Directory of Low-Income Organizations Working on Welfare Issues

Center on Social Welfare Policy and Law, May 1996

©Copyright 1996, Center on Social Welfare Policy and Law, Inc.



This page maintained by Women's Health Action and Mobilization
E-mail: wham@listproc.net



Search by state:

Arizona | California | Colorado | Connecticut | Georgia | Illinois | Iowa
Kentucky | Louisiana | Maine | Massachusetts | Michigan | Minnesota
Missouri | Montana | Nebraska | Nevada | New Hampshire | New York
North Carolina | Ohio | Pennsylvania | Rhode Island | Utah | Vermont
Washington | West Virginia | Wisconsin | Wyoming


About This Directory

This directory collects information provided to us by over 60 grassroots, membership organizations in twenty-nine states who are fighting the current attacks on welfare recipients and who are working for a better, fairer, more humane income support system in this country. Most of these groups are comprised exclusively of low income people. Some have memberships of low income people and others. In addition to names, addresses, and phone numbers, the directory includes information about the issues each group is working on and about whether they publish newsletters that are available to non-members.

When we set out to identify and survey state and local organizations of low income people who are working on welfare issues, we had a sense that there were scores of vital organizations throughout the country doing very important work on welfare issues under extremely difficult circumstances. This sense has been proven true. As we have received responses from organizations, we have been impressed over and over again with the energy, commitment and resourcefulness of the people most affected by the war on welfare--the recipients themselves.

One of the things we heard repeatedly from the organizations who responded to our survey was that they strongly felt the need to know what similar organizations were doing in other states. One way we are responding to that need is by regularly featuring reports on organizations of low income people in our bi-monthly Welfare News publication, which is available free of charge to low income organizations. This directory is another effort to increase the information available to organizations of low income people about each other.

We recognize that this first edition of the directory is only a beginning. We are sure that there are many organizations that are not included, either because they did not respond to our survey questionnaire or because we did not know to send them one. We urge readers who belong to or are aware of groups who are not included in this first edition of the directory to contact us. We will be delighted to include additional organizations in later editions.

We also know that despite our best efforts, some errors may have made it into the text. If we have made mistakes, we want to know about them. If you wish to inform us of corrections that we need to make or additional groups we should include in future editions, please fill out the form at the end of the directory and return it to us.

In the meantime, we hope that this directory plays a useful role in aiding organizations of low income people in establishing alliances and sharing information and strategies for the many difficult and critical battles in front of us in the struggle to maintain and strengthen a basic welfare safety net for all of our people.

Center on Social Welfare Policy and Law, May 1996


ARIZONA

Arizona Community Action Association
67 East Weldon, Suite 310
Phoenix, AZ 85012
Phone: 602-230-8267 Fax: 602-230-8613
E-mail: hn0448@handsnet.org, azcaa@aztec.asu.edu

Contact Person: Janet K. Regner

Issues for 1996:

1. Affordable utility/energy issues

2. Intervention with our Public Utility Commission

3. Representing low-income residential ratepayers

4. Block grants

5. Community organizing, advocacy legislative education

6. Affordable housing, anti-hunger

Newsletter: None.


CALIFORNIA


Barton Hill Neighborhood Organization
131 North Grande Avenue
San Pedro, CA 90731
Phone: 310-832-9645 Fax: 310-832-7861

Contact Person: Dee Petty

Issues for 1996:

1. Welfare

2. Affirmative action

3. Section 8 housing

4. Voter registration

5. Budget cuts

Newsletter: None.


Coalition of California Welfare Rights Organizations, Inc.
1901 Alhambra Boulevard
Sacramento, CA 95816
Phone: 916-736-0616 Fax: 916-736-2645
E-mail: hn0068@handsnet.org

Contact Person: Kevin M. Aslanian

Issues for 1996:

1. Welfare DEFORM

2. Child welfare services, etc.

Newsletter: Available. Just write to request it.


