Philadelphia Poverty Reduction Committee Social Safety Net Hearing 11-18-19

Special Committee on Poverty Reduction and Prevention November 18, 2019 COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA SPECIAL COMMITTEE ON POVERTY REDUCTION AND PREVENTION The Philadelphia Corporation For the Aging 642 North Broad Street Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Monday, November 18, 2019 4:26 p.m. PRESENT: COUNCIL PRESIDENT DARRELL L. CLARKE COUNCILMAN ALLAN DOMB RESOLUTIONS: 190239 STREHLOW & ASSOCIATES, INC. (215) 504-4622 Special Committee on Poverty Reduction and Prevention November 18, 2019 1 --- 2 MS. GLADSTEIN: Good evening, everyone. 3 Thank you so much for being here. 4 This is the first of three subcommittee 5 meetings of City Council Special Committee on 6 Poverty Reduction and Prevention. So, I am 7 really pleased to see this turnout this 8 evening -- afternoon/evening. Starting in the 9 afternoon, going into the evening. So, we 10 really appreciate it. 11 I'm just going to do a few opening 12 words, talk to you a little bit about the 13 agenda. And then, have the subcommittee members 14 introduce themselves. And really, we are trying 15 to reserve a significant amount of time for 16 conversation. So, we took this meeting outside 17 of the formal halls of City Hall and City 18 Council Chambers so we can set up the room in a 19 way that we can discuss the proposals that are 20 on the table right now, and also get ideas about 21 some additional or new proposals and have a 22 quality conversation to take back and absorb and 23 continue to do more work on. 24 So, we are expecting all of you to 25 have -- to be able to add your experiences and Page 2 STREHLOW & ASSOCIATES, INC. (215) 504-4622 Special Committee on Poverty Reduction and Prevention November 18, 2019 1 thoughts as we go through this process. 2 My name is Eva Gladstein. I'm Deputy 3 Managing Director for Health and Human Services. 4 And I'm honored to be one of the four co-chairs 5 of this City Council Special Committee. 6 Councilman Domb has joined us, so we appreciate 7 his interest and, you know, coming to hear what 8 you have to say and learn from that. 9 Councilwoman Maria Quinones-Sanchez 10 unfortunately is not able to be here, but she's 11 represented by staff, as well. I want to 12 express appreciation. She has provided real 13 leadership in this project. And certainly, 14 Council President Darrell Clarke is the person 15 who empowered all this and all of us to get this 16 work going. And it's really significant. So, 17 we appreciate that. 18 In case you haven't noticed, this is 19 a -- we are holding this meeting in the 20 auditorium of The Philadelphia Corporation For 21 Aging. This will be recorded, streamed. There 22 is a stenographer, Angela -- did I get that 23 right -- who will be recording, so we will have 24 all of the information captured today and 25 available on City Council's website. Page 3 STREHLOW & ASSOCIATES, INC. (215) 504-4622 Special Committee on Poverty Reduction and Prevention November 18, 2019 1 So, one of the things I do want to do is 2 say our word of appreciation To the Corporation 3 for Aging. Ben Ellis is here representing. 4 (Applause.) 5 MS. GLADSTEIN: That's right. Applause 6 is good. Gives us such a beautiful space in 7 which to work this evening as well as some 8 refreshments to keep us going until you get home 9 tonight. So, refreshments are in the rear. 10 Also in the rear is a resource table 11 that you can go by, if you haven't already, and 12 pick up materials at any point that you want to 13 do that. So, I'm going to start first with a 14 little piece of homework. 15 One of the things, there are three 16 subcommittees. There is one on housing. There 17 is one on jobs and education. And then this 18 committee, which is on the social safety net. 19 And one of the first things that we had to do as 20 a subcommittee was define what we meant by 21 social safety net, which is not the easiest 22 thing in the world to do. So, I want to share 23 what our definition is so that that can help 24 guide our discussion going forward this evening. 25 So, here you go. The Special Committee Page 4 STREHLOW & ASSOCIATES, INC. (215) 504-4622 Special Committee on Poverty Reduction and Prevention November 18, 2019 1 on Poverty Reduction and Prevention looks to 2 improve the social safety net to safeguard every 3 Philadelphian's access to healthcare, nutritious 4 food, housing and basic income supports. The 5 social safety net is a collection of services 6 and supports to ensure that all Philadelphians 7 are healthy, have the basic building blocks for 8 economic mobility and are well positioned to 9 thrive. 