United Way of Central Indiana announces public policy agenda ahead of 2023 legislative session
INDIANAPOLIS – As Hoosier lawmakers and their constituents prepare for the 2023 meeting of the Indiana General Assembly, United Way of Central Indiana today announced its policy priorities for the legislative session.
As Central Indiana’s largest network of human service organizations, United Way of Central Indiana is committed to partnering with people and organizations across the state to advance legislation that helps every person, child and family reach their full potential.
“Thousands of Hoosiers and their families need help meeting their basic needs and achieving financial stability, and organizations like United Way have a responsibility to leverage public policy to improve their quality of life and support their upward economic mobility,” said Fred Payne, president and CEO of United Way of Central Indiana. “We know that positive change is possible when all of our community members use their voices to advocate for a better future, and we look forward to partnering with individuals and organizations across the state to build and support systems that help Hoosiers thrive.”
United Way’s public policy agenda was developed in close consultation with its network of 89 community-based organizations. To ensure policy efforts have maximum impact on the communities served, the agenda prioritizes solutions that aim to meet the needs of the whole family while addressing disparities across race, ethnicity, income, gender identity, sexual orientation, ability status and location.
It also focuses on efforts that serve Hoosier households living in or near poverty, which United Way describes as Asset-Limited, Income-Constrained, Employed (ALICE). ALICE households represent those who are living paycheck to paycheck, with earnings above the federal poverty line but below what is necessary to afford basic needs or build emergency savings.
According to 2020 data, there were 612,414 ALICE households and 328,752 households in poverty in Indiana. In United Way’s seven-county service area in Central Indiana, 34% of all households are one emergency away from poverty.
United Way’s work in the next legislative session will prioritize three issues:
Early childhood education: Through its leadership of the Early Education Works Coalition, United Way will advocate for expanding income eligibility for the On My Way Pre-K program and the Child Care Development Fund. The coalition will also continue to support efforts that will increase the affordability, supply and sustainability of high-quality early care and education and call on the state to align its funding to maximize the number of children and families served.
Housing: In collaboration with the Hoosier Housing Needs Coalition and Prosperity Indiana, United Way will advocate for increasing the supply of quality affordable housing, ensuring the perseveration of existing affordable housing (including the enforcement of habitability standards and tenant protections), increasing the renter’s tax credit and raising homeownership rates among Black and Latino residents.
Mental health: In collaboration with mental health advocacy organizations, United Way will advocate for Medicaid updates that would increase reimbursement rates for mental health services, support legislation to increase the number of licensed mental health providers and push for adequate funding to build a sustainable behavioral health infrastructure in Indiana.
To complement these three priority issue areas, United Way will support its advocacy partners in their work to improve infant and maternal health, increase higher education enrollment and attainment through enrollment of eligible students into Indiana’s 21st Century Scholars Program and more.
“We look forward to working alongside Governor Holcomb, his administration, the Indiana General Assembly and our dedicated advocacy partners across the state to create a brighter future for Hoosiers,” said Sam Snideman, United Way’s vice president of government relations. “It will take collaborative effort to help individuals, children and families access the resources and opportunities they need to thrive and contribute positively to our economy and society.”
United Way of Central Indiana invites all Hoosiers to make their voices heard this legislative session by becoming an advocate at UWCI.org/advocate.