Our Community Agenda

People in our community and in communities around the country are dealing with a lot of the same issues: rising housing prices, lack of access to quality, affordable healthcare and wages that aren’t keeping up with rising inflation. When working people come together and make our voices heard, state and local elected officials are forced to take action. There are a lot of different solutions to the problems we all face, and some communities are already seeing the results of their collective action.

Affordable Housing

Help for Renters – Renters face a combination of rising rent prices and limited availability of rental units. In Oregon, the State Legislature recently responded to demands for action to address the affordable housing crisis by:

• Increasing construction of affordable housing
• Granting renters more time to access rental assistance and other services when faced with eviction
• Reducing homelessness by expanding access to programs that help prevent individuals and families from becoming homeless and help those experiencing homelessness get back on their feet.

Help for Homeowners – Home prices are continuing to rise at a rapid rate, and many homeowners are struggling to keep up with costs. In Maryland, the governor created a Homeowner Assistance Fund last year that:

• Provide loans and grants to assist homeowners who have experienced financial hardship with their mortgages, property taxes and homeowner association fees
• Funds a program to help homeowners with necessary repairs 
• Expands access to legal services to help homeowners avoid and navigate the foreclosure process

Bringing Down Other Housing Costs – Rising energy and maintenance costs are putting pressure on renters and homeowners. Last year’s federal Inflation Reduction Act created programs to bring down energy costs and reimburse homeowners for home upgrades like energy efficient windows and appliances. The law provides up to $14,000 in rebates and tax credits per household. 

Some states are creating similar programs to lower other housing-related costs. For example, Texas created a rebate and tax exemption program for homeowners who install solar panels, and Virginia’s Weatherization Assistance Program provides funds to reduce heating and cooling costs for low-income families

Healthcare

Lowering Prescription Drug Prices – Prescription drug prices often make up a major part of healthcare costs for working families. Many states have created prescription drug discount programs that greatly reduce the cost of prescription medication. The best programs are easily accessible to all residents and offer significant discounts on a wide variety of prescriptions. Creating and expanding these programs is an easy way to cut costs for working people.

Addressing the Healthcare Staffing Crisis – Communities across the country are dealing with a shortage of nurses and other healthcare professionals. In 2004, California became the first and only state to require a safe nurse to patient staffing ratio. Research shows this has led to improvement in patient outcomes and nurse retention. Several other states are now considering similar policies, as well as programs to expand access to nursing school programs.

Improving Rural Healthcare Access – Many rural areas face a severe shortage of healthcare facilities and healthcare professionals. The Colorado Health Service Corps provides loan repayment assistance to healthcare workers who agree to practice in an area with a health professional shortage.

Expanding Access to Telemedicine – Nearly every state expanded access to telehealth services for Medicaid recipients during the COVID-19 pandemic, and some states have responded to community requests to make these expanded services permanent. Access to telehealth services increases access to healthcare and reduces wait times.

Good Jobs

Minimum Wage – The federal minimum wage has been $7.25 per hour since 2009. Thanks to rising costs, the federal minimum wage has lost 21% of its buying power, meaning minimum wage workers are earning less now than they were in 2009. 30 states have responded to pressure from working people to raise their minimum wages above the federal minimum. Raising the minimum wage helps working families pay their bills and raises incomes for all low-wage workers.

Living Wages – Even in the states with the highest minimum wages, minimum wage earners often don’t earn a living wage. A living wage is defined as the minimum amount a family or individual would need to earn in order to afford to live in a certain area based on the local cost of living. There is a growing movement to make minimum wage increases automatic and link them to the rate of inflation so that working people’s wages keep pace with their bills. Legislators have already taken action to enact policies like this in Washington and Colorado.

Investing in Good Jobs – Our elected officials decide how to spend our tax dollars as part of an annual or biennial state budget process. When we invest in our communities, this investment improves lives and creates good, middle-class jobs. Legislators can also set wages, benefits and other policies that guarantee teachers, nurses, construction workers and other workers earn a good living. In Minnesota, the governor recently enacted the Local Jobs and Projects Plan, with $1.9 billion going to construct affordable housing, roads, bridges, fire stations, veterans’ homes and other local infrastructure projects, creating thousands of good-paying jobs. 

Workers Rights – State and local governments can do a lot to create good-paying jobs, but nothing has a bigger impact on working conditions than when working people come together and bargain collectively over the wages, benefits and policies that impact our day to day lives. Some states are taking action to protect and expand workers’ rights. In Michigan, working people came together and won, overturning a policy that weakened workers’ collective bargaining power and gaining policies that fight payroll fraud, ensure companies can’t misclassify employees to deny them pay and benefits, and guarantee working people in Michigan receive a fair wage.