10 And so, I think unlike the other 11 subcommittees, we are looking at recommendations 12 and proposals that can improve the quality of 13 life for Philadelphians, particularly those with 14 very low or no income. That may or may not help 15 us meet the overarching goal of the special 16 committee, which is quite ambitious, which is to 17 help a hundred thousand individuals in 18 Philadelphia move out of poverty by 2024. It's 19 a very ambitious goal. 20 For those of you who are students of 21 this, the way the Federal Government counts 22 poverty is based upon income. So, doesn't 23 necessarily take into account other kinds of 24 supports that we think are basic such as access 25 to food, healthcare, housing, et cetera. But Page 5 STREHLOW & ASSOCIATES, INC. (215) 504-4622 Special Committee on Poverty Reduction and Prevention November 18, 2019 1 this subcommittee is definitely looking at those 2 additional supports as being necessary for 3 people to have the building blocks and to be 4 able to move out of poverty at some point; 5 hopefully, near time in the future and according 6 to their own goals. 7 So, I am going to stop talking for a 8 minute before we get to the rest of our agenda 9 and ask members of the subcommittee to introduce 10 themselves. I am going to start on this side of 11 the room. And I hope most of you are sitting up 12 front, but not all of you. 13 I am looking at Ben. 14 MR. ELLIS: My name is Ben Ellis. I'm 15 Vice President of Finance for Philadelphia 16 Corporation For Aging. 17 MS. WOLFF: Hi, everyone. My name is 18 Jennifer Wolff. I'm Policy Analyst at 19 Pennsylvania Health Access Network. 20 MR. GONZALEZ: Buenos Tardes. My name 21 is Will Gonzalez, the Executive Director of 22 Ceiba. 23 MS. DIETRICH: Hi. Sharon Dietrich. 24 I'm a Litigation Director at Community Legal 25 Services. Page 6 STREHLOW & ASSOCIATES, INC. (215) 504-4622 Special Committee on Poverty Reduction and Prevention November 18, 2019 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 MR. BERGMAN: Glenn Bergman, Deputy Director at Philabundance. MS. FISHER: Hi. I'm Kathy Fisher, Policy Director at the Greater Philadelphia Coalition Against Hunger. MS. ABERNATHY: Pauline Abernathy, Benefits Data Trust. MS. ROMENS: Hi. Kristin Romens from the PEW Charitable Trust. MS. ROBINSON: Hi. I'm Debbie Robinson. I'm a self-advocate. Also, I'm the Executive Director of a non-profit called Speaking for Ourselves. I just joined the committee a couple weeks ago. MS. SCOTT: Hi. Stephanie Scott, Department of Human Services of Philadelphia County Assistant's Office. MS. WILLIAMS: I'm Ms. Williams. I'm a consultant with CEO. MS. BROWN: I'm Carolyn Brown, Director of Planning Evaluation with the Office of Community Empowerment and Opportunity. MS. GLADSTEIN: All right. We got everybody? Did I miss anybody? So, thank you again. And folks have -- Page 7 STREHLOW & ASSOCIATES, INC. (215) 504-4622 Special Committee on Poverty Reduction and Prevention November 18, 2019 1 on the subcommittees have worked really hard and 2 our committed and committed to continuing to 3 work hard to kind of get this right. So, what 4 we are presenting you tonight are a series of 5 recommendations that were kind of work-shopped 6 amongst ourselves. But we want to get your 7 input and feedback as well as hearing if you 8 have additional ideas for other proposals around 9 strengthening the social safety net. 10 So, the way we are going to work the 11 agenda is we are going to have fairly brief 12 presentations on three different groups of 13 proposals. The first is called Removing 14 Barriers. And you will learn what that is in a Page 8 15 minute. 16 And the 17 18 want to 19 it's for clarification. What we are going to do 20 is, you're signature at a table. And there is a 21 card on the table telling you which of those The second is about Growing Income. third is on Benefits Access. When those presentations are done, I try to ask you to hold questions unless 22 sets of proposals we are going to discuss at 23 that table. We will give you the opportunity 24 for discussion with a facilitator and a record 25 keeper of that discussion. And you will have STREHLOW & ASSOCIATES, INC. (215) 504-4622 Special Committee on Poverty Reduction and Prevention November 18, 2019 1 the opportunity to go to two tables and to 2 address two of the topics this evening so you 3 can have a full discussion. 