The Fair Budget Coalition offers recommendations for supporting human needs, maximizing federal funds, and increasing revenues for the District of Columbia in its 2010 report “A Balanced Approach for Challenging Times.” 

The report demonstrates that now more than ever, basic safety net services are in demand. But as the Mayor and City Council consider the Fiscal Year 2011 budget, they are being threatened with unprecendented cuts, as are programs that promote access to quality services, good jobs, and safe housing. Such cuts would lower the quality of life in DC’s neighborhoods and weaken the local economy. The Fair Budget Coalition makes the case that progressive revenue can and should be a vital part of a balanced and fair budget. 

Read the full report: A Balanced Approach for Challenging Times  

Please join the D.C. Fair Budget Coalition for a series of interactive Breakfast Briefings on upcoming Fridays from 9:30 to 11:00 a.m. at the John A. Wilson Building at 1350 Pennsylvania Ave NW.

In the District, high unemployment and underemployment, lack of affordable housing, and increased food insecurity – combined with a terrible recession – are impacting all the residents of our city. And our most vulnerable residents are teetering on the brink of disaster. Fortunately, there are solutions at hand.

Come learn from the experts at the Breakfast Briefings about current issues in:
o Health– March 5
o Youth– March 12
o Housing – March 26

Briefings will be held in Room 103 or 104. A light breakfast will be served.

WASHINGTON, D.C.  Yesterday, the Fair Budget Coalition released its annual budget recommendation report, “Shared Challenges, Shared Solutions, Shared Opportunities,” urging the D.C. Council and Mayor Adrian Fenty to adopt policies and set priorities addressing the needs of the District’s most vulnerable population.
“The Coalition realizes that balancing fiscal year 2010 budget will be a challenge, due to revenue shortfalls,” said Martina Gillis, the Coalition’s Director.  “However, in a recession the needs of the District’s low income families become only more critical.  In fact, we have begun to see a rise in unemployment, food costs, and increased requests for food and rent assistance.”
During a briefing in the Wilson Building this morning, Gillis noted that as the economic climate soured and District’s revenue projections fell, the Coalition scaled back its requests to target only the highest priority areas.
The report, developed by work groups composed of social service providers and front-line professionals, focuses on nine key areas:
      Workforce Development: Expanding adult literacy programs and filling key government positions.
      Homeless Services: Transforming homeless services from a system rooted in warehouse shelters to one rooted in housing with small, humane shelters that will provide an emergency safety net.
      Housing: Increasing funding for the Local Rent Supplement Program.
      TANF: Restoring the FY 2009 TANF cash assistance cut and providing a cost-of-living increase.
      Food Stamps: Expanding access to federal food stamp benefits by adopting categorical eligibility.
      Food & Nutrition: Creating a Fresh Food Opportunity Bank to increase access to healthy food.
      Health & Disability: Providing mental health care benefit to DC Alliance members.
      Children & Youth: Improving data collection to most efficiently use federal grant funds for infants and toddlers with disabilities receiving early intervention services from the DC government.
      Tax & Revenue: Providing property tax relief to as many as 23,000 low-income DC households by updating the Schedule H property tax credit’s income eligibility and maximum credits.
Many of the Coalition’s recommendations for improving city services come at little or no cost.  For example, the Coalition recommends greater transparency in budgeting, improving data collection to better serve disabled infants and toddlers, and expanding access to the federally-funded food stamp program.  Other recommendations are cost neutral, such as the Coalition’s support for providing basic mental health benefits to members of the DC Health Care Alliance through reallocating savings from closing the DC Community Services Agency.  Without help, many families could fall deeper into poverty, homelessness or require other forms of more costly support services.
“City leaders must increase focus on leadership, accountability, and inclusion,” said Gillis.  “These are fundamental principles that should weave through all of the Districts services for low-income residents.”
Click here to view the full report:Shared Challenges, Shared Solutions, Shared Opportunities