John Edwards Makes Street Sense

Edwards: Wipe Out Poverty in 30 Years

http://www.streetsense.org/articles/article_112807edwards.jsp

Street Sense asked major presidential candidates from both parties six questions to learn how they would combat poverty if elected president. Democrat John Edwards, the only candidate to respond by our deadline, explains.

What have you done to help people who are homeless or on the brink of becoming homeless in your community?

I have organized thousands of Americans in all 50 states to join One Corps, an organization connected to my campaign that gets people involved in helping make a difference and actually doing something and taking action. Earlier this year, for instance, One Corps sponsored a National Poverty Action Week to encourage members to volunteer at homeless shelters, soup kitchens, and other organizations that provide services to homeless people and to people whose housing situation is insecure. In my own community in North Carolina, I served on the board of directors of Urban Ministries, an interfaith organization that supports a wide range of services and outreach – including food, shelter and counseling – to people in need.

What is the single most important thing you will do to end homelessness if you are elected president?

While the causes of homelessness are complex, many of them are tied to poverty. The fact that nearly 37 million Americans wake up every day in poverty – 5 million more than when George W. Bush took office – is a national disgrace. I believe that what we do about this issue says everything about our character as a nation. That’s why I have challenged America to set an ambitious goal that could fundamentally change our country: eliminate poverty within 30 years and reduce it by one-third within a decade. To do this, we will need to make significant investments to reward work, expand opportunity and strengthen families. Because the issue of homelessness is too often related to mental illness, I will also create a universal health care system that treats mental illnesses every bit as seriously as physical illnesses.

What other legislative steps will you take to increase access to job training, health care, mental health care, case management and other social services for vulnerable populations?

I am proud to be the first major presidential candidate to propose a specific plan to transform America’s health care system and guarantee quality affordable health care for every man, woman and child in America. Under my plan, new “Health Care Markets” will give families and businesses purchasing power and a choice of quality plans, including one public plan based on Medicare. Families without insurance will get coverage – that includes mental health treatment – at an affordable price. Families that have insurance today will pay less and get more security and choices. Employers will find it cheaper and easier to insure their workers, and will be required to do so. Under my health care plan, mental health treatment and substance abuse treatment will be fully covered.

Every American should have the chance to work their way out of poverty, but some willing workers cannot find jobs because of where they live, a lack of experience or skills, or other obstacles like a criminal record. I will create 1 million Stepping Stone Jobs to help people struggling to find jobs gain skills and work experience. And no job should pay poverty wages – I will raise the minimum wage to $9.50 an hour by 2012, and then index it.

The federal government’s investment in training and employment services has dropped nearly in half over the past 20 years to only $35 per worker. I support the expansion of America’s workforce development and training programs. Career counselors and training programs that draw on businesses, unions and local community colleges have been shown to be effective. For example, my Green Collar Jobs Training Program will create workforce development partnerships like these, training and employing up to 150,000 workers a year in the new energy economy.

Far too many homeless people in America are also veterans. Once our service members become veterans, we have to make sure the system doesn’t fail them. As president, I will fully fund veteran’s care and create a new national chain of care to ensure that no veteran falls through the cracks. I will also ensure that returning troops have access to the educational and economic opportunities to succeed in civilian life.

Affordable housing has been cited as one of the main ways to prevent homelessness. What specific actions will you take to create more affordable housing? How do you define “affordable?”

To address the crisis of affordable housing and to give low-income families the freedom and choice that wealthier families enjoy, I have proposed creating 1 million new housing vouchers over five years. We should also expand the supply of affordable housing that is economically integrated with other communities.

My plan to provide 1 million housing vouchers for low-income families is based on the idea that economically integrated neighborhoods will serve all Americans better. Research has shown that vouchers are effective in combating homelessness and housing insecurity. Currently, more than 8 million Americans live in neighborhoods of concentrated poverty. Growing up in such a high-poverty environment greatly limits one’s opportunities, and undermines people’s chances for escaping poverty. Increasing the number of mixed income neighborhoods can give more people the opportunity to benefit from good jobs and schools.

While I believe that we must break up areas of concentrated poverty if we are to build One America of economic opportunity for all, we must also make sure to create a net expansion in the supply of affordable housing. I will also work to revitalize dilapidated neighborhoods through HOPE VI, while ensuring that current residents share in the gains.

What kinds of interactions have you had with the homeless community?

Through my work as the director of the University of North Carolina’s Center on Poverty and Opportunity and through my presidential campaign, I have traveled to numerous homeless shelters to speak with the people who provide and use the shelters’ services.

Most recently, I traveled to the Beatitude House for homeless women and children in Youngstown, Ohio. I also worked with agencies that provide shelter and other assistance as an Urban Ministries board member.

Street papers are found in most major cities and aim to increase awareness of poverty and homelessness across the United States. Please add anything else you think our readers should know about your priorities as president.

I am running for president to make sure all Americans have the same kinds of opportunities that I have had. No matter where you live, no matter how much money your family has, no matter what the color your skin is, in America you should have the opportunity to work hard and get ahead.

I grew up in a small town in rural North Carolina, but I had incredible opportunities all my life. I was blessed to go to good public schools and be the first person in my family to go to college. For my whole career, I have fought for ordinary working families against powerful special interests. As a lawyer, I stood with kids and families against big insurance companies. Since I entered public service, I have stood up for the working people whose labor made this country great. As president, I will continue to fight for good jobs, stronger unions, universal health care, and the other building blocks of the American Dream.