4 There is a table in the rear where if 5 you want to present some new ideas, we will also 6 have staff there so that you can present those 7 ideas for to us bring back to our subcommittee. 8 And also, I think at every table there are 9 sticky notes. And folks can feel free to write 10 their ideas on the sticky notes. And we will be 11 putting them up on the news print sheets and 12 also on the rear wall so we can take that back 13 and process that again. 14 Is that clear to everybody? We will be 15 keeping time, so you kind of know when the 16 discussion is starting and when to move from one 17 discussion table to a second discussion table. 18 So with that, I'm going to ask Rachel 19 Eisenberg and Sharon Dietrich to reveal to you Page 9 20 what we 21 22 23 up with 24 be or what started family of one or family of 25 four? What do you consider poverty number to mean by Removing Barriers. MR. SELLERS: Can I ask a question? I want to know if the committee has come an idea of what they consider poverty to STREHLOW & ASSOCIATES, INC. (215) 504-4622 Special Committee on Poverty Reduction and Prevention November 18, 2019 1 be? 2 3 Poverty 4 whether 5 the same definition for decades and doesn't 6 cover a lot of situations including what the 7 costs are getting particular area or the 8 benefits that might be available. 9 But in the City of Philadelphia, our 10 poverty level was most recently determined by 11 the Federal Government to be 24.5 percent, 12 something under 400,000 individuals living under 13 that federal poverty level. And for a family of 14 four, it's about $25,000 plus or minus. I think 15 many of us would argue that, actually, you need 16 a much higher income to be able to move out of 17 poverty in the City of Philadelphia. 18 But for the purpose of tonight's 19 discussion, that's the definition that we are 20 using. 21 MS. EISENBERG: Good evening, everyone. 22 Thank you to subcommittee members for having me 23 to speak with you here today. My name is Rachel 24 Eisenberg. And I'm the Director of Policy and 25 Planning for the Managing Director's Office of Page 10 MS. GLADSTEIN: We are using the Federal Level Definition, which one could debate or not that is fair because it's been STREHLOW & ASSOCIATES, INC. (215) 504-4622 Special Committee on Poverty Reduction and Prevention November 18, 2019 1 Criminal Justice. And I'm here to set a little 2 bit around the relationship between the criminal 3 justice system and poverty in the City of 4 Philadelphia. 5 So, there is a joint recognition between 6 the City and its criminal justice partner 7 agencies that for just far too long, the 8 Criminal Justice System has been overly punitive 9 and has created barriers to reentry and economic 10 prosperity that are damaging to both individuals 11 and communities as a hole. 12 Support is growing nationwide around 13 criminal justice reform and reducing mass 14 incarceration. In fact, the City has been 15 engaged in a large scale collaborative criminal 16 justice reform effort since 2015 to reduce the 17 size of the local jail population by 50 percent 18 in five years. And to date, we have 19 accomplished or we have reduced the jail 20 population by 40 percent and have been able to 21 close one of the oldest and largest jail 22 facilities in the City. 23 (Applause.) 24 So, that was an incredible undertaking 25 by both local criminal justice agencies and Page 11 STREHLOW & ASSOCIATES, INC. (215) 504-4622 Special Committee on Poverty Reduction and Prevention November 18, 2019 1 community members to jointly reform the system 2 and create pathways out of the criminal justice 3 system from the earlier interest. And so, we 4 are very proud of that. But there is still a 5 lot more work to do Page 12 6 And so despite the 7 made, the Criminal Justice 8 impact far too many people 9 altering and long lasting. 10 Nationally, one in 11 this country have criminal 12 Philadelphia, there are 35,000 people on local 13 probation and parole; and 25,000 people that are 14 admitted to our jails approximately in a given 15 year. The collateral consequences of criminal 16 records and incarceration are deeply felt by 17 individuals in communities who are directly 18 impacted; particularly, communities of color and 19 those who experience poverty. 