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Jul 24, 2018

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This Price is Right: Closing the Racial and Economic Divide

by | Jul 24, 2018

Community Insight, Development and Promotion

CCLP is honored to welcome Anne E. Price of the Insight Center for Community Economic Development in Oakland, Calif. as our keynote speaker at our Sept. 28 Pathways from Poverty Breakfast. 

Regarded as a leading expert engaged in examining the intersection of race, gender, and wealth, Anne E. Price has long viewed the world around her with a racial and social justice lens and now applies that perspective in her work as President of the Insight Center for Community and Economic Development in Oakland, Calif. Insight is a national research and economic justice organization that exposes hidden truths in an effort to unearth and address the root causes of economic exclusion and racial inequity.

Based in a state known for innovation and progressive thinking, this small-but-mighty nonprofit’s ambitious projects include strengthening local workforce funding and implementing new policies and practices to better respond to the needs of people with arrests and convictions. The Insight Center is also conducting original research and collecting data outlining the current economic reality of millennial women, thereby exploring the primary drivers of millennial women’s wealth inequities, and offering promising strategies and best practices for philanthropic investments to address these issues.

Today, Anne advances that holistic perspective in her organization. “I was thrilled we were able to work with an outstanding Bay Area coalition that advocated and succeeded in getting the city and county of San Francisco to eliminate $15 million in criminal justice fees for incarceration, probation, and other assessments. That effort brought attention to the intersection of unemployment and wealth stripping.” She is also working to find immediate solutions for individuals who have been pushed out of the labor market. “We work with both the practical, immediate, and the over-the-horizon policies on wealth building and income-supporting strategies like monthly grants to help meet basic needs and government-funded programs that help increase employment by providing more federal jobs. We address what these programs would actually look like and mean for the most marginalized.” In her view, the policy world of economic security needs to be bolder, challenging and reimagining the way state and federal institutions are organized.

Some of the most exciting parts of her work include framing experimental solutions. “California (her current home) has the 5th largest economy in the world. We have to stop talking about silver bullets and policy solutions and dream a little bigger than we have been for the past 30 or 40 years.” One of the ideas that has been circulating in some wealth-building discussions is a young adult trust fund that can be accessed when children reach a certain age. “This issue particularly interests me because it addresses both race and class. Communities of color generally have very little to pass on and the ability to pass on wealth from one generation to the next is the best measure of economic security. The proposal for a young adult trust or ‘baby bonds’ is a fiscally viable approach that can help us seed the next generation.”

Insight believes a seismic shift in thinking is needed if we are to adequately address poverty and wealth inequities. “It’s becoming increasingly clear that promoting financial protections and addressing wealth extraction and new forms of indebtedness must be part of the equation,” Price states.

Prior to leading Insight, Anne spent several years at Seattle’s Human Services Department, where she served as the Community Development Block Grant Administrator and Strategic Advisor to the Director. In her role she was responsible for the overall grant administration and day-to-day operations of the City of Seattle’s $16 million grant from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and a further $19 million in federal loans.

Her dedication to supporting social change has taken her throughout the country, and has required that she improve systems, practices and policies for struggling families and neglected communities of color. “Social and racial economic justice has always been a part of my life,” says Anne. “It was simply what I was exposed to from early childhood.”  Anne grew up in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, a city not only known for its breweries, lake views and ethnic festivals, but also for being one of the nation’s most segregated cities. This reality profoundly shaped her future. “Back then, Milwaukee was racially and ethnically divided and racial barriers still persist. Wisconsin currently has the highest incarceration rate of black men in the country,” says Anne.

As she navigated this complex social space, Anne had an inside look at specific issues of education, housing and social justice. Starting at the age of eight, she would tag along with her parents to work. Her mother was an elementary school teacher and her father, was an attorney representing public housing tenants that lived across the street from her mother’s school. Price would listen as her mother’s coworkers talked about an unjust education system and how they could help their students excel against these odds.

Sometimes, her mother would ask her to help look over papers. She quickly became aware of stark differences between the central city school where her mother taught and her own suburban, predominantly white school.

“My mom taught in buildings with gated windows and no natural light coming in,” she said. “At one point, she went through a union strike. I was always aware of how passionate my mother was about education.”

The connection between education and housing was cemented in Anne’s perception of the world from a very young age. “I got to see the landscape of what it meant to be Black,” she says. “I was often the only black person in my class. I developed a keen interest in how people’s lives were shaped and how race and class was a large part of that.”

