax cut proposal has undergone significant criticism
for its size and its distribution of resources. MANNA, Inc. is concerned
about the welfare of our nation's neediest citizens. A tax cut like
the one the president wants places in question the allotment of benefits
to America's working poor families, as well as other poor segments of
our society. For further information, you can contact www.fairtaxesforall.org.
A refundable
child credit of $1,000 per child would build on the president's proposal,
but ensure that low-income children are not left behind. If enacted,
this initiative would effectively achieve greater equity in any tax
cut and reduce child and family poverty. To read more about this issue,
click on www.childrensdefense.org.
Contact
MANNA, manna211@comcast.net
:
Tell us what you are doing about these issues, or…
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