OverviewBrownfield redevelopment is a general term for developing brownfield sites or properties that have been abandoned or underused due to environmental contamination. These sites include former factories, hospitals, mills, and gas stations. Sites can be redeveloped for any use and have been successfully converted into parks, greenways, and commercial or residential developments. While such development is often more costly due to cleanup and the increased liability of hazardous materials, a series of tools to support the conversion of this land to a public and sustainable purpose can support the broader community goals of inclusion and equitable development.
Brownfield redevelopment offers a prime opportunity for equitable development, both with regard to choosing which sites to develop and deciding how specifically to develop them. Developments with negative environmental impacts — such as landfills or factories — are often disproportionately located adjacent to communities of color and thus these sites when redeveloped can deliver specific benefits to these communities. Additional funding and financial incentives can provide opportunities for communities to work with government and developers to require community input into the development process and align the projects with the priority needs of community members. how it worksBecause any development involves zoning, planning, and environmental regulations, brownfield redevelopment requires collaboration with government entities at the local, state and/or federal level. Nonprofit collaborations also exist, typically in conjunction with government entities.
At its simplest, this collaboration involves a state government limiting liability for developers of brownfield sites to encourage development. Municipalities can offer incentives such as tax credits to spur development on target sites, and they can use the same incentives to encourage applicants to develop the sites for a specific use. Communities can advocate for both the new use of the spaces and the cleaning of these sites, which could remove toxic substances that include asbestos, petroleum, lead, and industrial chemicals from the area. Successful brownfield redevelopment projects across the country have increased the area’s tax base, generated renewable energy, and reclaimed previously unusable space. Communities can find funding and support at the federal, state, and local level. At the federal level, the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Brownfields Program offers grants for virtually every aspect of brownfield redevelopment: assessment, cleanup, planning, research, technical assistance, environmental workforce development, and special considerations for indigenous lands. Another federal program called RE-Powering America’s Land offers technical assistance in converting contaminated sites to renewable energy plants. Local stakeholders can partner with a nonprofit called Groundwork USA, which creates a local “Groundwork Trust” that is linked to a national network backed by resources from the National Parks Service and the EPA. These trusts specialize in equity, youth development, and technical assistance for brownfield rehabilitation, clean water systems, and healthy communities in general. Ultimately, what a community does about its local brownfields will be up to its members. A process to identify community needs and viable projects can ensure that the redevelopment effort is successful and achieves the desired community outcomes. IMPACTS TO NORTH CAROLINA TO DATENorth Carolina’s Brownfields Program is administered by the Division of Waste Management. The program essentially amounts to a covenant not to sue property developers in the case that contaminants are eventually found on their site.
Four municipalities have successfully received EPA grants over the last 15 years: Durham and Winston-Salem for environmental job training, Hickory for assessing redevelopment of a historic textile mill, and Fletcher for cleaning up old sites in an effort to revitalize downtown. For more intensive interventions, there are two RE-Powering sites in Haywood and Wake counties. Both sites are former landfills that have been outfitted with solar arrays. There are currently no Groundwork Trusts in North Carolina. The closest trusts are in Atlanta, Ga., and Richmond, Va., both of which were founded within the past five years. Groups seeking to redevelop brownfield sites can look to the collaborative, community-oriented models of such projects. For example, Groundwork Atlanta leverages its partnerships with the EPA, the City of Atlanta, a public land trust, and community organizations to advocate for community-driven redevelopment of several brownfields in historically underserved parts of the city. They have worked with youth and other residents to clean a former brick company campus, railroad tracks, and a local park. — Written by Blake Rosser with Rachel Salzberg |
WHAT YOU CAN DO Identify potential brownfield sites locally, and speak with your elected officials about developing them into community assets like parks, greenways or other public spaces. Ask the officials:
Organize a group of local stakeholders to gauge interest in forming a Groundwork Trust, a community-led and community-run organization with access to the Groundwork USA network and equipped to plan and implement brownfield redevelopment projects. If interest exists, form a resident steering committee and draft a letter of interest to Groundwork USA. Once selected, the steering committee should work with Groundwork USA and the National Parks Service to submit a full proposal. If the proposal successfully passes through a feasibility study, Groundwork USA will provide seed money for launching a new Groundwork Trust. download this printer-friendly toolkit here
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OverviewCommunity Benefit Agreements (CBAs) are contracts between developers and community coalitions to support equitable economic development. Successful CBAs provide benefits to both parties: Developers agree to incorporate benefits for low-income communities and communities of color into development projects, and community coalitions commit to publicly supporting the proposed projects. The legally binding agreements may be useful tools for large development projects at the local level. The strength of an agreement will depend on the inclusion of concrete deliverables and enforcement mechanisms that advance shared goals for a more equitable economy.