20 Criminal records put up barriers to 21 employment, education, housing, and other -- and 22 establishing other family and community 23 supports. Incarceration and the disconnection 24 that results from that only exacerbates those 25 barriers. And a vast majority of people in the progress that we System continues to in ways that are life three individuals in records. And here in STREHLOW & ASSOCIATES, INC. (215) 504-4622 Special Committee on Poverty Reduction and Prevention November 18, 2019 1 criminal justice system also experience poverty. 2 We know that between 80and 90 percent of 3 the people charged with a crime in Philadelphia, 4 have either a court-appointed counsel or public 5 defender. Meaning, they don't have the ability 6 to afford an attorney. And the economic impacts 7 of the system itself are astounding. From the 8 earliest stages of the criminal justice process, 9 an individual's ability to pay money bail 10 impacts 11 12 cases. 13 program 14 criminal justice involvement. And the ability 15 to pay those fees impacts whether or not you're 16 able to have your records sealed under clean 17 state, which is something that Sharon will whether they are incarcerated pre-trial. Court fines and fees are assessed in all And supervision fees and diversionary fees only add to the economic impacts of 18 discuss later. 19 So, we are working hard in Philadelphia 20 to ensure that justice does not depend on 21 people's financial situation, but there 22 more to do. We look forward to working 23 collaboratively with this committee and 24 stakeholders to ensure that the justice 25 is fair and equitable for everyone regardless of isalot other system Page 13 STREHLOW & ASSOCIATES, INC. (215) 504-4622 Special Committee on Poverty Reduction and Prevention November 18, 2019 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 start. your race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation or your ability to pay. Page 14 Thank you. (Applause.) MS. DIETRICH: Hi, everyone. Again, I'm Sharon Dietrich. I brought some slides today to help me with my presentation, which hopefully will work. Yes. We are off to a promising 10 So, I'm with the employment unit at 11 Community Legal Services, where we serve about 12 1500 new clients a year. And of that 1500 new 13 clients, 1000 of them come in about health with 14 their criminal records, which is two out of 15 three. I think a really remarkable number. 16 And primarily, what they are looking for 17 when they come in is they say, I want to get my 18 record expunged. And it's pretty clear why they 19 want that. They recognize that employers of 20 background screening, housing providers even 21 educational institutions. And getting away from 22 your record can be one of the key things you can 23 do to quickly make a big difference in your 24 life. 25 So, we worked on a law called Clean STREHLOW & ASSOCIATES, INC. (215) 504-4622 Special Committee on Poverty Reduction and Prevention November 18, 2019 1 Slate that has gone into effect over the last 2 year. And it, basically, does two things. The 3 primary thing that I will be talking about is 4 that it makes it possible for a person to get 5 their record, certain records cleared even 6 without having to find a lawyer or going to 7 court. But instead, technology in possible 8 situations, seals up their record if they are 9 eligible. And it applies to non-convictions. Page 15 10 11 dropped 12 to what 13 misdemeanor. If ten years have gone by and you 14 have paid off your fines and costs. And 15 finally, it applies to misdemeanor convictions, 16 if ten years have gone by without you being 17 convicted of another felony or a misdemeanor and 18 your fines and costs are paid. 19 So far, this has been an extraordinary 20 successful law as far as it's gone because 21 31 million cases are on their way to being 22 sealed automatically without a person needing a 23 lawyer. 24 In addition, Clean Slate made it 25 possible for other things that were not So you know, you had a case, and it's or you are found not guilty. It applies are called summary convictions, below a STREHLOW & ASSOCIATES, INC. (215) 504-4622 Special Committee on Poverty Reduction and Prevention November 18, 2019 1 previously able to be sealed, but you need a 2 lawyer for them. Just so you know, though, like 3 second degree simple assault, you cannot be 4 sealable, and now it is. 5 So -- so now can I change the slide? 