Fair Share Network
1010 S. Flower, Suite 216
Los Angeles, CA 90015
Phone: 213-746-7786 Fax: 213-746-4967
E-mail: hn1674@handsnet.org

Contact Person: Nancy Berlin

Issues for 1996:

1. Federal welfare reform

2. Implementation of welfare reform at state and local level

3. Protecting General Assistance

4. Tax equity issues

5. The state budget
6. Voter registration

Newsletter: Available. The newsletter is free, but donations are greatly appreciated. Send name and address.


Family Rights & Dignity
3543 18th Street #31
San Francisco, CA 94110
Phone: 415-431-2995 Fax: 415-431-9371

Contact Person: Malika Saada Saar

Issues for 1996:

1. Creating a working group of mothers, service-providers and attorneys to address the problems of child welfare

2. Health clinics in the projects (low-income housing)

3. Advocacy and peer counseling to low-income families

4. Political organizing

Newsletter: Available: "The Street Sheet." Call Bobby, Joyce or Lydia at 415-346-3740


In-spire3-ing
102 Melody Drive
Paso Robles, CA 93446
Phone: 805-238-1066 Fax: 805-544-3904 E-mail: KSC2B@aol.com

Contact Person: Karen Wilson

Issues for 1996:

1. Federal Budget and Welfare Reform Bill

2. State Budget

3. If block grants are passed then we plan to hold a county-wide symposium for recipients, legislators, medical personnel, service providers and businesses, churches, public at large.

Newsletter: Available. Contact Karen Wilson at given address and send $12 to receive 12 issues (monthly).


Welfare Parents Support Group, Inc.
509 Broadway
Santa Cruz, CA 95060
Phone: 408-458-9070 Fax: 408-423-8716

Contact Person: Elaine Glunt

Issues for 1996:

1. Welfare rights and advocacy

2. Job skills

3. Peer support

4. Networking

5. Basic needs

Newsletter: Available. Call or write with name and address.


COLORADO

Colorado Coalition for the Homeless
2100 Broadway
Denver, CO 80205
Phone: 303-293-2217 Ext. 143 Fax: 303-293-2309
E-mail: hn0138@handsnet.org


Contact Person: Rachel Brown

Issues for 1996:

1. Homelessness/affordable housing

2. Welfare, public assistance
Newsletter: Available. Become a member (or if someone asks, we usually put them on our mailing list).


Weld County Community Groups
2333 25 St. Rd.
Greeley, CO 80631
Phone: 303-330-1699


Contact Person: Delores Davison

Issues for 1996:

1. Welfare reform

2. Medicaid

Newsletter: None.


CONNECTICUT


SAMS
84 B Baxter Road
Storrs, CT 06268
Phone: 860-429-8442


Contact Person: Tammie Meyers

Issues for 1996:

1. The Job Connection Program

Newsletter: Available.


Warriors for Real Welfare Reform
c/o Capitol Region Conference of Churches
30 Arbor Street
Hartford, CT 06106
Phone: 860-523-0487

Contact Person: Carmen Cordero

Issues for 1996:

1. Welfare reform

2. Rental assistance program

3. General Assistance

4. Job issues

Newsletter: None.


GEORGIA


Georgia Citizens Coalition on Hunger
9 Gammon Avenue SW
Atlanta, GA 30315
Phone: 404-622-7778 Fax: 404-584-5803

Contact Person: Sandra Robertson

Issues for 1996:

1. Minimum wage increase

2. Welfare reform

3. Block grant

4. Health care

5. Food and nutrition programs

Newsletter: Available: "Street Heat News Magazine." $15 subscription fee.



Georgia Welfare Rights Union
9 Gammon Avenue, SW
Atlanta, GA 30315
Phone: 404-622-7778


Contact Person: Njere Alghanee

Issues for 1996:

1. Guaranteed annual/adequate income

2. Raising minimum wage

3. Health care for all

4. Welfare reform as developed by welfare recipients

5. Developing more projects for survival

6. Community based empowerment

Newsletter: None.