how it worksCBAs are most often driven by a community coalition. Effective coalitions include community stakeholders from as many perspectives as possible who have been organized prior to engagement with developers and who present a unified voice during negotiations. The coalition’s negotiation power comes from its image as the representation of the community. If the coalition is fractured or there are disagreements within the community, the developer may not see engagement in negotiations as worthwhile. Meanwhile, cohesive coalitions are attractive partners in negotiation, as they can offer public support and prevent unnecessary delays in the development process.
Coalitions organize in response to a proposed development plan. Some coalitions review the local government’s development plans to identify relevant projects. Other coalitions may mobilize in response to a recently announced development plan. In either case, the community coalition must understand the local development process. Members of the coalition should educate and align themselves on the issues arising from the proposed development. Successful CBAs provide benefits for both the community and the developer. The community coalition will negotiate with the developer for specific, concrete benefits, such as hiring a certain percentage of local residents for the jobs created from construction, paying workers a living wage, and including direct investment from the developer into the community. It is important to stress the benefit that developers realize from avoiding active opposition from the community. Further, a developer’s collaboration with the community may expand the participating market and increase shared prosperity to sustain and expand the benefits of any given development project. To ensure the community actually benefits from the legally binding agreement, the CBA must include clear enforcement mechanisms and deliverables. For example, the Nashville MLS agreement described below created an advisory committee that included community members to monitor and enforce the CBA terms. Negotiators should insist on defining terms such as “affordable housing” and “minimum wage” to avoid vague, unenforceable promises from a developer. CBAs are strong tools to use in large development projects that provide many resources to benefit the community. A coalition may decide that some projects are too small or not politically feasible candidates for organizing around. Once the coalition has identified a development project, the members can work to align all parties toward advancing shared prosperity and economic growth. IMPACTS TO NORTH CAROLINA TO DATEThe North Carolina Justice Center is not aware of any CBAs in the state. However, upcoming development projects such as sports arena construction, public university expansions, and downtown construction would be prime opportunities for communities to organize. Moreover, as nonprofit hospitals in North Carolina look to meet requirements under the Affordable Care Act and address the health needs of the surrounding community and as private hospitals merge or close, there can be opportunities to direct these institutions to deliver community benefits as part of other existing processes.
A nearby example of a successful CBA exists in Nashville, Tennessee. The coalition Stand Up Nashville organized faith-based, labor, and community groups to negotiate affordable housing, minimum wages, community services, and workforce development commitments with the developer of the city’s new Major League Soccer stadium. CBAs can serve as a tool for communities to ensure that low-income residents and people of color benefit from the many development projects throughout the state. — Written by Rachel Salzberg |
WHAT YOU CAN DO Track proposed development projects in your community. Further, identify projects where your local government is considering awarding incentives. Organize around these potential large-scale transformative projects. Communities can leverage their political power by forming a coalition to negotiate with developers in their neighborhoods. Find resources on coalition building here. During the negotiation process, emphasize the benefits to the developer of signing a CBA:
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OverviewThe Corner Store Initiative is an incentive project designed to make healthy fruits and vegetables accessible to underserved communities as part of the Obesity, Diabetes, Heart Disease, and Stroke Prevention (ODHDSP) Project, which supports local grocery stores in improving their stock of fruits and vegetables. The North Carolina Division of Public Health supports work to strengthen healthier food access and sales in small food stores across the state with ODHDSP funding received from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Neighborhood corner stores that meet required standards for available stocked fruits and vegetables will receive a designation and become recognized as a designated grocery store in North Carolina for fresh produce.