6 Yes, I can. Okay. But as good as it is with 7 31 million cases, our goal at CLS is to make 8 this as broad as it can possibly be because that 9 is the beauty of this. The more people we can 10 do throughout a nation, the more people can be 11 helped by this. And there is certain things 12 that are a problem with it being as broadly 13 applicable as it could be. 14 The first is, the process only works 15 when there is data in the system. And 16 unfortunately, many cases in Philadelphia, 17 especially the old cases from before 2006, do 18 not have that grade in it in the data. It 19 doesn't say, was it a misdemeanor? Was it a 20 felony? Was it a second degree misdemeanor or a 21 third degree misdemeanor? That's a problem 22 because if it doesn't say that, you can't get 23 your case automatically sealed. 24 The second thing, is that if you owe 25 court fines and costs on a case, that case is Page 16 STREHLOW & ASSOCIATES, INC. (215) 504-4622 Special Committee on Poverty Reduction and Prevention November 18, 2019 1 not going to be sealed. And that is a huge 2 barrier for people as you will hear more about 3 today. 4 And finally, Pennsylvania's running 5 behind a lot of states in that we do not allow 6 any felony conviction to be sealed no matter how 7 old it is or anything that you have done to turn 8 your life around, excuse me. So particularly, a 9 lot of drug felonies are holding people back but 10 other types, as well. And we are kind of behind 11 the rest of the country, at least about 12 three-fifths of the country now is allowing for 13 felonies to be sealed. 14 Indeed, Michigan is about to pass one of 15 these Clean Slate laws for automatic sealing, 16 allowing felonies to be automatically sealed. 17 But we don't even have the right to file a 18 petition to get such a case sealed. 19 So, our recommendations on Clean Slate 20 to make it more effective are the following. 21 First of all, we would like to see the 22 courts help out the technology by putting some 23 data in where it doesn't already exist. So, 24 those misdemeanor cases can automatically be 25 sealed. So, that is a labor intensive thing, Page 17 STREHLOW & ASSOCIATES, INC. (215) 504-4622 Special Committee on Poverty Reduction and Prevention November 18, 2019 1 unfortunately. And some support, financial 2 support from the state would help. But we would 3 like to see the Philadelphia courts, which are 4 interested, commit that they will try to get as 5 many grades as possible in so minor convictions 6 like DUI or low level theft or prostitution, 7 whatnot that go back ten years are automatically 8 sealed and those people can move forward. 9 The second thing is, we want to see the 10 barrier of fines and costs eliminated. And 11 obviously, one way it could eliminated is if we 12 could eliminate fines and costs. And you will 13 hear more about that. And of course, we would 14 be supportive of that. But short of that, we 15 would like to support a bill that Jordan Harris, 16 who was the prime sponsor from Philadelphia 17 along with Senator Anthony Williams for Clean 18 Slate. 19 Jordan Harris has a house bill 1540 that 20 would say it's only if you owe restitution that 21 you would be prohibited from getting your 22 misdemeanor or summary offense sealed. And most 23 cases, honestly, do not involve restitution. 24 That would greatly increase the number of cases 25 sealed. Page 18 STREHLOW & ASSOCIATES, INC. (215) 504-4622 Special Committee on Poverty Reduction and Prevention November 18, 2019 1 And finally, we want to see the General 2 Assembly start to get with it and get those 3 felony convictions eligible to be sealed, as 4 well. So, those are our recommendations on 5 Clean Slate. 6 Just to let you know, if you are 7 interested in this whole Clean Slate thing, a 8 place for more information is a website that CLS 9 runs called mycleanslatePA.com. Everything you 10 want to know, I think, about Clean Slate will be 11 available on that website. Or also, if you want 12 to see whether the law is going to help you, you 13 can go to an expungement clinic. If you are a 14 low income Philadelphian, you can come into CLS 15 for intake. We take new cases at our Center 16 City office, 15th and Chestnut, every Monday 17 through Friday from 9 to 12. 18 And that's it for me. Thank you. 19 (Applause.) 20 MS. GLADSTEIN: That's what we mean by 21 Removing Barriers. And again, that was kind of 22 a hint of some of the other recommendations that 23 are coming. So, thank you Rachel and Sharon. 24 And again, when we get ready for small group 25 discussions, if you are interested in learning Page 19 STREHLOW & ASSOCIATES, INC. (215) 504-4622 Special Committee on Poverty Reduction and Prevention November 18, 2019 1 more and providing input on this recommendation, 2 just make sure you go to one of the tables where 3 a placard says Removing Barriers. 