Policy Agenda - Meeting Basic Needs
Rhode Islanders have a shared responsibility for ensuring that all of our residents, especially low-wage workers and those who cannot support themselves through work, are able to meet their basic needs.
The Economic Progress Institute supports the following policy proposals.
- Affordable child care: Expand access to quality, affordable child care for working families by allowing them to continue to receive subsidies even if they have a modest increase in earnings.
- Cash assistance: Streamline the RI Works program by eliminating the two-tiered time limit and retaining the forth eight month life-time limit.
- Affordable health care: Maintain access to dental coverage for adults enrolled in Medicaid, including seniors, people with disabilities, and low-income parents.
- Affordable housing: Create a dedicated funding stream for affordable housing, and prevent homelessness by protecting tenants and homeowners when properties are being foreclosed.
- Payday lending: Reform payday lending so that working families are not caught in a debt trap.
- Tax credits for working families: Increase the refundability of the state earned income tax credit to boost the incomes of low-wage working households.
- Minimum wage: Increase the minimum wage so that workers can better keep pace with the rising cost of living.