Individuals in low-income communities leave their homes every day knowing that their primary food resource is only available in convenience and corner stores, which usually contain foods that are high in fat and processed sugar. Low-income and under-served communities like these are subject to many chronic ailments including diabetes and obesity as chain grocery stores that contain healthy items are, at times, hard to access without proper transportation. Surveying neighborhood convenience and corner stores will help eliminate the barrier between consumers in underserved communities and healthy foods. how it worksThe Corner Store Initiative provides store owners with the capacity to increase both foot traffic and profit in their stores, as community members have new access healthy food options in their immediate neighborhood. Surveying neighborhood corner stores is a ready tool available to community organizations looking to promote healthy eating.
In order to receive proper surveying material, organizations must contact the designated Regional Worksite Coordinator for their region (available on Community and Clinical Connections for Prevention and Health Branch website) and then complete the following steps:.
impacts to north carolina to dateAs of 2017, North Carolina has a population of 10,247,632 people. Data show that 30.1 percent of adults in the state are suffering from obesity, 19.2 percent of adults are suffering from poor health, and 26.2 percent of adults have been diagnosed with 2+ chronic conditions. The Corner Store Initiative will assist in decreasing the percentages of both adults and children who have been diagnosed with these conditions.
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OverviewTraditionally, green infrastructure is a type of stormwater management practice designed to protect, restore, or mimic the natural water cycle. This includes green roofs, trees, rain gardens, landscaping, and permeable pavement. However, green infrastructure can also serve as an approach to interconnected networks of green spaces that conserves natural ecosystem values and functions and provides associated benefits to human populations. The Conservation Fund’s Green Infrastructure Work Group defines green infrastructure as “our nation’s natural life support system — an interconnected network of waterways, wetland, woodlands, wildlife habitats, and other natural areas; greenways, parks and other conservation lands; working farms, ranches and forests; and wilderness and other open spaces that support native species, maintain natural ecological processes, sustain air and water resources, and contribute to the health and quality of life for America’s communities and people.”
Green infrastructure principles can be applied on different scales and provide a range of environmental benefits that in turn can influence health outcomes. Specifically, incorporating green infrastructure principles into the development of public parks can be an instrumental tool to promote equitable health outcomes by increasing access to green spaces. how it worksWhile health outcomes are often linked to genetics and quality of healthcare, built environment also plays a critical role in determining health outcomes. Designing parks that incorporate green infrastructure or adding green infrastructure to existing parks in traditionally underserved communities can improve health equity through multiple channels. Parks that include green infrastructure can address disparities in access to physical activity spaces and improve health outcomes by creating environments that foster increased opportunities for physical activity. Green infrastructure is also linked to improved air quality and decreased levels of stress. HEALTH BENEFITS Increased Opportunities for Exercise Research shows that the role of the built environment is important for encouraging physical activity because individuals who live closer to sidewalks and parks are more likely to exercise. Traditionally, underserved communities and communities of color tend to have lower levels of access to opportunities to exercise. Residents of neighborhoods with green infrastructure tend to be more physically active, and better access to parks and other green spaces is associated with positive health outcomes, including lower risk levels of obesity. The Trust for Public Land led an effort to renovate parks in underserved communities in San Francisco. One of the renovation activities included landscaping. Physical activity for children and adults was found to increase significantly. Air Quality Improvement Green infrastructure projects in parks can be a powerful element of a larger strategy for air quality improvement. At all implementation levels, green infrastructure helps to clean stormwater, which affects public health. In urban areas, trees remove air pollution that is linked to respiratory conditions and cardiovascular disease. Positive Mental Health Outcomes Access to parks and green infrastructure can also improve mental health by promoting a greater sense of well-being and lower levels of stress. These spaces indirectly produce positive health outcomes because they are conducive to social support, which influences well-being and stress. In Chicago, residents of neighborhoods with a large amount of green infrastructure reported less stress than residents living in neighborhoods with less green infrastructure. In addition to improving positive health outcomes, green infrastructure also confers social and economic benefits. Research suggests that low-income communities and communities of color tend to exhibit lower levels of social capital. Access to parks with green infrastructure promotes opportunities for building social capital through social interactions. Parks that include green infrastructure also provide these communities with economic opportunities such as employment and workforce development activities related to green infrastructure activities. IMPACTS TO NORTH CAROLINA TO DATEGreenways in Greenville, N.C.