Being raised in a family of change-makers inspired Anne to pursue a career in social justice. With an economics degree in hand, Anne moved to New York to earn a graduate degree in public policy. “I started my career at a time of unprecedented social and economic issues. The late 1980’s was the beginning of the crack epidemic and the AIDS crisis. There was so much that communities were dealing with: the resurgence of hunger, an exploding foster care system, deinstitutionalization and disinvestment in black and brown neighborhoods.”

Anne had to grapple with the sheer magnitude of these problems, and through experience, learned even more about how they were inextricably connected. “All of these issues illustrate how social justice efforts are related. It is very easy to artificially silo issues of economic security.”

In a line of work that demands constant change and flexibility, Anne has learned that well-being and justice are fundamental to her core being. “My grandmother always taught me to keep my eyes on the prize, and when I’m working, I constantly think about that. I ask myself, ‘What am I working towards right now?’ and try to minimize distractions that take me away from what is important.”

Moving forward, Anne stresses that creating change in the world of racial inequity demands a constant application of both a racial and a wealth lens. “Examining the intersection of race, gender and age is essential in this work” says Price. “We must also understand how historical policies continue to manifest. Focusing on the impact of these policies and how they shape the current lives of all Americans is vital,” she stresses. “We must recognize that this cycle of oppression continues to hold back these communities of color from accumulating and holding on to wealth.”

Anne also insists that we must counter longstanding poverty narratives. “The dominant narrative around laziness, bad parenting and poor personal choices impacts all communities” she says. Centralizing language around poverty and shifting it away from deservedness leads people to a different place in their thinking about policy decisions and greater inclusion.

On a personal level, Anne believes in the importance of inspiring others in the same line of advocacy and research. “My legacy is really important to me. I want to know that what I’m doing right now means something. When I lift up and support people around me it gives my life meaning.” Whether this plays out in helping her coworkers or facilitating support systems for professionals to carry out groundbreaking work, Anne is committed to building lasting networks within the nonprofit world.

“Talking about race was so taboo early in my career, but even now it’s a challenge sometimes. However, I’ve realized that I don’t have to buy into the status quo to make people feel comfortable,” says Anne. “People still assume that if we get to class we will get to race, but that’s a flawed approach. Working with an awareness of racial equity forces you to look at things more structurally, flipping the focus on individualism and effort-based responsibilities on its head.”

The Pathways from Poverty Breakfast will be held September 28. Space is limited and spots are filling up quickly. Please click here to RVSP and get your tickets while they last.

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HEALTH:
HEALTH FIRST COLORADO (MEDICAID)

Health First Colorado is the name given to Colorado’s Medicaid program. Medicaid provides public, low-cost health insurance to qualifying adults and children. It is an entitlement program funded by the federal, state, and county governments and is administered by counties in Colorado. Those who are required to pay must pay a small co-pay when receiving certain health care services.

State Department: Department of Health Care Policy and Financing

Eligibility: Most adults 18 to 64 are eligible for Medicaid in Colorado if their household income is at or below 133% of the federal poverty limit (FPL). Pregnant women are eligible with incomes of up to 195% FPL, while children under 18 may be eligible if the live in a household with income at or below 142% FPL. Some adults over 65 may also be eligible for Medicaid.

Program Benefits: Through Medicaid, low-income Coloradans are eligible for a range of health care services at little to not cost. Services provided include doctors visits, prescription drugs, mental health services, and dental care. Co-pays for certain individuals may be needed for certain services.

Program Funding and Access: Colorado funds our Medicaid program through state and federal dollars. Medicaid is an entitlement program, which means that all who are eligible for Medicaid can access the program, regardless of the funding level in a given year. This does not mean that it is always easy to access Medicaid, even when eligible. And since the program is administered by counties, funding levels for county staff and other administrative roles can make it easier or harder for Coloradans to access the program. On top of this, not all medical providers accept Medicaid which limits the ability of Coloradans to seek health services even if enrolled, such as if the nearest provider is a 2+ hour drive away.

Note: This data is from before the pandemic and does not reflect changes in enrollment rules during the COVID-19 pandemic and public health emergency.

Statewide Program Access 2015-19: Over the study period of this report, an average of 89.0% of the population at or below 133% of FPL (i.e., the population who is likely to be eligible for Medicaid) were enrolled in Medicaid in Colorado.

FOOD SECURITY:
SUPPLEMENTAL NUTRITION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM (SNAP)

The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program or SNAP helps low-income Coloradans purchase food by providing individuals and families with a monthly cash benefit that can be used to buy certain foods. SNAP is an entitlement program that is funded by the federal and state governments and administered by counties in Colorado.

