A group of eight unemployed St. Johnsbury residents sought to humanize a looming budget battle at the Statehouse Wednesday, sharing stories about the difficulty they’ve found trying to move from state assistance to full employment.
Mostly single mothers, the women urged legislators to reject Gov. Peter Shumlin’s proposed $6 million cut to the Reach Up welfare program, calling it an essential lifeline when they’re out of work.
In his budget address last month, Shumlin called for Reach Up benefits to be capped at three consecutive — and five total — years, arguing, “Extending welfare to work benefits without interruption for a lifetime does nothing to actually encourage people to get a job.”
But Martha Aguila (pictured above), an unemployed, single mother of four from St. Johnsbury, took issue with those words Wednesday.
“To us, [Shumlin] makes it sound like people are staying on Reach Up because it’s easier or better than having a job,” she told the House Human Services Committee.
That’s hardly the case, she said. Of the $680 she receives each month through Reach Up, $550 goes straight to rent. That leaves her with $130 to cover the remaining expenses that she and her children face.
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The main issue with Reach Up is that
a.) yes there needs to be some limits, 5 years is fine…however there should also be an extension up to 4 years as with a requirement to make adequate progress in a trade program.
b.) the system needs to change. Currently, the system is set up for people who are fully dependent on it. If you are simply struggling to get by and need a helping hand for a few months you are screwed. If you are a single mother working but unable to make ends meet you get zilch, but quit your job and you get benefits. It needs to change to help people become self sufficent.
c.) while reach up may pay $650 / month, there is also section housing, daycare subsidys, three squares, liheap, WIC, Dr. Dynasaur. So Mrs Aguila may not receive a ton of money in reach up but there are programs out there that all add up. Now her situation with 4 children… I can understand why she has to use a fair amount of her reach up money to supplement the section 8. She is a prime example of someone who desperately needs a helping hand for her and her children…while she attends a trade school to find a career that will allow her to become self sufficient.
Shummy is on the right path, but his plan to simply cut is only one piece of the puzzle.
Reach Up is not a welfare or disability program. if you haven’t found a job in 5 years, you should be out. The Guv’s right on this one.