At the community level, an example of applying green infrastructure principles includes linking greenways to existing parks. Greenways are linear parks where people can walk, jog, ride bicycles, and enjoy nature. In Greenville, the construction of the Greenville Greenways began in the spring of 2015 and was completed in early 2017. The Greenville Greenways connect a network of trails to form a recreational loop for residents to access throughout the city. Unique Considerations for North Carolina Linking green infrastructure efforts to state and community programs can provide an informative framework for green space development. However, research around parks that include green infrastructure is primarily informed by examples from urban areas. North Carolina has a considerable rural population (almost 2.2 million people live in rural counties). The unique context of rural spaces and populations should be considered when deploying green infrastructure across the state. To address North Carolina’s diverse geographic and demographic landscape, partnership should be forged among government agencies, nonprofits, foundations, and other organizations that are representative of the communities that the green spaces will serve. These partnerships should consider barriers such as associated costs and fees, proximity, and versatility when developing parks that include green infrastructure. — Written by Mackenzie Summers |
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OverviewIndividual Training Accounts (ITA) are vouchers that applicants can take to any eligible training provider for training in a specific occupation or industry. They are enabled in federal legislation, the Workforce Investment and Opportunity Act, and are administered by local workforce boards in the states. Research has shown positive results in the ways Workforce Development Boards have implemented ITAs nationally as a means of promoting movement to employment.
ITAs can transform the lives of youth, adults, and dislocated workers. Youth—for the purposes of WIOA—are defined as persons under the age of 18, who are out of school and unemployed. For adult eligibility, an individual must be 18 or older. According to the WIOA, Title I funds the country’s three primary workforce training programs (youth, adult, and dislocated workers). To be eligible for dislocated worker training, an individual must be 18 or older; have been terminated or laid off from employment (or have received notice of termination/layoff); be eligible for—or exhausted entitlement to—unemployment compensation; and be unlikely to return to a previous industry or occupation. how it worksWorkforce Development Boards provide training to those who have lost their jobs and/or are seeking employment. ITAs are one tool available to case managers to support a participant’s movement to employment.
In order to receive job training assistance, applicants must generally follow this process:
In order to receive an ITA, applicants must have a valid, unexpired work authorization. Next, applicants will visit their local Workforce Development Boards (also known as Job Centers) and meet with a case manager. ITAs may be available if applicants meet the requirements, however, there is no guarantee that any given applicant will receive one. WIOA is not an “entitlement” program; applicants are just potentially able to get an ITA. Funding Available for Training: There is, on average, $7,122 dollars (using maximum funding for two years, which will lead into an associate degree, diploma, certificate, or moderate term on-the-job training) available in each ITA provided by workforce development offices. impacts to north carolina to dateData from North Carolina suggest a positive impact of ITAs: 72.5 percent of those leaving training programs funded through WIA (the former name of the Workforce Investment and Opportunity Act) received an ITA in 2013 while only 14 percent received training only. ITAs served 12,876 North Carolinians exiting the WIA system in 2013-2014. Among different groups, adults were most likely to get ITAs while only slightly more than half of youth and two-thirds of dislocated workers received one.
