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FROM WRNI Radio:
Advocate group opposes food stamp change
By MEGAN HALL(2011-11-23)
PROVIDENCE, RI(WRNI) - Let food stamp recipients spend a little extra during the holidays just like everyone else. That's the message from the George Wiley Center, an advocacy group for low income Rhode Islanders. It's opposed to the state's decision to stop offering the benefits a few days before Thanksgiving and Christmas.
Operations manager Maggi Rogers says food stamps don't expire, and recipients don't have to spend them early.
"So no one is harmed by releasing them early, except that the suggestion is that low income household equals irresponsible and therefore can't make their own decisions," she says.
Rogers says the George Wiley Center led a grass root organizing effort to offer the food stamps early in response to requests from low-income Rhode Islanders. The state says the program meant many recipients ran out of food in mid January.
Do you have insight or expertise on this topic? Please email us, we'd like to hear from you. news@wrni.org.
******************************************************************************************* FROM AARP BULLETIN NOVEMBER 2011: State News -Rhode Island Stay warm Rhode Islanders behind on utility payments may have an easier time keeping the heat on this winter, thanks to a new state law. Backed by AARP, the law is expected to generate $7.5 million for the Low Income Home Energy Assistancer Program (LIHEAP) by adding an annual surcharge of $20 per household to combined gas and electric bills. "With fewer federal dollars coming to the state this year, this law will make it easier to heat and light the homes of those who most need help," said Maggi Rogers of the George Wiley Center, an organization dedicated to changing public policies to keep people out of poverty. Eligibility for LIHEAP is based on income. To find out if you qualify, go to energy.ri.gov/lowincome/liheap.php.
One day after Mayor Angel Taveras released three ProCAP board members and asked the director to resign for what he called "staggering mismanagement" of the human services program, thousands of people who depend on it's services are asking what's next.
One of the Programs effected by the Agency's issues is the George Wiley Center in Pawtucket. The center is the middle man between people that need help paying their utilities and programs like ProCAP that provide those services. For the past year, workers at the George Wiley Center say they can't do their job, because ProCAP hasn't been doing theirs.
Drawers of files at George Wiley Center show just how many Rhode Islanders come seeking help for paying their utility bills. It's part of Debbie Clark's job to refer them to programs like ProCAP.
"They're the focal point of where everything starts, they're where people can move on to the next step," Clark says.
Clark says working with ProCAP has become a battle over the last year, hindering her from helping others.
"People are calling they're not getting treated properly, I just think the whole thing needs to be revamped."
An investigation into the program revealed hundreds of thousands of dollars meant to pay vendors, was paying off past due accounts. In some cases, employees were receiving interest free loans and payments for their personal cell phones. Mayor Taveras says that's why he's removed three board members and asked executive director Frank Corbishley to resign.
Corbishley reacted with a statement, accusing the mayor of making a power grab for control of ProCAP. Calling out the mayor for what he says is an irresponsible release of information.
Clark says her program has had communication problems with ProCAP for a while and is hoping for change.
"Our hands are tied, we can't change what's happening at ProCAP, we can't affect what's happening at ProCAP, and all we can do is help these people on what to do moving forward."
The Rhode Island Office of Energy Resources usually signs a year-long contract with ProCAP, but this October, they offered only a three month agreement. Saying the program needs to get its finances in order, or risk losing its funding.
FROM THE PROVIDENCE JOURNAL Emergency rules reinstated to help restore RI utility service
October 24, 2011 4:48 pm
By Alex Kuffner
WARWICK, R.I. -- For the third year running, state regulators have put in effect emergency rules to restore gas and electric service to Rhode Islanders in need so they can heat their homes with the onset of winter.
The three-member Public Utilities Commission voted unanimously on Monday to bring back regulations allowing amended payment plans for low-income, unemployed and other "protected" classes of customers who have had their service cut off after falling behind on their bills.
The provisions, which were also in force last year and in 2009, take effect immediately and expire Dec. 15.
Henry J. Shelton: Sundlun gruff but deeply compassionate
Jul 23, 2011
I'd like to add my voice to the many who have already spoken about former Gov. Bruce Sundlun's legacy.
My first encounter with the governor was when I was a Catholic priest working out of the Catholic Inner City Center in Providence. Mr. Sundlun at the time headed the Outlet Co.
I was working with low-income mothers on welfare, as well as low-income seniors. One of our actions at the Outlet one summer was an effort to get school clothing at a discount level for children whose parents were on welfare.
