Please read these questions and let us know what your organization and others in the Granite State are doing to move legislation and policy in a direction that helps those in need.
Virtually all states have budget deficits and extensive financial problems this year and beyond. The states are also the custodians and administrators of multi billions of dollars of federal assistance programs. State policies related to hunger and poverty contain a great deal of state money that is in short supply right now but much more federal money that can grow as the use of the programs grows.
These state policy questions are meant to begin a conversation about how states can deliver more services to their citizens who are facing extreme long term unemployment, hunger, home foreclosures and loss of health insurance and pensions.
Please read them and let us know what your organization and others in your state are doing to move legislation and policy in a direction that helps those in need, especially the poorest of the poor, the millions of new poor, seniors, returning vets, children and the homeless.
Our intention is to create a place on our website that will highlight policy actions that state based organizations are taking and how they are proceeding. We also hope to host a WhyHunger State Policy Award for the best state policies in the U.S.A.
1) There is no state EITC program. Is there any movement in the legislature or among organizations to have one?
2) New Hampshire does not have a Shared Work Program. Why not? Is there any effort to bring one to the state?
3) New Hampshire has the 6th highest percentage of its African American population living in poverty. What programs are in place to target poverty in this sector?
4) The percent of students who participate in both the School Breakfast Program and School Lunch Program is below the national average and among the lowest in the country. Participation in the School Breakfast Program is 1/5 the participation of the School Lunch Program. Is there currently a plan to increase participation in both programs?
5) The WIC Farmers’ Market and Senior Farmer’s Market seasonal benefits are below national averages. Is there any work being done to meet national levels for seasonal benefits?
6) There is currently no state pre-k program. Why is this? Is there any movement to introduce one?
7) New Hampshire has the lowest rate of taxpayers receiving a federal EITC in the country. Is there any effort being made to increase the number of people who receive an EITC?
8) At 41.1%, the percent of mortgage holders spending 30% or more of income on monthly owner costs is among the highest in the country. Is anything being done to provide more assistance or more affordable housing?
9) The percent of New Hampshire’s state budget spent on corrections is 6.8%. This is above the national average of 6.6% and among the higher rates in the nation. Is there any movement to reform the corrections system in Nevada? Perhaps by introducing alternative sentencing for non-violent offenders and programs to reduce recidivism,
10) What other statewide policies or programs are you aware of that are helping to fight hunger and poverty, or are there any that are responsible for increasing it?
Please let us know what your organization and others in your state are doing to move legislation and policy in a direction to address these questions by contacting Executive Director and Co-Founder Bill Ayres at [email protected].
Feel free to inform us of any mistakes we may have made in any of these questions. Also we would appreciate any comments on policies or statistics that might have been overlooked.