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WHAT YOU CAN DO Speak with your local Workforce Development Board and local WIOA training providers (e.g., community colleges) about ITAs and ask the following questions:
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OverviewFirst Source Hiring (FSH) is a policy designed to ensure private sector businesses and local governments recruit and hire employees from within the community where they are located. Local governments and community-based organizations across the country have used FSH as a way of targeting training, economic development, public jobs, and public contracts to residents of the economically distressed areas or neighborhoods that most need additional, better training and employment opportunities.
In North Carolina, local governments are prohibited from hiring or requiring that private companies hire specific residents, but they are permitted to ask businesses to provide an opportunity to certain residents in their pre-employment screening and hiring processes. In practice, FSH should be a workforce development effort where hiring needs are identified and workers are trained for the jobs being created in the community, including those with public investment, like expanded public transit service. how it worksLocal governments create a “workforce development broker” or an “intermediary.” The intermediary coordinates between employers, job trainers, and those looking for work so that job seekers have the training and skills necessary for available jobs. One key component of a successful FSH program is that low-income residents get access to and training for jobs.
The intermediary coordinates job training with providers (e.g., community colleges) and community-based organizations to recruit job seekers, along with case management and job placement assistance. The most successful FSH programs are viewed as a resource by employers since the intermediary provides a service by recruiting, screening, and referring qualified, work-ready job applicants. Recruitment efforts are usually targeted to those geographic areas (e.g., distressed neighborhoods) or populations (e.g., unemployed) that most need the jobs created by the local government or participating employers. Funding Available for Training: There are three potential sources for FSH programs:
impacts to north carolina to dateThere is no centralized mechanism for collecting data or measuring the outcomes associated with local FSH programs. They vary wildly across the state in terms of adoption and design. However, there are a number of programs in NC recognized by elected officials, businesses, and the workforce system for their success.
Two examples involve the City and County of Durham. Durham County includes a FSH agreement with its economic development contracts, using Durham Technical Community College as the training provider and the local JobLink office as the initial recruiter/pipeline for identifying prospective employees for businesses receiving incentives. Made in Durham (MiD) is a community-based organization that acts as intermediary for under-skilled youth and people withbarriers to employment. MiD partners with a range of private businesses that agree to give preference in hiring to people identified by the organization. |
WHAT YOU CAN DO Speak with your local Workforce Development Board, local elected officials, and local community college about FSH and ask the following questions:
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OverviewLand banks can take many forms, from governmental entities to nonprofits or community development financial institutions. Land banks acquire and hold strategic sites, investing in real estate for the long term. They are often aimed not only at the conversion of vacant, abandoned, and foreclosed properties into productive use, but also to acquire sites for affordable housing when there are escalating costs to buy and hold land. Land banks are financed by any number of entities, including businesses, foundations, developers, banks, and local governments.
Land banks have been used to both protect the vitality of communities by investing in spaces that would otherwise be left desolate as well as acquire and hold land for affordable housing when it is not feasible for nonprofit housing developers to do so, especially in hot housing markets. Examples of community projects through land banks include urban community gardens, community “adopt-a-lot” programs, redevelopment of affordable housing units, and overall cleanup of deteriorated structures. how it worksA land bank can be a local government, state agency or community-owned entity. The land bank often works with community-based groups and affordable housing developers to acquire, hold, manage, develop, and repurpose properties. This provides affordable housing developers an opportunity to compete and ensure affordable housing is not lost and can be increased in hot real estate markets.