ILLINOIS


Women for Economic Security
200 South Michigan
Chicago, IL 60604
Phone: 312-663-3574 Fax: 312-633-5873

Contact Person: Edith Crigler

Issues for 1996:

1. Administrative advocacy at the state and city levels in Illinois

2. Developing and implementing a monitoring system and our local public aid offices

3. Informing families in poverty of the pending changes in welfare

Newsletter: None.


IOWA


Collaboration for Self-Sufficiency
1909 Ingersoll Avenue
Des Moines, IA 50309
Phone: 515-244-4901 Fax: 515-243-5073


Contact Person: Mary Anne Brekke

Issues for 1996:

1. Welfare reform

2. Savings club development

3. Non-traditional employment

4. Family violence

5. Managed health care

6. Energy assistance

Newsletter: None.



Iowa Coalition for Housing and the Homeless
205-15th Street
Des Moines, IA 50309
Phone: 515-288-5022 Fax: 515-282-1810

Contact Person: Loyd Ogle

Issues for 1996:

1. Rights of the homeless

2. Increasing state and local funding of affordable housing

3. Landlord/tenant issues

4. Issues impacting the poor in general (welfare reform, HEAP)


Newsletter: Available. Send name and address.


KENTUCKY


Multi-County Clients Council
425 W. Muhammad Ali Blvd., Suite 201
Louisville, KY 40202
Phone: 502-584-1254 Ext. 212 Fax: 502-584-8014


Contact Person: Imogene Washington

Issues for 1996:

1. Welfare reform

2. Healthcare

3. Housing

4. Education

5. Food stamps

Newsletter: None.


LOUISIANA


Welfare Rights Organization
3040 Bruxelles Street
New Orleans, LA 70119
Phone: 504-944-1112 Fax: 504-944-4808


Contact Person: Viola Francois Washington

Issues for 1996:

1. Welfare reform/state plan on AFDC

2. Food stamp child nutrition
3. Medicaid

Newsletter: None.


MAINE


Coalition for Economic Justice
P.O. Box 11559
Portland, ME 04104-7559
Phone: 207-773-6471 Fax: 207-773-0182


Contact Person: Marc R. Mutty

Issues for 1996:

Education program aimed at highlighting the link between low-wage
market economy and poverty (welfare)

Newsletter: None.



Hospitality House
P.O. Box 62
Hinckley, ME 04944
Phone: 800-438-3890


Contact Person: Jan Lightfoot

Issues for 1996:

1. Welfare reform

2. Video on true facts of AFDC mothers

3. Direct services to prevent homelessness

Newsletter: Available.



Maine Assoc of Interdependent Neighborhoods
P.O. Box 2711
Bangor, ME 04402
Phone: 207-947-4371


Contact Person: Judy Gauy

Issues for 1996:

1. Welfare reform

2. Health care

3. Low-wage worker campaign

4. Housing - special needs

Newsletter: None.


MASSACHUSETTS


Coalition for Basic Human Needs
54 Essex Street
Cambridge, MA 02139
Phone: 617-497-0126 Fax: 617-492-8101

Contact Person: Erica Lurie

Issues for 1996:

1. Welfare rights

2. Family income needs

Newsletter: Available. $25 for subscription.



Massachusetts Welfare Rights Union
95 Standard Street
Mattapan, MA 02126
Phone: 617-298-7311 E-mail: bmandell@curry.edu
Contact Person: Dorothy Stevens

Issues for 1996:

1. Welfare reform

2. Health

3. Housing

4. Poverty

Newsletter: Available. "Survival News." See Survivors, Inc. listing below.