4 And next -- who is going first? We have 5 two Wills representing together. Will Gonzalez 6 is going first, and then Will Hall. 7 MR. GONZALEZ: Thank you, Eva. You 8 proved where there is "Wills" there is ways. Page 20 9 10 hearing 11 is Will 12 CEIBA. 13 14 sense. 15 federal 16 and deep poverty programs in the country. 17 And to give you an example, if a family 18 of four earning around $16,000 can get up to 19 $6,431 in terms of a one-time tax line. There 20 is some issues in terms of making sure that 21 everybody who is eligible to get that credit 22 applies for it. And let me say that I'm so 23 proud to be in Philadelphia where amazing 24 efforts are being made by CEIBA, the Campaign 25 for Working Family, AARP, others to make sure Thank you for coming to this important and for inviting me to testify. My name Gonzalez. I'm the Executive Director of Local earned income tax credits make The Earned Income Tax Credit, which is a program, is one of the most successful STREHLOW & ASSOCIATES, INC. (215) 504-4622 Special Committee on Poverty Reduction and Prevention November 18, 2019 1 that Department of Revenue and others are doing 2 their maximum to make sure that people apply for 3 this federal tax credit. 4 However, as you know, with the rate of 5 poverty that we have in the City, that's not 6 enough. And so, having a Pennsylvania State 7 Earned Income Tax Credit and a Philadelphia 8 Local City Earned Income Tax Credit is very 9 helpful for poor families. There is numerous 10 studies showing the value of both the federal 11 EITC and, also, adding onto that state and local 12 EITCs. These EITCs help working families make 13 ends meet. It keeps families working and reduce 14 poverty, especially among children. 15 The EITC has kept more children living 16 above the poverty line than any other tax credit 17 program. 18 For example, in Montgomery County, 19 Maryland, a local EITC increased the probability 20 of low birth rate babies between 1.9 percent to 21 2.4 percent points among likely eligible 22 mothers. Page 21 23 24 25 Having a state -- talking about Pennsylvania state, EITC is not crazy. Twenty-nine states plus the District of Columbia STREHLOW & ASSOCIATES, INC. (215) 504-4622 Special Committee on Poverty Reduction and Prevention November 18, 2019 1 and Puerto Rico have their own version of their 2 Federal Earned Income Tax Credit. Let me first 3 start -- because I know that they are recording 4 this. And the acronym EITC is already being 5 used in Pennsylvania for something else. 6 Another tax credit program, believe it or not. 7 But this particular EITC is used to give 8 tax breaks to businesses who may qualify 9 donations to scholarship, educational 10 improvement and kindergarten scholarships. So 11 when I am talking about the EITC in 12 Pennsylvania, I'm really meaning the Earned 13 Income Tax Credit. 14 Another reason why it's important to 15 have a state earned income tax credit is that in 16 Pennsylvania, we have a significantly regressive 17 tax system. What that means is that below 18 income families pay proportionately more in 19 their taxes than higher income brackets. In 20 Pennsylvania, has a Tax Forgiveness Program, but 21 that doesn't incentivize work. And its benefits 22 are limited to the amount of tax owed. And that 23 is not helpful to those who pay little tax, 24 including the lowest income working families. 25 And many of those who are just entering the Page 22 STREHLOW & ASSOCIATES, INC. (215) 504-4622 Special Committee on Poverty Reduction and Prevention November 18, 2019 1 workforce. 2 A state EITC is not that costly. To 3 provide its own credit, Pennsylvania would only 4 need to add one line item to its tax form. The 5 calculations are straightforward. Most state 6 Earned Income Tax Credit programs are set as the 7 percentage of the Federal Income Tax Rate 8 program. So basically, the state filers would 9 simply multiple that percentage by the tax 10 amount of the federal income tax credit to 11 determine the amount of the state Earned Income 12 Tax Credit. 13 In most states, the straight income tax 14 credit is refundable. This means that tax 15 filers can claim the maximum value of the state 16 tax credit, even if that exceeds what they owe 17 in tax liability. 