State Department: Department of Human Services

Eligibility: Currently, Coloradans qualify for SNAP if they have incomes below 200% FPL, are unemployed or work part-time or receive other forms of assistance such as TANF, among other eligibility criteria. Income eligibility for SNAP was different during the study period of this report than today—it was 130% FPL back in 2019 for example. The US Department of Agriculture uses the population at or below 125% FPL when calculating the Program Access Index (or PAI) for SNAP. We follow this practice in our analysis despite Colorado currently having a higher income eligibility threshold.

Program Benefits: SNAP participants receive a monthly SNAP benefit that is determined by the number of people in their household and their income. Benefit amounts decrease as income increases, helping households avoid a sudden loss of SNAP when their incomes increase, even by a minor amount. Benefits are provided to an Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) card that can be used to purchase eligible food items, such as fruits and vegetables; meat, poultry, and fish; dairy products; and breads and cereals. Other items, such as foods that are hot at their point of sale, are not allowable purchases under current SNAP rules.

Program Funding and Access: SNAP, like Medicaid, is a federal entitlement program. This means that Colorado must serve any Coloradan who is eligible for the program. As such, funding should not be a limit to how many Coloradans can be served by the program. However, funding for administration of SNAP at the state and county level can limit the ability of county human service departments to enroll those who are eligible. Other program rules and administrative barriers can make it difficult for Coloradans to receive the benefits they are legally entitled to receive.

Statewide Program Access 2015-19: Over the study period of this report, an average of 61.1% of the population at or below 125% of FPL (i.e., the population who is likely to be eligible for SNAP) were enrolled.

FOOD SECURITY:
SPECIAL SUPPLEMENTAL NUTRITION PROGRAM FOR WOMEN, INFANTS AND CHILDREN (WIC)

The Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children, also know as WIC, provides healthcare and nutritional support to low-income Coloradans who are pregnant, recently pregnant, breastfeeding, and to children under 5 who are nutritionally at risk based on a nutrition assessment.

State Department: Department of Public Health and Environment

Eligibility: To participate in WIC you must be pregnant, pregnant in the last six months, breastfeeding a baby under 1 year of age, or a child under the age of 5. Coloradans do not need to be U.S. citizens to be eligible for WIC. In terms of income, households cannot have incomes that exceed 185% FPL. Families who are enrolled in SNAP, TANF, Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations (FDPIR), or Medicaid are automatically eligible for WIC. Regardless of gender, any parents, foster parents, or caregivers are able to apply for and use WIC services for eligible children.

Program Benefits: WIC provides a range of services to young children and their parents. These include funds to purchase healthy, fresh foods; breastfeeding support; personalized nutrition education and shopping tips; and referrals to health care and other services participants may be eligible for.

Program Funding and Access: WIC is funded by the US Department of Agriculture. The state uses these federal funds to contract with local providers, known as WIC Clinics. In most cases, these are county public health agencies, but that is not the case in all Colorado counties. Some WIC Clinics cover multiple counties, while others are served by multiple clinics. Private non-profit providers are also eligible to be selected as a WIC Clinic.

Statewide Program Access 2015-17: Between 2015 and 2017, an average of 52.2% of the population eligible for WIC were enrolled in the program in Colorado.

Financial Security:
Colorado Works

Colorado Works is the name given to Colorado’s program for Temporary Assistance to Needy Families or TANF. It is an employment program that supports families with dependent children on their path to self-sufficiency. Participants can receive cash assistance, schooling, workforce development and skills training depending on the services available in their county.

State Department: Department of Human Services

Eligibility: In general, Coloradans are eligible to enroll in TANF if they are a resident of Colorado, have one or more children under the age of 18 or pregnant, and have very low or no income. For example, to be eligible to receive a basic cash assistance grant through TANF, a single-parent of one child could not earn more than $331 per month, with some exclusions—and would only receive $440 per month (as of 2022). That said, there are other services provided by counties through TANF that those with incomes as high as $75,000 may be eligible for. In addition to these, participants in TANF are required to work or be pursuing an eligible “work activity” or work-related activity. Any eligible individual can only receive assistance if they have not previously been enrolled in TANF for a cumulative amount of time of more than 60 months—this is a lifetime limit that does not reset. Counties may have additional requirements and offer benefits that are not available in other counties in Colorado.

Program Benefits:  While the exact benefits that one is eligible for under TANF can vary, all qualified participants are eligible to receive a monthly cash payment, call basic cash assistance. Other than cash assistance, counties are have a lot of choice in how to use their TANF funding; generally a use of TANF funds is appropriate so long as it advances one or more of the four purposes of the program: (1) provide assistance to needy families so that children can be cared for in their own homes or in the homes of their relatives; (2) end the dependence of needy families on government benefits by promoting job preparation, work, and marriage; (3) prevent and reduce the incidence of out-of-wedlock pregnancies; and (4) encourage the formation and maintenance of two-parent families.