Survivors, Inc.
102 Anawan Ave.
West Roxbury, MA 02132
Phone: 617-327-4219 Ext. Fax: 617-327-4219
E-mail: bmandell@bridgew.edu

Contact Person: Betty Reid Mandell

Issues for 1996:

1. Organizing low-income college students

2. Speakers' bureau on welfare

3. Publishing a newspaper for low-income people, Survival News

Newsletter: Available. "Survival News." Subscriptions $10, free to low-income people.


MICHIGAN


National Welfare Rights Union
13220 Woodward
Highland Park, MI 48203
Phone: 313-831-1040 Fax: 313-833-7756

Contact Person: Marian Kramer

Issues for 1996:
Newsletter:



Oakland County Welfare Rights Organization

132 Franklin Blvd.
Pontiac, MI 48341
Phone: 810-334-8117 Fax: 810-474-4029 E-mail: edwardk9@umcc.umich.edu

Contact Person: Marguerite Kowaleski

Issues for 1996:

Our primary tasks will be

1. Trying to keep our members informed about the changes in welfare programs as a result of Michigan's latest "Welfare Reform" - & whatever else comes along with the federal changes

2. Our newsletter

Newsletter: Available. $ 5 per year for recipients, $15 per year for organizations or people not low income.


MINNESOTA


Poor and Working Class Moms
1622 3rd Avenue
Mankato, MN 56001
Phone: 507-388-4251 Fax: 507-625-3484


Contact Person: Lynn M. Pierce

Issues for 1996:

1. Survival

2. Staying and becoming gainfully employed

3. How to earn and keep enough $ to pay bills

4. How to become economically independent through own business

Newsletter: None.


MISSOURI


HOPE
P.O. Box 303
Wentzville, MO 63385
Phone: 314-561-1318


Contact Person: Agnes Hill



Northeast Missouri Client Council for Human Needs
251 W. Clark
Kahoka, MO 63445
Phone: 816-727-2043


Contact Person: Jill Shinn

Issues for 1996:

1. Welfare reform

2. Consumer issues

3. Medicaid

Newsletter: Available: "The Hard Times." Send name and address. Donations accepted.



ROWEL Education Association
5300 Delmar Boulevard
St. Louis, MO 63112
Phone: 314-361-3400 Fax: 314-367-9629

Contact Person: Jeanette Mott Oxford

Issues for 1996:

1. State legislature - prevent bad legislation (we have been able to block in committee)

2. State Earned Income Credit pilot

3. Fighting for 1 3/4 percent reduction in sales tax on food

4. Seeking energy assistance for disabled, elderly and low income (we have gotten utilities to support this)

5. Nationally: urge President not to sign bad legislation, and keeping members informed about federal developments

6. "Campaign to reward work" - ballot initiative to raise the minimum wage (with hope it will pull out low income vote and become active in the election)

Newsletter: Available. 4 times a year, provide at least $10 toward postage.



St. Louis Women's Support Group
5903 Dr. Martin Luther King
St. Louis, MO 63112
Phone: 314-383-8861


Contact Person: Kim Jayne

Issues for 1996:

1. Developing alternative lending sources

2. Planning for community based economic development including a farmers' market

3. Some AFDC issues

4. Utility issues

5. Child care

6. Health care

Newsletter: None.



South Side Welfare Rights Organization
C/O Dr. J's Market Inc.
3918 Page Avenue
St. Louis, MO 63113
Phone: 314-534-8827


Contact Person: Eddie Mae Binion

Issues for 1996:

1. EBT system

2. Welfare reform in Missouri

Newsletter: Available. $15 subscription.


MONTANA


Tri-County Advocacy Council
P.O. Box 132
Havre, MT 59501
Phone: 406-265-6867


Contact Person: Marsha Gummer

Issues for 1996:

1. Welfare reform

2. Low-income energy assistance

3. Low-income housing

4. Legal assistance

Newsletter: None.