At the time, the state provided a small school-clothing grant to mothers on state assistance. Our group went to the Outlet Co., confronted Mr. Sundlun, and though we always had to deal with his confrontational and gruff manner, Sundlun met our demands and let mothers on welfare come to the Outlet to get clothing at a discount for their children in preparation for school.
At another visit to the Outlet with a group of low-income youth, we asked Sundlun to offer jobs to the inner-city youth during the summer at his company. Sundlun rarely gave into our demands easily, but he was a man with a deep sense of social justice. Among Jews, he would be considered a mensch, a man deeply committed to justice, especially for those less fortunate.
Through his influence and intervention, the Outlet Co. and Channel 10, which Outlet owned, hired several young people that summer. For many of these young people, their lives were changed.
During his tenure as governor, we at the George Wiley Center had many visits with Sundlun about the conditions faced by low-income people, especially mothers with young children. These problems included utility shutoffs, unaffordable housing, difficulty in obtaining affordable child care and many issues ignored or considered trivial by so many in our community.
Governor Sundlun was the rare politician who listened intently to the circumstances of the lives of those mothers who despite poverty, were trying very hard to improve the lives of their children. We at the George Wiley Center recognize that Governor Sundlun is being heralded for his courage in battle, his rare decision making, seen especially at the time of the credit-union crisis, but we remember him best as a man who cared for those in Rhode Island who lacked political power and prestige.
That aspect of his character is rare today. We thank him for his compassion and sensitivity.
Bill to help poor with utilities heads to governor
01:00 AM EDT on Saturday, July 2, 2011
By gina macris
journal staff writer
PROVIDENCE A seven-year push by antipoverty advocates of the George Wiley Center wound up Thursday with passage of a bill intended to provide a safety net for low-income utility customers facing shutoffs.
The measure, sponsored by state Sen. Joshua Miller, sailed through both the House and Senate on the last day of the General Assembly session.
A surcharge on gas and electric bills a combined total of $20 a year per customer is expected to generate up to $7.5 million to supplement the federally funded Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP).
The Wiley Centers Maggie Rogers hailed the Assemblys vote as an important victory, but cautioned that there is still much work to be done.
In addition to Millers efforts, she said, the legislation had been kept alive over the past seven years by the late Thomas C. Slater, a former member of the House; his son, state Rep. Scott Slater; and state Rep. Arthur Handy. Millers compromise bill was ultimately successful. It goes to Governor Chafee for his signature.
The legislation is the first step a big and important step in Rhode Island acknowledging it has a big problem in the federally funded heating assistance program for the poor, Rogers said.
Even with a total of $30 million in energy assistance and a moratorium prohibiting National Grid from turning off utilities in the winter, there were 34,000 shutoffs last year, said Rogers.
The new surcharge will provide a predictable source of revenue for LIHEAP, which receives the federal funds in dribs and drabs and cannot always respond to emergencies, she said. But Rogers said there are concerns that the next federal budget may cut the allocation from $30 million to $13 million. Even with an additional $7.5 million from the new fund, the poor would still end up with less assistance than they had during the past winter, she said.
BLOCK THOSE SHUTOFFS By RUDY CHEEKS | June 22, 2011
I was speaking recently with Maggi Burns Rogers of the George Wiley Center about the current state of affairs with the termination/shut-off rules for public utilities in Vo Dilun. The Division of Public Utilities and Carriers administers all of this and there have (for years) been complaints about its practices. While the termination of service rules are quite clear, it seems that many consumers have received deceptive or, quite frankly, wrong information from the division.
And, of course, that means that poor and struggling Vo Dilunduhs have their heat and/or electricity shut off when they have (but may not be aware of) other options. Maggi tells me that there is one thing that everyone should know: YOU HAVE DUE PROCESS RIGHTS! EVERY TIME you are threatened with or receive a termination of utility services letter, you have the right to a hearing. Don't let Division of Public Utilities bureaucrats tell you that because you had a hearing 18 months ago or three years ago you can't get another hearing. EVERY TIME! If anyone at the Division of Public Utilities tells you that you cannot have a hearing they are lying and violating your rights.
Maggi tells me there is pending legislation that would put in place comprehensive and sane utility policies legislation that advocates also believe has a very good chance of passage this year, especially with a supportive governor. The bill number is S-412 in the Senate; in the House it is H-5437. "Something could be done this year," is how Maggi puts it.
