A Thriving Community Requires a Strong Safety Net

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LOUISVILLE, KY – Safety net programs like Medicaid, the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF) fill gaps in access to food, financial support and medical care across the commonwealth; and recently, these critical programs have been in the public conversation. Members of the Public Assistance Reform Task Force have concluded their work and recommended further exploration of adjustments to these programs.  At the same time, Governor-elect Beshear is building an administration that will have the opportunity to make broad changes to programs that have supported hundreds of thousands of Kentuckians in making ends meet. As each of these bodies proceed, we, the undersigned, urge Kentucky’s leaders to recognize the importance of these programs in the lives of their constituents throughout the commonwealth.

Kentuckians look out for each other when we hit a hard patch and struggle to make ends meet, and our safety net should reflect that. We all need a hand sometimes. White, Black or Brown; urban or rural; abled or disabled; unemployed or underpaid – we all need access to health care, housing, groceries and financial security. Medicaid, SNAP and TANF are critical to helping individuals, families and communities weather hard times.

Solid research shows programs like SNAP, Medicaid and TANF improve health and the ability of people to more fully contribute to our commonwealth. These programs strengthen struggling economies when they most need it by bringing in federal dollars that circulate through local communities. We believe improvements to Kentucky’s safety net programs should be guided by these shared principles:

  • Utilize a “welcome mat” approach, making public assistance as accessible as possible for Kentuckians, and meeting them with respect, dignity and without stigma.
  • Integrate the eligibility, application and enrollment of programs so that no one unknowingly leaves vital assistance on the table.
  • Give kids a strong start by ensuring they and their families glean the full benefit of public support when they need it, including financial assistance that is flexible to meet a variety of needs.
  • Prioritize racial, ethnic and geographic equity among Kentuckians who face historical and systemic barriers to meeting basic needs.
  • Take down barriers to enrolling in and using public assistance in order to reduce administrative costs and the hassle people face while getting back on their feet.
  • Support, not penalize, underpaid workers whose jobs do not pay a living wage, provide consistent hours, or offer access to benefits. This includes supporting workers in areas where jobs are scarce.

Many Kentuckians are simply a lost job, reduced work hours, a new baby, or an accident or illness away from qualifying from programs like Medicaid, SNAP or TANF. In fact, that’s why we call it a safety net – it catches people so they don’t fall through the cracks. Maintaining a strong safety net honors the dignity of every Kentuckian, and provides the foundation we need to thrive as a commonwealth.

We are ready and willing to work with members of the General Assembly and the Administration to that end.

Signed:

AARP of Kentucky

ACLU of Kentucky

Advocacy Action Network

Align Wealth Management

Alliance for Pediatric Behavioral and Mental

Health of Kentucky

Big Brothers Big Sisters of Kentuckiana

Bridgehaven, Inc.

Catholic Conference of Kentucky

Coalition for the Homeless

Community Coordinated Child Care (4-C)

Community Farm Alliance

Council on Developmental Disabilities

DOVES of Gateway

Family and Children’s Place

Family Circle Inc.

Family Health Centers, Inc.

Family Promise of Northern Kentucky, Inc.

Family Scholar House

Feeding Kentucky

Forward Kentucky

Gateway Homeless Coalition, Inc.

Healthy Reentry Coalition of Kentucky

Homeless and Housing Coalition of Kentucky

Jefferson County Teachers Association

Jewish Family & Career Services

KCEOC Community Action Partnership

Kentucky CancerLink

Kentucky Center for Economic Policy

Kentucky Chapter of the AAP

Kentucky Coalition Against Domestic Violence

Kentucky Council of Churches

Kentucky Council on Problem Gambling, Inc., (KYCPG)

Kentucky Equal Justice Center

Kentucky Nurses Association

Kentucky Primary Care Association

Kentucky Psychological Association

Kentucky State AFL-CIO

Kentucky Voices for Health

Kentuckians for the Commonwealth

KIPDA – Area Agency on Aging and Independent Living

Matthew25 AIDS Services

Mental Health America of Kentucky

Mission Behind Bars and Beyond (MB3)

Mountain Comprehensive Care Center

NAMI Kentucky

NAMI Lexington

NAMI Louisville

National Association of Social Workers –

Kentucky Chapter

Neighborhood House

Northern KY Justice and Peace Committee

Oasis, Inc

Park DuValle Community Health Center

Pathways, Inc.

Shawnee Christian Healthcare Center

The Arc of Kentucky

Union Church

United Food and Commercial Workers Local 227

Wellspring, Inc.

Wesley House Community Services

 

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About InsureKY

InsureKY is a statewide coalition of nonprofits formed to promote more affordable health

insurance, better care, and stronger consumer protections for all Kentuckians.

 

Kentucky Equal Justice Center

Kentucky Voices for Health

Kentucky Center for Economic Policy

Homeless and Housing Coalition of Kentucky

Mental Health America of Kentucky

 

Media Contacts

Dustin Pugel, Policy Analyst

Kentucky Center for Economic Policy

dustin@kypolicy.org

(859)230-0098

 

Emily Beauregard, Executive Director

Kentucky Voices for Health

emily.beauregard@kyvoicesforhealth.org

(502) 882-0584

 

Sheila Schuster, Executive Director

Advocacy Action Network

kyadvocacy@gmail.com

(502) 836-43222