NEBRASKA


F.A.I.R.
P.O. Box 82433
Lincoln, NE 68501
Phone: 402-477-6680 Fax: 402-438-5236 E-mail: vstippel@aol.com

Contact Person: Vicki Stippel

Issues for 1996:

1. Raising state minimum wage

2. Managed care

3. Welfare reform

4. Domestic violence

Newsletter: Available. Call and request newsletter



Omaha Clients Council

2016 Fowler Avenue
Omaha, NE 68110-1522
Phone: 402-451-8336


Contact Person: Lerlean N. Johnson

Issues for 1996:



Newsletter: None.


NEVADA


Nevada Empowered Women Project
6185 Franktown Road
Carson City, NV 89704
Phone: 702-882-3440 Fax: 702-882-3440


Contact Person: Jan Gilbert

Issues for 1996:

1. Welfare

2. Childcare

3. Health care

4. Housing

Newsletter: None.


NEW HAMPSHIRE


Parents for Justice
1812 Hopkinton Avenue
Hopkinton, NH 03227
Phone: 603-746-4817


Contact Person: Sara Dustin

Issues for 1996:

1. NH State Welfare Reform

2. Restoration of the funds for transportation and books and fees so post secondary education remains a viable JOBS program option.

Newsletter: Available. $20 for individuals, $35 for organizations (waived for low income folks).


NEW YORK


Capital District Welfare Warriors
P.O. Box 116
Schenectady, NY 12301
Phone: 518-346-2495 Fax: 518-346-2495

Contact Person: Enid Mastrianni

Issues for 1996:

1. Fingerprint monitoring

2. NO to AFDC cuts

3. Child care access

4. Raising minimum wage

5. Unequal pay

6. Child-support enforcement

7. Compiling oral histories

Newsletter: Available. Write or call and make a donation ($10-$25)



Join the Wonderful World of Welfare
P.O. Box 72
Trout Creek, NY 13847
Phone: 607-865-5369


Contact Person: James Ronald Lieberman

Issues for 1996:

1. Continue federal guarantee (entitlement of AFDC!)

Newsletter: None.



National Welfare Rights Union/N.Y.
216 Beverly Road
Brooklyn, NY 11218-3916
Phone: 212-348-7006 Fax: 212-348-2848


Contact Person: David Greene

Issues for 1996:

1. Fighting state and federal welfare cuts

2. Housing and shelter subsidies, allowances

Newsletter: Available.



Project Dandelion/Neighborhood Legal Services
495 Ellicott Square Building
295 Main Street
Buffalo, NY 14203
Phone: 716-847-0650 Ext. 402 Fax: 716-847-0227
E-mail: hn0627@handsnet.org

Contact Person: Maggie O'Malley

Issues for 1996:

Help low-income families and individuals attain self-sufficiency
through training, peer group support, publications, volunteer
opportunities and legal information.

Newsletter: Available.



Suffolk Welfare Warriors
1105 A Kingsley Pl.
Coram, NY 11727
Phone: 516-732-0525


Contact Person: Therese Scofield
Issues for 1996:

1. Fighting the cuts with a 3-pronged attack - education workshops and leadership development of members

2. Lobbying on county, state and federal level, plus public appearances at forums, public hearings and in the media

3. Direct action events from flyering and picketing to civil disobedience.

Newsletter: Available. We have a bi-monthly newsletter that allies and supporters can subscribe to for $24.00 a year.



The Welfare Reform Network
c/o Federation of Protestant Welfare Agencies
281 Park Avenue South
New York, NY 10010
Phone: 212-777-4800 Ext. 312 Fax: 212-533-8792
E-mail: hn6291@handsnet.org


Contact Person: Timothy J. Casey

Issues for 1996:

1. All key welfare issues

Newsletter: None.



Welfare Rights Initiative
Hunter College Center for the Study of Family Policy
695 Park Avenue, Room E1209
New York, NY 10021
Phone: 212-772-4091 Fax: 212-650-3845
E-Mail: mklackey@aol.com

Contact Person: Melinda K. Lackey

Issues for 1996:

1. Welfare reform (city, state, federal)

2. Higher education access

3. Advocacy and organizing related to cuts to the City University (CUNY)

4. Continued leadership training for CUNY students with firsthand experience of public assistance and poverty

Newsletter: Only available by hand to hand distribution.


