EDUCATION:
Expand equal access and opportunities for low-income students and to promote multiple measures to track progress of state examinations.
- After School Programs; Education/financial equity; Quality early childhood and family education; and “Unintended consequences” of the federal program of “No Child Left Behind” (NCLB). PPL will pay close but broad attention to these key policy concerns in partnership with Ready 4 K, Metropolitan Federation of Alternative Schools, and other education advocacy coalitions.
HOUSING:
Refining the state’s classification and fair valuation of rent-restricted properties; broadening the federal definition of “chronic homelessness” and reconciliation of program incompatibilities between Low Income Housing Tax Credit program (IRS) and McKinney-Vento Supportive Housing Program (HUD).
*Housing Policy Work Group: PPL will Senator Moua and Representative Clark and coalition partners to ensure both the immediate and longer term housing needs of low-income individuals and families through setting and implementing a 2009 Housing agenda: Low-Income Tax Credits and SHP incompatibility needs.
*Supportive role: PPL will continue to engage the Congressional representatives in redefining homelessness to include the family.
IMMGRATION:
Expand eligibility for government assistance, including housing subsidies, MFIP, and Child Care assistance, to non-refugees and asylum seekers; End yearly increases in fees including in the process of receiving citizenship or resident status that discriminate against low income immigrants and refugees.
- Citizenship Credit: PPL CCD will work with Americans for Fair Immigration Reform in Minnesota to re-initiative the legislation. The legislation seeks to provide a refundable income tax credit for expenses related to becoming a U.S. citizen ($300).
- Supportive role: PPL will continue to support legislations for family unification.
MFIP/JOBS/CHILDCARE:
Maintain flexibility in activity classification for MFIP; Increased funding and access to job training and employment readiness programs; Raise income eligibility for subsidies to 200% of the poverty line; Lower childcare co-payments; Remove the rate freeze and allow reimbursement rates to keep pace with the increase in child care costs; Increase funding for child Care Assistance Program.
- Recommendations of the Legislative Commission to End Poverty: PPL will proactively work with Affirmative Options Coalition to push the recommendations through legislature.
- Supportive role: PPL will support efforts to strengthen and promote the Family Stabilization Services programs.