It is important to note that those eligible for TANF are also eligible for many of the other programs we’ve included in this report, such as SNAP, Medicaid, and CCCAP.

Program Funding and Access: Colorado funds its TANF program through funds received from the federal government through the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families block grant. Most of the federal funds are allocated by the state to counties, which are required to provide a 20% match of state funding. Federal and state rules allow the state and counties to retain a portion of unspent funds in a TANF reserve.

Statewide Program Access 2015-19: Over the study period of this report, an average of 50.7% of the population at or below 100% of FPL (i.e., the population who is likely to be eligible for TANF) were enrolled in TANF in Colorado.

EARLY LEARNING:
COLORADO CHILD CARE ASSISTANCE PROGRAM (CCCAP)

The Colorado Child Care Assistance Program provides child care assistance to low-income families and caregivers living in Colorado in the form of reduced payments for child care. It is a program funded by the federal, state, and county governments and is administered by counties in Colorado. The share owed by parents/caregivers is determined on a sliding scale based on the family’s income.

State Department: Department of Early Childhood Education

Eligibility: Counties set eligibility for families separately, but must serve families with incomes at or below 185% of the Federal Poverty Limit. Families accepted to the program are no longer eligible once their income exceeds 85% of the state median income. Parents or caregivers must be employed, searching for work, or engaged in another approved activity to be eligible for CCCAP. Parents and caregivers enrolled in Colorado Works (Temporary Assistance to Needy Families or TANF) or in the child welfare system are also eligible to participate in CCCAP. Generally, CCCAP serves families with children under 13, although children as old as 19 may be eligible under certain circumstances.

Program Benefits: If a family is eligible for CCCAP and has income, they may likely have to pay a portion of their child’s or children’s child care costs each month. The amount that families owe is based on their gross income, number of household members, and the number of children in child care in the household. As such, households tend not to experience a benefit cliff with CCCAP when they see their incomes increase

Program Funding and Access: Colorado funds the CCCAP program using federal dollars it receives from the Child Care and Development Block Grant program. The state allocates federal and state funds to counties using a formula that takes into account factors like current caseloads and the number of eligible residents. Assistance is available until the county’s funds are spent, so the number of families that can be served is often a function of how much funding is available and the income and composition of the household that applies. It is not uncommon for counties to overspend or underspend their allocations of funds. The state reallocates unspent funds from counties who underspent to those who overspent. While underspending could indicate a problem with the way a county administers its CCCAP program, it could just as likely be a sign that there are few providers in the county who participate in CCCAP—or a lack of providers generally.

Statewide Program Access 2015-19: Over the study period of this report, an average of 10.8% of the population at or below 165% of FPL and younger than age 13 (i.e., the population who is likely to be eligible for CCCAP) were enrolled in CCCAP.

Housing:
HUD rental assistance programs

The US Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) has three housing assistance programs that we look at together: Housing Choice Vouchers (Section 8), Project-based Section 8, and Public Housing. In Colorado, these programs provided assistance to over 90% of the households who received federal housing assistance from all HUD programs. Through federally funded, local or regional public housing agencies (PHAs) are the agencies that administer these programs, through not all are available in all counties. These are not the only programs available in Colorado that assist households afford the cost of housing, such as units funded through federal and state tax credit programs.

State Department: Department of Local Affairs

Eligibility: Generally, households with incomes under 50% of the area median income (AMI) of the county they live in are eligible for these rental assistance programs, although PHAs have discretion to select households with incomes at higher percentages of AMI. That said, HUD requires that 75% of new vouchers issued through the Housing Choice Voucher/Section 8 program in a given year are targeted to households with incomes at or below 30% of AMI. PHAs are also able to create criteria that give priority to certain types of households who are on waiting lists for these programs.

Program Benefits: These rental assistance programs help households afford the cost of housing by reducing their housing costs to around 30% of their household income. In the case of the Housing Choice Voucher program, the PHA pays the voucher holder’s landlord the remaining portion of the rent.

Program Funding and Access: Funding and access are both challenges for these rental assistance programs. In addition to limitations on the number of public housing units or housing vouchers a PHA can manage or issue, lack of funding compared to the need constrains the ability of PHAs to assist low-income households. In 2020, Coloradans were on waitlists for Housing Choice Vouchers for an average of 17 months. Waitlists also exist for the other rental assistance programs.

Statewide Program Access 2015-19: Over the study period of this report, an average of 21.1% of renter households with incomes at or below 50% AMI (i.e., the population who is likely to be eligible for HUD rental assistance programs) were living in subsidized housing.