NORTH CAROLINA


Concerned Citizens of Tillery
P.O. Box 61
Tillery, NC 27887
Phone: 919-826-3017 Fax: 919-826-3244


Contact Person: Gary R. Grant

Issues for 1996:

1. Health care for the poor

2. Economic development (jobs, labor)

3. Women's issues - AFDC, abuse, feminization of poverty

4. Senior issues

5. Environmental issues

6. African-American issues

Newsletter: Available. $10 per year membership/subscription. Published monthly.


OHIO


The Empowerment Center of Greater Cleveland
Ohio Empowerment Coalition
2800 Euclid Avenue, #515
Cleveland, OH 44115
Phone: 216-241-5926 E-mail: cassand109@aol.com

Contact Person: Cassandra McConnell

Issues for 1996:

1. Statewide recipient organizing

2. Monitoring implementation of OH welfare reform

3. Monitoring implementation of Medicaid HMO's

4. Community education

Newsletter: None.



National Welfare Rights & Reform Union
1433 East 4th Avenue
Columbus, OH 43219
Phone: 614-262-6262


Contact Person: Shirley Smith Peoples

Issues for 1996:

1. Welfare time limits

2. Adequate job training programs

3. Continuation of child care

4. Continuation of welfare programs through block grant funding

5. Increase client participation on welfare advisory boards throughout the country

Newsletter: Available.



NEOCH/Homeless Grapevine
1468 W. 25th Street
Cleveland, OH 44113
Phone: 216-241-1104 Fax: 216-696-3317


Contact Person: Brian Davis

Issues for 1996:

1. Poverty

2. Homelessness

3. Lack of permanent housing

4. Lack of liveable wage jobs

Newsletter: Available: "Homeless Grapevine." Subscription for $20.



Ohio Welfare Rights Organization
700 Bryden Road, #112
Columbus, OH 43215
Phone: 614-492-0309


Contact Person: Margaret W. Radden

Issues for 1996:

1. Welfare reform

2. Medical and legal services for our clients

3. Impact of GA cuts


Newsletter: Available.



Warren Trumbull Welfare Rights Organization Client Council
2437 Kenwood Drive, S.W.
Warren, OH 44485

Contact Person: Geneva E. Reid
Issues for 1996:

1. Welfare reform

2. Advocacy for children with learning and behavioral problems in the school system

Newsletter: None.



Welfare Rights Coalition
Contact Center
1641 Vine Street
Cincinnati, OH 45210
Phone: 513-381-4242 Fax: 513-381-0627


Contact Person: Katy Heins

Issues for 1996:

1. Working on block grants

2. Forming a statewide coalition for Ohio

3. Local pilot projects on work divergent activities, child care and other welfare related topics

Newsletter: Available. $10 donation - the newsletter is monthly.


PENNSYLVANIA


Kensington Welfare Rights Union
922 N. Randolph Street
Philadelphia, PA 19123

Contact Person: Cheri Honkala

Issues for 1996:



MON Valley Unemployed Committee
120 East 9th Avenue
Homestead, PA 15120
Phone: 412-464-9962 Fax: 412-462-8407


Contact Person: Paul Lodico

Issues for 1996:

1. State implementation of national welfare law changes

2. State implementation of training law changes

3. Increase in state and federal minimum wage

Newsletter: None.



National/Philadelphia Union of the Homeless
3434 Old York Road
Philadelphia, PA 19140
Phone: 215-221-0459


Contact Person: Ronald Casanova

Issues for 1996:

1. Homelessness

2. Bad shelters

3. Poverty


Newsletter: Available. $12 a year, for every two months.



