1. Background
Judaism teaches us that poverty is destructive to human dignity, and that helping people in need is a matter of fundamental principle, not an act of charity. From the time of the prophets, we have acted upon this principle and adhered to the dictate, “There shall be no needy among you.” (Deuteronomy 15:4). Maimonides taught that the highest degree of tzedakah is to enable a person to earn his or her own livelihood-to aid a person in need by “offering him a gift or a loan, by entering into a partnership with him, or by providing work for him so that he may become self-supporting, without having to ask people for anything.”

Helping people in need, tzedakah, is not simply a matter of charity, but of responsibility, righteousness and justice. The Bible does not merely command us to give to the poor, but to advocate on their behalf. We are told in Proverbs 31:9 to “speak up, judge righteously, and champion the poor and the needy.”

The passage of the federal Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act in 1996 dramatically altered the welfare system in America and was responsible for a remarkable drop in the welfare rolls and some of the lowest unemployment in our nation’s history. However, census data documents that poverty remained a significant problem in New York State which has been exacerbated in the current economic climate.

According to 2006-2008 Census Bureau data, New York’s poverty rate was 14 percent, 17^th among the 50 states and above the national average of 12.5 percent. Poverty rates in our depressed urban areas are significantly higher. New York’s low welfare payment contributes to hunger and homelessness. More than 2.6 million New Yorkers, including 852,000 children live in poverty.

Many families with children actually receive little or no cash from their grant. Instead the money goes to landlords and energy suppliers. Many families rely solely on food stamps, a program designed to supply only 60% of the need. There is no money for a healthy diet, clothing, school supplies, or adequate housing.

The federal stimulus program, enacted in February 2009, will provide funding through September 30, 2010 for welfare programs, food stamps and expanded unemployment insurance benefits.

2. Status and Legislative Summary
In his FY 2008-09 budget address Governor Paterson proposed raising the basic welfare grant, of $291 a month for a family of three, by 10 percent a year for each of the next three years starting January 2010, a total increase of $97a month. The first 10% increase was implemented July 2009. He also proposed a $4.4 million increase in funding for food pantries, soup kitchens and shelters, and made a commitment to improving health care for all New Yorkers including expansion of Family Health Plus and elimination of some of the current enrollment barriers.

In the 2010-2011 proposed Executive budget, the Governor proposes a delay in the phase-in of the public assistance grant increase; the July 2010 increase will be 5% (rather than the scheduled 10%), and 5% annual increases will continue until July 2013.

The Hunger Prevention and Nutrition Assistance Program (HPNAP)  which provides direct grants to food banks and other non-profits for the purchase of food and operational expenses, is funded at a lower level than last year, despite the increasing demands on such agencies.

The Executive budget also proposed eliminating Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) funding for programs such as the Summer Youth Employment Program, Supportive Housing for Families, Emergency Homeless Program, Non-Residential Domestic Violence prevention, Community Solutions to Transportation, Preventive services for Child Welfare as well as many other funding cuts, e.g., from $70 million last year to $18 million this year for jobs programs.

This is a fluid situation as the Senate in its budget resolution rejected the cuts in these programs, and in the welfare grant increase proposed by the Governor, and restored funding. The Assembly also rejected the reduction in the welfare grant increase, but eliminates $18 million for transitional, health care and green jobs. It restores $26 of 35 million for summer youth employment, but rejects $10 million funding for food banks.

There are other executive proposals rejected and some other restorations by the Assembly and Senate. All have to be negotiated to achieve a budget that the executive and both houses of the legislature agree on.

Lawmakers need to invest more in strengthening the state’s safety net and economic infrastructure, for example:

*Increasing the state minimum wage to a “living wage”. The current minimum wage is $7.15 per hour or $14, 300 annually for full-time employment. (Nearly 28% of New Yorkers struggling with incomes below the poverty line do so in spite of being employed)

*Increasing and expanding unemployment insurance benefits.(federal stimulus funds have provided extended benefits but the state has not increased benefit levels)

*Creating transitional jobs for hard to employ low-income individuals, including welfare recipients.

*Implementing the full 10% increase in the basic welfare grant for needy families in New York in 2010. The housing and heating allowances date from the 1987-88 fiscal year.

*Increasing funding for emergency feeding and hunger prevention programs to meet the growing demand. These programs saw a dramatic increase in demand last year and a continuing increase in demand as people lose their jobs.

*Overhauling the state’s welfare to work programs which the federal government has consistently ranked as one of the worst in the country in helping move participants into employment.  

*Focusing on creating real job experiences such as transitional jobs, green jobs and health care jobs and wage subsidy programs, combined with job training and education. $100 million in federal stimulus funding should be used for these programs.

*Rejecting proposed cuts in Homeless Prevention programs  and providing sufficient funding and support services to prevent homelessness.

3. Position of the Reform Jewish Movement
The Reform Movement has always acted upon fundamental Jewish ideals by advocating for children, the poor, disenfranchised, the elderly, the sick, the disabled, and the “stranger among us.” In Reform Movement resolutions we have called for full employment programs, social welfare entitlements for public housing, day care, family planning, health and legal services and income maintenance assistance programs.

The1965 Union for Reform Judaism (URJ) resolution entitled, ”The Eradication  and Amelioration of Poverty” called on the government “to adopt measures that would assure every man willing and able to work a wage which makes possible a decent standard of living.” Since then, the Union has passed multiple resolutions reaffirming its commitment to America’s poor.

The URJ urged Congress to expand social programs in 1971, and in 1981 opposed efforts to cut funding to education, job training, food subsidies and many other social programs that were in danger of losing some, if not all, of their funding. In 1995, the URJ passed a resolution entitled “Our Economic Commitment to America’s Poor” which recognized the importance of prudent fiscal reforms and welfare reform, but asserted that these reforms should not be made on the backs of the neediest. The resolution further asserted that “the United States government [must]…ensure an adequate, federally guaranteed safety net to protect our nation’s most vulnerable populations.”

Jewish history also provides us with an example for helping the needy. During Talmudic times, much of tzedakah was done through tax-financed, community run programs that provided for the poor,, the hungry, the ill, and the children—a close parallel to the entitlement security we fought, and continue to fight, to preserve in our society today.

4. Related Links

Hunger Action Network of New York State

Interfaith Impact of New York State

Labor-Religion Coalition of New York

Roman Catholic Diocese of Albany

New York State Community Action Association

5. Talking Points

1. All people of faith are commanded to give to the poor and to advocate on their behalf.

2. Increasing benefits to those in need to maintain the social safety net is essential. The State Constitution requires providing aid and care for the needy.

3. The budget is a moral document that reflects the values of the community. New Yorkers care about and want to help their neighbors.

4. We support the implementation of the full 10% increase in the welfare grant effective July 2010 and July 2011and use of federal stimulus funding for creation of jobs for the poor.

5. The Governor’s proposed hunger, jobs programs, health care and housing cuts for the poor should be restored to the budget.

6. Invest in increasing access to education and training to allow welfare recipients access to the full range of education and training programs they need to compete for good jobs that pay a family-sustaining wage. This includes participation in adult literacy, English for speakers of other languages, high school equivalency, 2 and 4 year college and vocational training.

7. We urge the Governor and Legislature to respond positively to the call of Reform Jewish Voice of New York State, and the other faith groups we are working with, Roman Catholics, Episcopalians, Lutherans and Unitarian Universalists  from around the state to prevent erosion of the scarce resources of those”…who find themselves at risk of homelessness, who are seeking help with providing nutritional meals for their families, and who are struggling to ensure quality care for their children so that they can work.”

Updated April 15, 2010