Renewable Revolution

SOJOURNERS

September 23, 2021

BY LAUREN W. RELIFORD ✨

Bishop Michael Curry, the presiding bishop of the Episcopal Church, speaks to the media on Sept., 22, 2021, following a meeting between a coalition of Christian denominations and the White House to discuss investments in anti-poverty initiatives and programs that support children and families. REUTERS/Evelyn Hockstein

WHEN WILL BE THE RIGHT TIME FOR ELECTED OFFICIALS TO ADDRESS THE CRUSHING NEEDS OF FAMILIES AND COMMUNITIES?

Snippets:

While doing frontline social work with aging adults during the pandemic, I saw the importance of supporting people throughout their lives. The social work code of ethics calls us to meet people where they are, honoring the dignity of life by using our relationships to heal and uplift. This often requires us to connect people with life-saving resources to meet basic needs, including housing, medical care, education, and even transportation. Even amid so much death, I shared moments of joy when I could connect with my patients, who knew I was there to help, sans judgement, and that I genuinely wanted them to live the life God intended for them.

It is not lost on me that many patients would not have survived without access to social supports like housing, food assistance, and access to affordable health care. I also know millions of people of all ages in the United States rely on similar supports. For example, we already know that increasing access to programs such as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and the recently expanded Child Tax Credit (CTC) demonstrably reduce the risk of poverty and its impacts on health and well-being. ... ...

Many people in the United States were already suffering before the pandemic; COVID-19 has exacerbated that hardship for millions of us. As a person of faith, I find this suffering unacceptable, as it dishonors the inherent dignity of people shaped in the image of God. ... ...

Nearly one in seven children — more than 10 million children, or about half the population of New York — are living in poverty. These numbers are even more startling for children of color. According to the Children’s Defense Fund, children in poverty are disproportionately Black, Hispanic, and American Indian/Alaska Native.

Can our elected officials really justify making these children wait for the “right time” to enable them to lift themselves out of poverty?

Full article:
https://sojo.net/articles/parable-federal-budget