Philadelphia Unemployment Project
116 S. 7th Street
Philadelphia, PA 19106
Phone: 215-592-0933 Fax: 215-592-7537


Contact Person: John Dodds

Issues for 1996:

1. Health care

2. Welfare

3. Foreclosure prevention

4. Minimum wage

Newsletter: None.



Philadelphia Welfare Rights
1231 N. Franklin Street
Philadelphia, PA 19122
Phone: 215-684-3600 Fax: 215-684-3603

Contact Person: Louise Brookins

Issues for 1996:

1. Welfare reform

2. Health care - HMO's

3. Housing

4. Legal services

Newsletter: None.



Susquehanna Welfare Rights Organization
168 E. 5 Street
Bloomsburg, PA 17815
Phone: 717-784-8760 Ext. Fax: 717-784-4840
E-mail: hn0927@handsnet.org

Contact Person: Marjorie Farrell

Issues for 1996:

1. Welfare reform

2. SSI issues

3. Food Stamps

4. Medicaid

Newsletter: None.


RHODE ISLAND


DARE
340 Lockwood Street
Providence, RI 02907
Phone: 401-351-6960 Fax: 401-351-6977


Contact Person: Shannah Kurland

Issues for 1996:

1. Environmental justice - urban land reform

2. Police accountability - stop the attack on our community

3. Women's economic justice - organizing family childcare workers

4. Youth organizing - demand jobs and career training


Newsletter: Available. Purchase ad in our annual ad book ($40 - $500) and get on newsletter mailing list.



Hmong United Association of Rhode Island
340 Lockwood Street
Providence, RI 02907
Phone: 401-455-0847

Contact Person: Simon Kue

Issues for 1996:

1. Welfare Reform: Its Impact on the Hmong Community

2. Immigration Reform: Impacts?

3. Access to Higher Education

4. Access to Health Information

6. Economic Development/Lack of Jobs

Newsletter: None.


UTAH


JEDI Women
347 South 400 East
Salt Lake City, UT 84111
Phone: 801-364-7765 Fax: 801-364-7227
E-mail: HN1826@handsnet.org

Contact Person: Deeda Seed

Issues for 1996:

1. Affordable housing

2. Positive welfare reform

3. Jobs and job training and education

4. Health care

5. Affordable quality child care

Newsletter: Available. Send name and address.


VERMONT


The Women's Union
35 Wilson Street
Burlington, VT 05401
Phone: 802-658-1047 E-mail:dconrad@moose.uvm.edu

Contact Person: Sally Conrad

Issues for 1996:

1. Monitoring welfare reform in VT and trying to influence state legislation

2. Monitoring welfare reform in Washington and trying to influence it

3. Researching guaranteed annual income/wage (wages for housework)

4. Finding ways to help those required to do mandatory work under "workfare"

5. Trying to build bridges to "middle-class" allies

6. Planning and participating in a New England wide People's Economic Summit geared to bring together low income/no income people and their allies to develop strategies for change.

Newsletter: Available. A contribution of $10 to the Women's Union would be much appreciated but not necessary.


WASHINGTON


Fair Budget Action Campaign
P.O. Box 31151
Seattle, WA 98103
Phone: 206-727-0369 Fax: 206-727-0358


Contact Person: Gwen L. Orwiler

Issues for 1996:

1. Issues that address underlying causes of poverty
2. Empower low income people to speak out to public and state legislation on issues that impact them

Newsletter: Available. Membership $1 a year.



Welfare Rights Organizing Coalition
2212 South Jackson
Seattle, WA 98144
Phone: 206-324-3063 Fax: 206-860-8825


Contact Person: Jean Colman

Issues for 1996:


1. Welfare policy: reforms that help parents get and keep jobs, and do not dismantle the safety net

2. Child care

3. Employment and training programs

Newsletter: Available. Donations are welcome.


WEST VIRGINIA


West Virginia Help Center
P.O. Box 640
Pursglove, WV 26546-6400
Phone: 304-291-5703


Contact Person: Carolyn Milvet

Issues for 1996:

1. "Welfare to Work" @ a decent wage - (10.00 - 12.00./hr.)

