The Associated Press
The Associated Press
Frances Amando, of New York, holds a sign during a Hunger Action Network of New York rally at the Capitol in Albany, Tuesday.
Frances Amando, of New York, holds a sign during a Hunger Action Network of New York rally at the Capitol in Albany, Tuesday.
ALBANY - Carrying a tattered sign reading “We want jobs and living wages,” 25-year-old Karmatice Charles was one of more than 150 protesters Tuesday who came to Albany calling for the first welfare increase since 1990.
After paying state taxes for about 10 years, Charles says he went on welfare for the first time nearly a year ago after he was laid off. But welfare payments aren't enough to feed his wife and 2-year-old son. With the state budget due April 1, advocates for New York's poor made their final push for an increase in the welfare grant.
“This is my first experience being on government assistance, I'm not too familiar with the struggle,” said Charles, of Yonkers. “But I'm going through the struggle myself now. I think that they could give us more.”
By contrast, New York's most influential special interests - including teachers unions and other public worker unions - have been able to mount multimillion dollar campaigns to fight for the issues important to them.
Gov. David Paterson has proposed a 10-percent increase in the grant in the next year, but the advocates argue that's not enough. They're calling on lawmakers to push through a 30 percent hike in the next year - despite the state's fiscal woes since the Wall Street meltdown.
Paterson wants to gradually increase the grant. His plan would give a family of three $387 a month by 2012. That would be up from the current $291 a month, plus a housing allowance that varies by region.
If passed, Paterson's proposal would benefit about 200,000 households.
While the anti-poverty groups rallying Tuesday praised his proposal, many argued more is needed.
“This is my first time in this situation, and I don't see how it's possible for anyone to live off of this,” Charles said.
Paterson says the state faces more than $14 billion in deficits in 2009-2010. Many legislators argue the state should use more of the $26 billion federal stimulus money to fund programs and to fill the deficit.
David Hansell, commissioner of state Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance, has said New York made changes to the food stamp program to make it easier for working families to apply for benefits - no more fingerprint requirements or face-to-face interviews.
The state has added more than $170 million in additional food stamp benefits for New Yorkers, and enrolled an additional 100,000 households in the food stamps program in the past year.
After paying state taxes for about 10 years, Charles says he went on welfare for the first time nearly a year ago after he was laid off. But welfare payments aren't enough to feed his wife and 2-year-old son. With the state budget due April 1, advocates for New York's poor made their final push for an increase in the welfare grant.
“This is my first experience being on government assistance, I'm not too familiar with the struggle,” said Charles, of Yonkers. “But I'm going through the struggle myself now. I think that they could give us more.”
By contrast, New York's most influential special interests - including teachers unions and other public worker unions - have been able to mount multimillion dollar campaigns to fight for the issues important to them.
Gov. David Paterson has proposed a 10-percent increase in the grant in the next year, but the advocates argue that's not enough. They're calling on lawmakers to push through a 30 percent hike in the next year - despite the state's fiscal woes since the Wall Street meltdown.
Paterson wants to gradually increase the grant. His plan would give a family of three $387 a month by 2012. That would be up from the current $291 a month, plus a housing allowance that varies by region.
If passed, Paterson's proposal would benefit about 200,000 households.
While the anti-poverty groups rallying Tuesday praised his proposal, many argued more is needed.
“This is my first time in this situation, and I don't see how it's possible for anyone to live off of this,” Charles said.
Paterson says the state faces more than $14 billion in deficits in 2009-2010. Many legislators argue the state should use more of the $26 billion federal stimulus money to fund programs and to fill the deficit.
David Hansell, commissioner of state Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance, has said New York made changes to the food stamp program to make it easier for working families to apply for benefits - no more fingerprint requirements or face-to-face interviews.
The state has added more than $170 million in additional food stamp benefits for New Yorkers, and enrolled an additional 100,000 households in the food stamps program in the past year.
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