Land banking can be used to stabilize and revitalize communities that are experiencing abandoned properties, foreclosures, and deteriorating conditions. The Land Bank can 1) acquire and hold foreclosed properties, 2) stabilize properties and decrease barriers to restoration, and 3) promote acquired properties to developers. Funding Available: There are several strategies to fund land banks, including:
impacts to north carolina to dateAdopt-A-Vacant- Lot Program: Kinston, NC
Administered through Kinston Teens, and in partnership with the City of Kinston, the Adopt-A-Vacant-Lot Program allows churches, families, business, and other groups to adopt city-owned vacant lots and transform them into productive community spaces. Community groups are expected to pay for city utilities but can apply for a grant up to $750 to assist with supplies for the completion of a project. |
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OverviewParticipatory budgeting is a process by which citizens decide on how to spend a portion of a public budget. It has been adopted in more than 40 local jurisdictions in the United States. Only one jurisdiction in the South — Greensboro, NC — has adopted a participatory budgeting process.
Among the findings from the research on these processes is that participatory budgeting increases public understanding of the budget process, raises engagement levels among residents in the policymaking process, and increases connections to community. Additional research on the specific efforts underway in the U.S. and Canada found that the average amount allocated to participatory budgeting was $1 million and that the primary purposes or project ideas were around parks and recreation, schools, and, to a lesser degree, public safety. how it worksThere are several phases to the participatory budgeting process.
impacts to north carolina to dateGreensboro is the only North Carolina community where a participatory budget process has been adopted. Participatory budgeting was established in 2015. Each year, city staff, with support from a Steering Committee, guides the process for citizens to engage in the development of project ideas and decision-making for where to invest $500,000 of the City’s money. Now in its second year, the participatory budget process has invested in several important capital improvements to neighborhoods, including laundry services for the homeless and park improvements.
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OverviewMany men and women who are re-entering communities after incarceration struggle to connect to the programs that can support their success. Of particular concern is the higher risk that people leaving prison face for food insecurity and health crises, both of which can block progress toward stable employment or lead to recidivism. In light of the finding by the N.C. Department of Commerce that people with criminal records face tougher job prospects in recent years, the role of income supports to provide a bridge until employment can be secured is critical.
Across the country — in states as varied as Montana, New York, South Dakota, and Vermont — communities are developing programs that link prisoners pre-release to the income supports that can support their re-entry process and provide critical resources to meet their most basic needs. These programs have primarily focused on the potential for pre-enrollment in SNAP and Medicaid so people leaving prison will have these benefits available immediately upon release. While there are various ways to design the program, the critical opportunity for communities is to provide people with the tools pre-release that will support their success in the community upon their release from prison. how it worksPrograms are designed in various ways to support access to benefits. At the most basic level, prisoners preparing for release within 60 to 30 days could meet with a case manager to prepare for release and to complete the necessary paperwork to begin the process of enrollment. In this model, the person leaving prison will still be required to deliver the completed application to the local DSS office upon release or to electronically file, as is possible in North Carolina, the application after their release date.
Other models embraced in other states have been facilitated by the state and include the pursuit of a federal waiver allowing case managers to pre-enroll prisoners in programs — SNAP and Medicaid — and secure the necessary supporting documentation required for the application to be filed. In this model, the person leaves prison with the EBT card and Medicaid coverage in hand. impacts to north carolina to dateA promising program in Wake County has been piloted between the Department of Public Safety and the Food Bank of Central & Eastern North Carolina. This initial pilot has informed work by the MANNA FoodBank in Asheville to establish a relationship with the Swannanoa Correctional Center for Women, which results in MANNA maintaining a relationship with women post-release, thereby ensuring transitional food security.
