On April 10 we are taking an unprecedented action to save the foundation of our state’s Safety Net programs. Our network is fighting to preserve the programs that keep Washington families, seniors, disabled adults, and our communities from falling into homelessness and hunger, and that help them access the healthcare they need to survive. By taking the pledge to call, email or visit your legislator on 4/10/13, you’ll be joining thousands of Washingtonians in sending a clear message to Olympia- Save Our Safety Net and fund the programs that keep Washington moving forward!

Click the image below to take the pledge and register, TODAY!

This year we are looking for talented people from all over the country to join our team. These internships are an incredible opportunity to join our movement and mobilize communities to influence decisions in our state capitol to eliminate root causes of poverty. For internship descriptions follow the links below to learn about our Vote for A Change Intern and the SPEAK Intern positions:

2013 Vote For A Change Internship Description

2013 SPEAK Internship Description

All Poverty Action interns are driven to complete a high quality body of work, develop a strong race and social justice analysis, and exhibit professionalism in the workplace. Drivers License preferred.

These positions are competitive and we typically field applications from all over the country for a limited number of positions. Resume and cover letters are due by 5:00pm on March 25.

Our 2013 Bill Tracker provides you the opportunity to interact with the legislature on bills ranging from civil rights and election reform to protecting our state’s safety net, all in one place. Click here to check out our tracker and see how your bills are progressing in the state house and senate.

This resource will be updated with action alerts, urgent call-in numbers and links to contact your legislators. Take a look, take action, take back democracy.

And resolute we must stay. Our newly elected Governor and our state legislators are once again facing a series of critical choices that will impact the lives of millions of Washingtonians. This year alone, legislators will decide:

• How to fulfill the requirements of the State Supreme Court’s McCleary school funding decision, while keeping our state’s commitment to a safety net of services for our seniors, low-incomes families, people with disabilities, and children;
• How to implement federal health care reform, the Affordable Care Act, to ensure that everyone in our state can access health insurance;
• Whether they will protect Washington consumers from predatory debt products that have cropped up in the wake of the Great Recession;
• And how to build a more robust and stable revenue system that can meet the demands of a 21st century economy.

At Poverty Action, our hopes for the coming year are not any different from the hopes of many families across the state; they are the hopes for a budget and policies that reflect our collective values. We hope for safe and thriving communities. In short, we hope for progress and the opportunity for our state and our families to prosper.

In order to achieve these hopes and aspirations, Poverty Action activists and advocates must take action. The purpose of our Legislative Agenda is to share what policies our 8,000 members across the state believe are essential to ensuring everyone in our state can reach economic security.

Learn more about our priorities by downloading the report. Use it as a tool for conversation with your families, legislators and friends. When we talk our values, leaders talk solutions.

Our fight is not over. Throughout the next 4 months Poverty Action has a comprehensive campaign plan to protect our state’s safety net programs and press for progressive revenue options. Check back often to take action on important legislation throughout this session and to learn about our legislative agenda.

Again, thank you for fighting for every Washingtonian’s right to have their basic needs met and the opportunity to prosper!

• Washington consumers have saved millions of dollars in fees. In the first year the law was in effect the total number of loans went from 3 million in 2009 down to 1 million in 2010, saving consumers $122 million in fees. According to the 2011 report, those numbers dropped even further, with the loan volume down another 200,000 to 855,000 and consumers saving another $14.6 million in fees in 2011 alone.

• The number of payday lending locations decreased.  30% of locations closed in 2010, and the decreased another 40% 2011. Overall, the number of payday lending locations has decreased 65% since its height in 2006.

• People are taking out fewer payday loans. Prior to the law, the number of payday loans made in our state had been rising consistently for the past ten years and now the numbers are lower than they were in 2000.

At a time when poverty is rising and people need every penny to survive, these protections are allowing more people to save money and meet their basic needs, instead of paying high interest rates to payday lenders. This 2011 report again confirms that the law is working as intended. Fewer borrowers have been caught in the debt trap because they now have a way out of the payday lending cycle.

Jenny Storms, a Poverty Action member from Walla Walla said, “The payday lenders make it so easy and almost coax you into taking out loan after loan. I’m glad the protections are in place and you are not allowed to have so many anymore. This way you have a fair shot of not being in debt.”

We are excited to share our accomplishments so far in 2012, as well as update you about our plans for the remainder of the year. As always, we have been busy fighting for our network and this report represents our commitment to you, our members and allies as partners in the fight to end poverty. Our members are our strongest asset and in this report you will find stories from the network about their experience with Poverty Action and how our work is directly accountable to our membership.

Please take a look at our newly expanded report and learn about the successes of our nearly 8,000 member network in Washington state.

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This candidate has not responded to our questionnaire.

This candidate has not responded to our questionnaire.