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Jun 3, 2020

by

Tiffani previously served as Executive Director of CCLP. She previously served as president and CEO of Ray of Hope Cancer Foundation since 2017, and was the chief strategy officer of Ability Connection Colorado. Lennon also held leadership positions at the University of Denver from 2007-2014 including chair and faculty in the Law and Society and Community-Based Research programs.

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STATEMENT: The Role of the ‘White Moderate’

by | Jun 3, 2020

CCLP Statement, Equity work

I wanted to reach out during this time of great unrest and change with an update on what is happening, and how that is reflected in the changing work of Colorado Center on Law and Policy.

Historic disparities and systemic racism have long plagued Colorado and our country. Combine that with these continued dehumanizing actions against black people (and all communities of color), the magnitude of the protests should not be surprising. In fact, some CCLP staff experienced firsthand the uprising here in Denver. Although they were not hurt, we understand that many people were and our hearts go out to them and their families. Our state legislature decided not to meet last Friday or over the weekend – delaying an urgently needed response to the COVID-19 crisis. Denver City and County imposed a curfew, and police deterred curfew violators with rubber bullets and tear gas.

Amid this unrest, the polarization in Colorado and throughout the U.S. is an unsettling force. Many have asked: “where have the moderate voices gone?” With a 2020 view, I fear Dr. King’s warning in 1963 about the white moderate is deeply applicable to the current state of affairs and shows us how racial inequity continues to be perpetuated over the many decades since. Dr. King’s words are worth citing again here:

“First, I must confess that over the past few years I have been gravely disappointed with the white moderate. I have almost reached the regrettable conclusion that the Negro’s great stumbling block in his stride toward freedom is not the White Citizen’s Counciler or the Ku Klux Klanner, but the white moderate, who is more devoted to ‘order’ than to justice; who prefers a negative peace which is the absence of tension to a positive peace which is the presence of justice; who constantly says: ‘I agree with you in the goal you seek, but I cannot agree with your methods of direct action’; who paternalistically believes he can set the timetable for another man’s freedom; who lives by a mythical concept of time and who constantly advises the Negro to wait for a ‘more convenient season.’ Shallow understanding from people of good will is more frustrating than absolute misunderstanding from people of ill will. Lukewarm acceptance is much more bewildering than outright rejection.”

In recent days, some nonprofit groups have suggested that this white moderate voice is strongly present in the charitable and philanthropic communities. Having been part of the nonprofit community for more than 20 years in various parts of the U.S. and the world, I regret to say that I can attest to the same set of observations as described in the links above. Many of us recognized that historical racial and ethnic discrimination existed and believed that if we advocated for the rise of all groups then people of color would invariably rise, too.

While the notion that all boats will rise when the tide comes may have seemed logical from a white-privileged perspective, it did not and will not work because the same repressive systems and structural disparities continue to exist and therefore the economic gap for communities of color continues to grow. This is not to diminish the fact that, in Colorado in recent years, we have seen strong leadership and investment in racial equity from our philanthropic community. However, we cannot pat ourselves on the back, or find any satisfaction in moving in the right direction when we still know that well over half a million Colorado families are struggling even to meet their basic daily needs, and when we still bear the shared anguish of watching people of color being murdered on the streets of our cities.

CCLP’s policy and economic research has long shed light on the massive social disparities in our economy to show that communities of color and those residing in rural areas have been left behind in our supposedly thriving economy. As we recently redefined our own future, CCLP embraced updated vision, mission and values statements in an effort to better reflect our values and the values of the communities we serve.

Like many of our partner organizations, CCLP is committed to addressing and resolving these serious and systemic problems. We have a great deal of work to do together and it is crucial for us to understand at times our approach may be flawed. To make sure that we are indeed reflecting the need and the desire of the communities we serve, CCLP is working under a new commitment to be fully engaged and responsive by systematically including people with livened experience in our decision making and policy making throughout the process.

Realizing CCLP’s vision where every Coloradans has what they need to succeed requires acknowledgment that systemic, race-based barriers exist in all aspects of our culture and governance. CCLP has laid out a set of assumptions to remind us that race equity is fundamental to realizing our mission and vision. Those assumptions include:

  • Poverty is systemic, meaning it is maintained and exacerbated by large social and economic forces like racism.
  • The denial of choice, resources, and opportunity harms health and puts success out of reach for too many Coloradans.
  • Popular narratives based on stereotypes and maintained by privilege undermine systemic fixes to poverty by placing blame on individuals and obscuring the systemic root causes of poverty.
  • Narrative-shift and systems-change require inclusive collaboration, work at multiple levels within the system, and use of a variety of tools to affect change.
  • Colorado will be its strongest when everyone has the opportunity to be successful.
  • We can eliminate poverty, but only by establishing factual, non-partisan popular narratives about poverty’s causes and by creating systems that ensure choice, access to resources, and opportunity for all.
  • Effective efforts to eliminate poverty must be non-partisan; based on data, evidence, and the stories of those experiencing poverty and its effects first-hand rather than on ideology or the agenda of a political affiliation,

Our [CCLP’s] efforts to build an equitable Colorado must start with advancing equity in our own organization. This means actively breaking down larger systemic barriers to employment and creating an inclusive environment for diverse staff, working to understand the causes and consequences of inequity in our society, and striving to include diverse voices in the development of our policy agenda.

We cannot fully embrace the teachings of Dr. King without acknowledging that the white moderate voice is still very present in our community and in our work, and that we have seen it speaking loud and clear from many mouths in recent days. He warned us about white moderates because of the immense power that this group holds, – and the tendency of the white moderate to be quiet and sometimes silent, cautious not to inflame, and to often see themselves as promoters of equality. We must ask ourselves now, how can we take the good work that has been done, but learn to speak out more strongly and also make room for voices that are not of the white moderate in decision making, so that communities of color can design their own future, with the allies and support they need.

We must be willing to take Dr. King’s advice again and break down the dams that block our shared progress:

“I had hoped that the white moderate would understand that law and order exist for the purpose of establishing justice and that when they fail in this purpose they become the dangerously structured dams that block the flow of social progress.”

We all have a role to play, let’s make sure we know the best one for these times. The work that CCLP has done so far is only a start, and we (and by we, we mean all Coloradans) need to think bigger and bolder moving forward in the fight against poverty and for racial equity. Throughout, we must ensure that the voices we hear are of those who are most directly affected, not those of the white moderate who would say “not now, maybe later when it is more convenient for me.” We encourage you to join us and our partners in this fight for a new vision of our state and our society, and a new way of approaching centuries-long issues. It may require us, and you, to experience many tense and uncomfortable moments and bear great disruptions to our daily lives – but meaningful change requires pushing our boundaries.

Discomfort, I believe, is not too much to ask in the face of the agony we see being visited on the lives of so many around the country and right here at home.

Sincerely,
Tiffani Lennon, J.D., LL.M.
Executive Director,
Colorado Center on Law and Policy

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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.