— Written by Alexandra Sirota with Aisha Benton |
WHAT YOU CAN DO Local re-entry councils across the state are being formed to coordinate services for people re-entering communities after prison. These councils should be the first stop in raising the potential of a pre-enrollment program at your local correctional facilitates. You can find more on existing councils here. If your community does not have a re-entry council, the next step could be connecting with your local food bank to explore the potential for initiating a program at your correctional facility, as well as engaging your local Department of Social Services office. More broadly, communicating to your community that providing income supports to people leaving prison is a critical tool in supporting their rehabilitation and that saving taxpayer dollars by reducing recidivism can go a long way in building support for these efforts. download this printer-friendly toolkit here
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OverviewFarmers markets are a community resource for fresh and healthy fruits and vegetables; they also help local farmers generate revenue. Farmers markets represent an especially important resource for consumers in low-income communities.
Accepting SNAP at your farmers market is a win-win situation. The program gives the retailer direct access to new customers and gives SNAP recipients access to healthy, locally-grown produce. The USDA has made it a priority to increases access to fresh produce for low-income Americans by helping farmers markets and direct-marketing farmers become SNAP authorized. Thousands of farmers markets across the United States operate nutrition incentive programs, which exhibit diverse and innovative approaches to ensuring access to healthy, local, and affordable food for underserved consumers. how it worksHow to Run a Nutrition Incentive Program is designed for market administrators who are just beginning to implement nutrition incentives. It provides key information around planning, goal setting, budgeting, and determining the various components of your program before you get started.
impacts to north carolina to dateAs discussed above, North Carolina’s population has high incidence of obesity, poor health, and chronic health conditions. Accessible and affordable fruits and vegetables can assist in preventing or alleviating some of these chronic conditions, with SNAP programs at farmers markets promoting healthier eating and lifestyles in low-income communities with produce coming from local farmers, giving farmers a new range of customers.
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OverviewMany men and women who are re-entering communities after incarceration struggle to connect to the programs that can support their success. Of particular concern is the higher risk that people leaving prison face for food insecurity and health crises, both of which can block progress toward stable employment or lead to recidivism. In light of the finding by the N.C. Department of Commerce that people with criminal records face tougher job prospects in recent years, the role of income supports to provide a bridge until employment can be secured is critical.
Across the country — in states as varied as Montana, New York, South Dakota, and Vermont — communities are developing programs that link prisoners pre-release to the income supports that can support their re-entry process and provide critical resources to meet their most basic needs. These programs have primarily focused on the potential for pre-enrollment in SNAP and Medicaid so people leaving prison will have these benefits available immediately upon release. While there are various ways to design the program, the critical opportunity for communities is to provide people with the tools pre-release that will support their success in the community upon their release from prison. how it worksPrograms are designed in various ways to support access to benefits. At the most basic level, prisoners preparing for release within 60 to 30 days could meet with a case manager to prepare for release and to complete the necessary paperwork to begin the process of enrollment. In this model, the person leaving prison will still be required to deliver the completed application to the local DSS office upon release or to electronically file, as is possible in North Carolina, the application after their release date.
Other models embraced in other states have been facilitated by the state and include the pursuit of a federal waiver allowing case managers to pre-enroll prisoners in programs — SNAP and Medicaid — and secure the necessary supporting documentation required for the application to be filed. In this model, the person leaves prison with the EBT card and Medicaid coverage in hand. impacts to north carolina to dateA promising program in Wake County has been piloted between the Department of Public Safety and the Food Bank of Central & Eastern North Carolina. This initial pilot has informed work by the MANNA FoodBank in Asheville to establish a relationship with the Swannanoa Correctional Center for Women, which results in MANNA maintaining a relationship with women post-release, thereby ensuring transitional food security.
