Expanding Supports for Working Families
Summary
Low- and moderate-income working families are increasingly under severe financial strain that undermines family stability. The cost of childcare, housing, transportation, health care and diminished purchasing power all place an undo burden on working families.
Conference Position
The Catholic Conference supports increased funding of supportive services to enable families to participate in the work force and live above the poverty level.
Rationale
Many low-income working families use a significant portion of their income to pay for child care. Quality child care programs often are not available during non-traditional hours (e.g., other than nine to five), or convenient to public transportation centers. In order to increase access to quality child care, the Catholic Conference supports expanding child care subsidies. Additionally, the State should utilize tax credits and similar incentives to encourage the development of on-site child care by businesses and not-for-profit employers.
The lack of available transportation in many parts of the state adds significantly to the financial pressures placed on working families. As jobs move from cities to suburbs, individuals who lack reliable transportation to and from the suburbs may be consigned to lower-wage, inner-city employment. Individuals in rural areas face unique transportation needs, which require special consideration by the State.
There is a significant need for affordable housing, both through rental and home ownership, which is convenient to employment sites. Funding of federal housing programs, including Section 8 for low-income families, has not kept pace with demand, generating ridiculous waiting lists. New York can play a significant role in the development of affordable housing by creating a State Low-Income Housing Tax Credit to spur the development of affordable housing for working families, as well as voucher programs to supplement and complement the federal Section 8 programs.
Working families, especially those who transition from welfare to work, often lose health insurance benefits after a transitional period. New York’s Child Health Plus program has served as a national model for delivering affordable health coverage to children in working families. The Catholic Conference urges the Legislature to build on the success of CHP by developing and funding a subsidized insurance program targeted to working families.
New York State has increased the Earned Income Tax Credit. As a refundable credit, the EITC puts money back into the pockets of working families, primarily those making less than $30,000 a year. New York should continue to build on this success by implementing policies that move working families out of poverty and toward self-sufficiency by ensuring access to affordable housing, transportation, quality child care, food, and clothing.
You can download this document, Expanding Supports for Working Families, in PDF form.
