This commentary is by Amy Rose of Middlesex. She is a parent, community member and the policy director for Voices for Vermont’s Children, the group which currently coordinates the Reach Up Coalition, which is made up of many non-profits within Vermont.
The topic of affordability emerged as a political flash point in recent state and national elections. In Vermont, there is broad agreement that creating a budget that works for our state and the people who opt to live here is a top priority, but how do we decide what to prioritize in our state budget and why? As I think about my own frame, I have been asking myself: what does affordability mean to children? Children do not have much agency over their economic situation, but they are impacted deeply by our economic structure.
We have the ability to eliminate child poverty in Vermont by bringing families above the poverty line with our safety-net program, Reach Up. Reach Up stipends are given as cash and are meant to meet basic needs while parents work towards economic stability.
Currently, the program calculates its housing allowance based on 2001 estimates, and determines its basic needs budget to reflect the cost of living in 2019. Then, the state cuts that number in half with a formula called the “ratable reduction” to determine maximum stipends. This means that a family of four is expected to meet most of their basic needs, often including housing, with about $1000 per month, or $880 per month for a family of three.
We know this is impossible — when we set a budget so low, we force families to spend time seeking crisis support such as emergency housing, food pantries and emergency transportation for medical needs, rather than being able to focus on their long-term economic security goals. In addition, research tells us that persistent poverty increases the chance that children will be separated from their families and placed in foster care, which is both costly and traumatic.
Investments in anti-poverty programs are even more essential in tough economic conditions — creating economic security for Vermont’s residents is critical to creating economic stability for the state.
The best way to responsibly manage our public resources is to lessen the demand on crisis interventions by addressing basic needs and promoting stability. We know that emergency housing, emergency medical care and other critical crisis services are expensive. The impact of poverty on young children is significant and long-lasting, and ultimately ends up driving demand for public services across the lifespan. When we create a budget that can work for families, we create a more affordable state for all of us.
We have all been taught that when we create a budget, it is wise to start with the essentials. Basic needs for our children are essential. Keeping kids out of poverty is an investment with broad dividends. Reducing stress on families will reduce stress on the community, in schools and across the state. As we all join in conversations about the next state budget, let’s ensure that the basic needs of kids are met.
Read the story on VTDigger here: Amy Rose: What does affordability mean to children?.