— Written by Alexandra Sirota with Aisha Benton |
WHAT YOU CAN DO Local re-entry councils across the state are being formed to coordinate services for people re-entering communities after prison. These councils should be the first stop in raising the potential of a pre-enrollment program at your local correctional facilitates. You can find more on existing councils here. If your community does not have a re-entry council, the next step could be connecting with your local food bank to explore the potential for initiating a program at your correctional facility, as well as engaging your local Department of Social Services office. More broadly, communicating to your community that providing income supports to people leaving prison is a critical tool in supporting their rehabilitation and that saving taxpayer dollars by reducing recidivism can go a long way in building support for these efforts. download this printer-friendly toolkit here
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OverviewLocal budgets, which entail town, city, or county governments, determine what level of funding that programs, services, and institutions will receive to meet the priorities and policies of the community. Budgeting is one of the most important policy decisions that local officials will develop, and it has significant implications for how a community will, or will not, improve moving forward. For example, who pays taxes, if public schools have supplies, and whether families facing hardship get help from social services are all dependent on the budget. Considering the broad range of impacts, it is imperative that budgets incorporate input from community members and promote inclusive and equitable outcomes. how it worksOverview of steps in the local budget
Pre-budget: Budget officers provide direction for budget preparation and submission. Directors of agencies each submit budget requests for the upcoming fiscal year (typically before April 30). Budget Preparation: Budget Officers will prepare a draft budget (typically before June 1) for the local policymaking body. A notice is posted detailing when and where the public can offer comment on the proposed budget. Budget Adoption: Public hearings are held for community members to offer input. The budget is then adopted (typically at least 10 days after the draft budget is prepared and no later than July 1). Budget Implementation: Directors of agencies will implement the budget. Through this process, there may or may not be monitoring of the outcomes and assessment of resource needs. impacts to north carolina to dateAs North Carolina recovers from the COVID-19 pandemic, the process of ensuring equitable local budgets is more important than ever. It is crucial for community members to engage with their leaders to create a foundation for long-term economic prosperity.
In 2020, more CARES Act dollars went to the state’s four largest counties than to all other local governments combined, and significant investments in new programming was not targeted to those most in need. Many North Carolinians are being left out of recovery. |
WHAT YOU CAN DO Monitor the local budget process, using these links to access documents and tools: • NC General Assembly Legislative Calendar • Fiscal Research Division, NC General Assembly • Legislative Budget Documents, Fiscal Research Division, NC General Assembly • Office of State Budget and Management • Weekly Cash Watch updates, NC Office of State Controller • General Fund Monthly Report, Office of State Controller • Certified Budgets, NC Office of State Budget and Management • Tax Expenditure Reports, NC Department of Revenue • NC Budget & Tax Center – State Budget webpage • NC Budget & Tax Center – Budget Primer • 2019 NCGA Budget Bill – House Bill 966 download this printer-friendly toolkit here
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OverviewThe American Rescue Plan (ARP) has distributed $130 billion in payments to local governments to assist in the economic recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic. Payments were calculated by need and population size. While there is flexibility in using the funds, local governments must follow Treasury Department guidance when deciding where to spend funds.
The COVID-19 pandemic has impacted low-income people and Black, Indigenous, and other people of color (BIPOC) more than others due to structural inequalities. Local ARP funds should be used to advance equitable economic development that ensures people have what they need and that barriers to opportunity are removed so communities can get to greater resiliency and well-being. how it worksARP funds dispersed to local governments are meant to be used strategically. These funds are not meant to offset only the cost of responding to the pandemic; they are meant to help economies recover from it. Local governments must make strategic considerations before deciding how to use ARP funds to maximize equitable outcomes.
Many local governments are planning to use one-time ARP funds to make much-needed updates to local infrastructure, while larger cities and metropolitan areas are proposing using ARP funds to support comprehensive recovery packages with money set aside for a wide range of investments that target both government recovery and community economic recovery. impacts to north carolina to dateMany local governments have already made plans to engage their citizens in using ARP funds. For example, in Greensboro, N.C., the city is asking for citizen input via an ARP Spending Simulator. Rural areas with high rates of people experiencing poverty have smaller populations but may need more spending on high capital infrastructure projects and may have greater infrastructure needs in general due to consistent underfunding. Places that rely on tourism but have small local populations, such as in eastern North Carolina, may receive less ARP funding and be unable to invest in projects that support tourism capacity.
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