If you'd like to move this legislation along if you'd like to do something that will not cost taxpayers a dime and will mean that young children will not freeze in the winter or be without electricity call your legislator and tell them you support this legislation. Yes, your utility bills will increase a little bit because the utilities will pass this cost on to you. But remember, you are going to pay one way or the other. If this legislation doesn't pass, you will pay post facto for the public safety costs when poor people without heat and electricity need to receive medical services because they have become ill.
If you have any other questions, call the George Wiley Center. The phone number there is 401.728.5555.
Council Backs Union's Call to Open State Unemployment, TDI Contract to Bidding
Members of UniteHERE Local 217 encouraged The Cranston City Council Finance Committee to pass a resolution that urges the governor to open bidding for TDI and unemployment debit card services.
Dozens of supporters attended the Finance Committee Meeting holding signs to express their views.
Cranston --The Finance Subcommittee of the City Council last night unanimously voted in favor of a resolution urging the Governor to open up bidding for the states unemployment and temporary disability insurance contract.
The vote came after a press conference held on the steps of City Hall before the Finance Committee meeting during which members of UniteHERE Local 217, officials from the George Wiley Center and members of the Local 1322, the local bus union, came together to express grievances regarding Rhode Islands TDI and unemployment contract with J.P. Morgan Chase Bank.
Attendees of the press conference were adamant that JP Morgan Chases fee schedule on TDI and unemployment transactions are unfair and that change is needed.
Matt Cournoyer, member of UniteHERE said that he thought it was unfair for the bank to make profit off unemployment.
Joe Renzi, Board Member of Rhode Island Jobs with Justice, said he was encouraged the City Council was considering the resolution.
We are fortunate to have [a City Council] paying attention and are concerned about the hard times that some want to ignore. Tonight we stand together, Renzi said. To simply request that the contract with JP Morgan Chase go to bid to ensure that we find the fairest providers possible for our residents.
Only four other states New York, New Jersey, California, Hawaii and the commonwealth of Puerto Ricohave a TDI program but James DAloisio, researcher at UniteHERE Local 217 said that Rhode Islands system with JP Morgan is the most egregious.
After the press conference, members of the public and the Local 217 filled the chambers anxiously awaiting the discussion of the resolution urging the governor to openly bid for debit card services used by the state of Rhode Island. The resolution was sponsored by Councilman Steve Stycos. Dozens of supporters held paper signs that read Put It Out To Bid and Haga Una Oferta.
Christopher Cook, vice president of the Local 217 and an employee at the Westin, described his experience with the TDI debit card to the city council.
Cook had received TDI in February due to a surgery that left him unable to work. When he received the Chase debit card, he called the bank a couple of times to see if his money was available. The third time he called, he was informed that his next call would incur a fee. Frustrated with what he felt to be a disorganized process and the fees, Cook called the bank to tell them he just wanted to come into the bank and withdraw his money to avoid further fees.
He soon found that would be impossible. He learned that the closest branch was located in New York
I dont think its right that big banks should have the right to make profits by charging these types of fees to people who are out of work, Cook said.
Sandra Morra, a small business owner and vice president of the George Wiley Center said the cumulative effect of small fees from big banks is a large sum of money that could have better served the poor.
The fact that JP Morgan Chase is charging the poorest of the poor, the unemployed, to pay a dollar and a half or so for the privilege of getting the money that is due to them and if you add that up over the course of the year you could have probably put some school clothes on a child or you could have bought several dinners with that money, Morra said.
UniteHERE researcher James DAloisio said he didnt plan on speaking during the committee meeting but, made note of the Citys motto mounted on the wall which translates from Latin as While I watch, I care. DAloisio said, I cannot think of a better situation where we can observe what the state has been doing with this contract, care about it, and make actions accordingly.
After discussion on the terms of the JP Chase Morgan contract and the potential advantages of open bidding the City Council passed the resolution unanimously and constituents erupted excitedly in applause.
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FROM WPRO-AM RADIO
Attention All Media: Any use of sound must credit Matt Allen & NewsTalk 630 WPRO & 99.7 FM.
Matt Allen > Maggie Rogers | 8-22-2011; The Henry Shelton Act
this act creates a fund funded by State rate payers to assist those who are in jeopardy of having their utilities shut off.
This program will save everyone money in the long run in three ways 1 - Public Health 2 - Public Education 3 - Public Safety
if this program can help people pay and get people onto a reasonable payment plan, utility companies will not have to raise rates to protect their profit margin by makin up for uncollectable bills. Therefore, saving all rate payers money in the future.
she is not a communist, she is a patriot. She believes in this country, believes in public health and public education.
