For too long, the ultra-wealthy have pushed the narrative that poverty is a personal failure. Myths like the “welfare queen” narrative create hostility and misunderstanding towards people living on low incomes.
This narrative results in benefits programs based in skepticism and mistrust. The constant need to validate and re-validate eligibility for benefits is time consuming, full of red tape and designed to prevent people from accessing the benefits they need.
When asked about the process of accessing benefits, a listening session participant in Yakima said “No vale la pena (it’s not worth it)” – the time and effort necessary to receive benefits ends up costing more than you even receive.
One example of this policy is the new federal mandate to revalidate eligibility after eliminating work requirement exemptions like age and veteran status. This will force millions of people to go through complicated paperwork to prove their need for benefits. In turn, the administrative cost of checking and re-checking complicated eligibility conditions adds up to hundreds of millions of dollars per year. Mistrust is expensive and ineffective.
We know that positive outcomes require positive investments, and that when people have their basic needs met they are able to create a stable foundation.
our priorities
Minimize skepticism and burdensome requirements in programs, which is more expensive and less effective than programs rooted in dignity and trust.
Support benefits programs available to anyone who needs them for as long as they need them. This includes updating existing policies such as eliminating TANF time limits.
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