I. Jewish Values

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). Helping people in need, tzedakah, is not simply a matter of charity, but of responsibility, righteousness and justice.

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.

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.”

All people of faith are commanded to give to the poor and to advocate on their behalf. The budget is a moral document that reflects the values of the community. New Yorkers care about and want to help their neighbors.

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 with whom we are working --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.

II. Background

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 this drop in welfare rolls did not solve the problem of poverty, which remained a significant problem in New York State, and which has been exacerbated in the current economic climate.

New York’s poverty rate was 14.2% in 2008 and increased to 15.8% in 2009. Poverty rates in our depressed urban areas are significantly higher. New York’s low public assistance payment contributes to hunger and homelessness. More than 3 million New Yorkers live in poverty. Many of these families rely solely on food stamps, a program designed to supply only 60% of the need. The number of New Yorkers who need to rely on food stamps has grown by over 1 million since the recession began. There is no money for a healthy diet, clothing, school supplies, or adequate housing.

The federal stimulus program, enacted in February 2009, provided funding through September 30, 2010 for welfare programs, food stamps and expanded unemployment insurance benefits. The expiration of that program does not eliminate our need to protect the neediest among us; it makes it all the more urgent.

III. Status and Legislative Summary

Some issues of concern in Governor Cuomo’s budget, all of which have to be accepted by or negotiated with the legislature to achieve a budget that the executive and both houses of the legislature agree on, fall into several areas:

1. Until Governor Paterson’s FY 2008-2009 budget, New York had not increased its public assistance grant amounts in eighteen years. While that year’s budget called for a 10% per annum increase for the next three years, about half that amount has actually been funded. Our neighbors who must rely on public assistance are, in essence, living on an income twenty years out of date.

Governor Cuomo proposes to postpone the 2011 increase for yet another year. The budget also proposes penalizing the entire family by withholding a household’s public assistance grant if the head of the household does not comply (for the second and any subsequent instances) with employment requirements. The family would also lose employment related support services which would diminish its ability to seek and maintain employment.

2. 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, did not receive sufficient funding last year according to some advocates, and no increase in funding is proposed by Cuomo’s budget, despite the increasing demands on emergency food programs.

3. The Cuomo Executive budget also proposes eliminating funding for prevention programs such as the Home Visiting Program, Family Violence Prevention Program, Kinship Contract, Community Optional Preventive Services (COPS), Youth Development and Delinquency Prevention, Special Delinquency Prevention, Runaway Homeless Youth Act and others.

Instead, the Cuomo budget proposes a Primary Prevention Incentive Program which combines all programs and slashes available funding by half and provides that funds would be allocated to local social services districts, who would have to pay a local share, on a competitive basis.

4. Juvenile justice programs are reorganized, with, for example, some Office of Children and Family Services facilities slated for closure and funding will be redirected from local detention operations to community-based programs that better meet the needs of troubled youth.

5. The budget proposes to shift federal Title XX funding to child welfare services only rather than allowing localities the flexibility to use these funds for other needed services such as domestic violence or senior centers.

IV. 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 and the disabled. 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.

The Reform Movement has advocated on behalf of anti-poverty causes for nearly a half century. Our resolutions of 1965, 1971 and 1981 called on the government, among other things, to ensure a decent standard of living, fund education and job training programs, subsidize food for those who need it. These were followed by our 1995 resolution that, while recognizing the importance of prudent fiscal and welfare reforms, reminded those in power that these reforms should not be made at the expense of those who need these services.

The budget is the great moral document of our state, and its priorities should reflect the values of a responsible and compassionate society. Our sages taught us that we must support the poor, protect the orphan and advocate on behalf of those without the means to speak on their own behalf. RJV will work with Reform Jewish congregations throughout New York, and with other like minded organizations, to pressure legislators to reject the shredding of our social safety net.

V. Lawmakers need to invest more in strengthening the state’s safety net and economic infrastructure . For example:

• By creating transitional jobs for hard to employ low-income individuals, including welfare recipients.
• By implementing the full 10% increase in the basic public assistance grant for needy families in New York in 2011.
• By increasing funding for emergency feeding and hunger prevention programs to meet the growing demand. These programs have seen a dramatic increase in demand (as much as 50% in the past three years) and are facing a continuing increase in demand as people continue to lose their jobs.
• By overhauling New York’s welfare to work programs. The federal government has consistently ranked our state as one of the worst in the country in helping move participants into employment.
• By 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.
• By rejecting proposed cuts in Homeless Prevention programs and providing sufficient funding and support services to prevent homelessness.
• By rejecting cuts in funding in juvenile justice and prevention programs. Investments in developing youth assets, alternatives to incarceration and other prevention strategies are far more cost effective than incarceration.
• By considering revenue raisers like the continuation of the income tax surcharge (so called “Millionaire’s Tax”) which would provide $1 billion this year and $4-5 billion next year and adjustment to the stock transfer tax rebate. It is grossly unfair to offer tax breaks to millionaires while cutting services to the state’s neediest.

VI. 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

VII. 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 urge the Governor and Legislature to respond positively to the call of Reform Jewish Voice of New York State and other faith groups 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 February 2011