• Home

• Issue Briefs
  • Homelessness
  • Affordable Housing
  • Hunger
  • Health Care
  • Addiction Treatment
  • Employment
  • Welfare Reform
  • Children and Families
  • Child Care
  • The Elderly
  • Glossary of Poverty-Related Terms

• Upcoming Events

• Members/Contact Info

Issue Briefs

The issues of homelessness, housing, health, hunger, employment, child care, income, and taxes are interconnected in the lives of the 1 in 13 Marylanders living at or below the federal poverty level. These families and individuals struggle every day to meet their basic needs. At the same time, we believe that positive outcomes translate into long-term public profits.

 

MAP’s annual agenda focuses on three major themes:

 

Investing in Maryland’s Lower-Income Citizens Makes Economic Sense:

 

·          Every $1 invested in WIC saves $3 in children’s health care costs.

·          Every $1 invested in early childhood services saves $7 by increasing economic well-being and tax revenues, and by reducing costs for remedial education, criminal justice treatment, and crime victims.

·          Every $1 invested in substance abuse treatment saves $7 in public health and safety costs.

·          Every $1 invested in housing development generates $12 in the State’s economy.

 

Investing in Maryland’s Lower-Income Citizens Improves Lives and Causes Positive Outcomes:

 

·          Seniors with prescription drug coverage are healthier and more able to live independently longer, at far less cost to the State.

·          A gradual increase in the State’s Refundable Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) has helped thousands of working Marylanders and made work pay a little bit more each year.

·          Children are healthier because of the expansion of the Maryland Children’s Health Program to households with incomes up to 300% of the federal poverty level (FPL).

·          Maryland’s welfare rolls have decreased by about 74% since welfare reform — many of the families are working and paying taxes.

 

The Provision of a Safety Net is Critical to the Survival of Families and Individuals:

 

·          In FY 2004, more than 37,300 homeless men, women, and children were sheltered in Maryland.

·          A mother and her children without any other source of income receive $490 in cash assistance to pay for rent, utilities and other life necessities. 

·          Single, disabled adults without any other source of income are provided $185 per month on which to live.

 

We hope these briefing materials will provide you with some basic information about the range of issues facing families and individuals living in or near poverty, and how those issues are connected. The members of MAP have extensive experience working to help these Marylanders improve their circumstances and advocating to policy makers about what we believe are the most effective routes out of poverty. Please feel free to contact any of MAP’s members if you want more information about these issues. We look forward to working with you in Annapolis and throughout the State to help all Marylanders achieve lives of dignity and independence.

Comments

Login to add a comment

No Comments

 

Tools  |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |  More »