In federal legislative proposals last week, such as the HEROES Act, House members presented many of the supports needed by low-income individuals and families to move out of this public health and economic crisis. This is really the first time since the onslaught of the COVID-19 pandemic that we have seen proposed policy solutions from Congress that are more holistic and grounded in human rights.
As companion legislation is being considered and proposals are being debated, we urge the Senate to prioritize the following:
- Clarifying that all people regardless of immigration status can get COVID-19 treatment through emergency Medicaid;
- Continuing to provide cash support to people, including to those who were not included in the first-round of stimulus payments, such as immigrant families and adult dependents;
- Increasing funding for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and extending maximum benefits, while suspending harmful administrative rules that would terminate or decrease food assistance, to reduce hunger and provide economic stimulus;
- Providing significant investments in homelessness prevention and housing services and programs;
- Implementing a moratorium on evictions, repossessions, foreclosures, debt collection, and utility disconnections, and adding consumer protections for debt repayment;
- Investing in phone and Internet infrastructure for families who cannot afford it;
- Addressing gaps that left tens of millions of workers, especially women and workers of color, without guaranteed emergency sick and paid leave; and
- Providing states and localities with funding to support correctional facility releases, including pre-trial, and resources for reentry programming and housing.
The next round of federal stimulus and recovery measures should also emphasize the following in order to lay a strong policy foundation for true recovery:
- Provide targeted investments and implementation in communities of color, as they are the communities that have been most impacted by COVID-19;
- Provide for ongoing cash supports for the duration of this crisis;
- Ensure the duration of proposed relief measures are based on public health and labor market indicators rather than arbitrary future dates; and
- Include deep investments in workforce development as a key strategy for our economic recovery.
Additionally, we know that housing stability, access to employment, and economic opportunity are inextricably linked, and are key to exiting poverty. Many of the current federal proposals address emergency issues related to family finances, housing, and healthcare, but without simultaneous investments in robust and equitable jobs programs, we are not giving individuals and families the tools they need to recover.
There is still much work to do to heal our city, state, and nation, but by continuing to advocate for equitable systems change focused on health and well-being, economic opportunity, and safety and justice, we can reduce inequities and help build a bright future that includes everyone.