2. Challenge the stereotypes of the poor

Newsletter: Available.



West Virginia Human Resources Association

P.O. Box 5265
Charleston, WV 25361-0265
Phone: 304-342-0749 Fax: 304-343-6307


Contact Person: Dee Crabtree

Issues for 1996:

1. Advocacy for children, senior citizens, welfare recipients and those covered under medicaid

Newsletter: Available.


WISCONSIN


Poverty Network Initiative
223 Maple Avenue
Waukesha, WI 53186
Phone: 414-574-9925 Fax: 414-574-9926


Contact Person: Kerryn Laumer

Issues for 1996:

1. Rescission of W-2 - Wisconsin Works

2. Worker's Rights

3. Welfare Working Family's Sick leave

4. Equal pay

5. W2 copays child care/health care

6. Public education

Newsletter: Available. Send donation to cover postage.



Welfare Warriors\Welfare Mothers Voice

2711 W. Michigan Street
Milwaukee, WI 53208-4044
Phone: 414-342-6662 Fax: 414-342-6667


Contact Person: Pat Gowens or Linda Ray



Issues for 1996:

1. Fight current wave of welfare reform

2. Trying to get President & HHS to deny waiver for W-2

3. Helpline - help with problems with welfare bureaucracy

4. Welfare Mother's Voice publication

5. Project for mothers whose children have been taken wrongfully by Dept of Social Services

6. MAY (Mothers & Youth) Project - volunteer corps of moms and kids to work together on advocacy

Newsletter: Available. $4 for AFDC moms or other very low income people, $15 for other individuals, $25 for organizations.


WYOMING


Education Graduation Opportunities (E.G.O.)
Laramie County Community College
1400 E. College Drive
Cheyenne, WY 82007
Phone: 307-778-1288 Ext. Fax: 307-778-1350
E-mail: dlowe-ca@mail.lcc.whecn.edu

Contact Person: Dianne Lowe-Carpenter

Issues for 1996:

E.G.O is a student support group in Wyoming:

1. Attempting to change the negative stigma associated with students on public assistance

2. Lobbying against negative legislation regarding welfare reform (i.e. cutting benefits, time limits for students, work requirements while in college)

3. We plan to travel to other colleges and meet with students

4. Voter registration drive for low-income students and community members

5. Child support enforcement strategies

6. Aiming at getting student representation on State committees that reform programs in Wyoming

Newsletter: None.


About the Center on Social Welfare Policy and Law

The Center on Social Welfare Policy and Law helps poor people get the basic subsistence, justice and fairness to which they are entitled.

For the past 30 years, the Center on Social Welfare Policy and Law ("the Center") has worked with and on behalf of poor people to ensure that adequate income support -- public funding provided on the basis of need -- is available whenever and to the extent necessary to meet basic needs and foster healthy human and family development.

The Center's program for 1996 and beyond entails working on several fronts to fulfill these goals, including:

The Center believes adequate income support is a critical element in any comprehensive strategy to reduce poverty, enable and encourage personal growth, and ensure that all can live with dignity. The Center uses its special expertise in cash income support programs to promote the creation, maintenance, strengthening, and fair administration of such programs, and, as appropriate, to address other publicly supported means of improving poor people's income.

The Center receives financial support from a broad array of sources, including foundations, corporations, the Interest on Lawyer Account Fund of the State of New York, law firms, church groups, community organizations, and individuals. The Center is a nonprofit corporation tax-exempt under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. Bequests and contributions to the Center are tax-deductible and are greatly appreciated.

For information about other Center publications, contact the Center at:


Center on Social Welfare Policy and Law
275 Seventh Avenue, Suite 1205
New York, New York 10001-6708
(212) 633-6967; FAX: (212) 633-6371;
E-mail: HN0135@handsnet.org



Return to WHAM! main page

ÿ