18 Pennsylvania is ready to have a state 19 EITC. In 2009, the General Assembly Joint State 20 Government Commission researched the subject, 21 put out a study and said that it could provide 22 an additional 10 percent of the Federal Earned 23 Income Tax Credit at a cost to the Commonwealth 24 of $144 million. States with State Earned 25 Income Tax Credits have very low administrative Page 23 STREHLOW & ASSOCIATES, INC. (215) 504-4622 Special Committee on Poverty Reduction and Prevention November 18, 2019 1 costs, typically less than 1 percent. 2 Philadelphia is also ready, thanks to 3 Councilman Domb and Councilwoman Maria 4 Quinones-Sanchez, to have a Philly local EITC. 5 There is a bill currently in City Council, and I 6 hope you can support that. I don't know if I 7 can do advocacy here. But anyway, there is a 8 bill currently in City Council that is asking to 9 put into effect a local Earned Income Tax 10 Credit. 11 Philadelphians need both a state and a 12 local EITC. People who live in Philadelphia 13 bear the highest tax burden of any metro area in 14 the US, 18 percent. If the City leadership can 15 be sensitive to the tax burdens borne by big 16 business and take into consideration that to 17 martial out all other efforts to implement tax 18 cuts for businesses like Amazon and bring them 19 to Philadelphia, then why can't we expect the 20 City to have the capacity to find ways to 21 implement a local EITC to help low-wage earning 22 families stay in Philadelphia? 23 If we are committed to equitable 24 development, then we have to encourage workers 25 to live in the City at the same time that we Page 24 STREHLOW & ASSOCIATES, INC. (215) 504-4622 Special Committee on Poverty Reduction and Prevention November 18, 2019 1 seek to encourage corporations to come to 2 Philadelphia. The local EITC and the state EITC 3 are good investments. They incentivize low 4 income individuals to work, and they have a 5 multiplier effect. For every dollar in EITC or 6 tax refunds that someone gets, we can say it's 7 like a 15 percent investment in businesses and 8 the neighborhoods in the local economy. So, we 9 need both a local Philadelphia EITC and a state Page 25 10 EITC in 11 Poverty 12 13 matter. 14 15 16 Will Hall. I'm the Office of Community 17 Empowerment and Opportunity. I'm the Director 18 of Financial Inclusion. And I want to talk a 19 little bit about what the effects of some of the 20 proposals around earned income would be for the 21 clients that our services work with. 22 So, one of the things I do in my role is 23 financial empowerment centers, which offer free 24 one-on-one counseling to primarily low and 25 moderate income Philadelphians. A lot of the the arsenal of our Special Committee on Prevention and Reduction. Thank you for your attention to this (Applause.) MR. HALL: Good evening. My name is STREHLOW & ASSOCIATES, INC. (215) 504-4622 Special Committee on Poverty Reduction and Prevention November 18, 2019 1 folks who come in, come in at a place of crisis, 2 facing utility shutoff or an eviction notice or 3 something like that. And one of the first 4 things once we dealt with the immediate threat, 5 is work with a client to put together a crisis 6 budget, just a budget that meets the most basic 7 needs and is balanced month to month. 8 Unfortunately, a lot of the clients come 9 in don't have sufficient income to put together 10 a crisis budget. The model is supposed to grow 11 folks from there to financial security to asset 12 accumulation. But without sufficient income, we 13 can't do that initial crisis budget. 14 So, one of the recommendations from the 15 committee is an increase in TANF for a family of 16 three. The proposed increase would phase in 17 from $403 a month up to over $880 a month. With 18 that extra $480 a month, our counselors can work 19 with low income individuals to put together a 20 crisis budget which has, you know, immediate 21 stress relieving effects and, also, greater 22 security for the family, but also long term 23 effects. I believe recommendation points to 24 research around the effect it has on children as 25 they are going to school to not be dealing with Page 26 STREHLOW & ASSOCIATES, INC. (215) 504-4622 Special Committee on Poverty Reduction and Prevention November 18, 2019 1 the most, you know, awful parts of living in 2 poverty. 3 And Will talked a lot about the EITC 4 proposals. Gave another snapshot for that. 5 Family of four making $32,000 that comes into 6 our financial empowerment centers, through EITC 7 proposals, would see tax refund of a little over 8 a thousand dollars a year. I just want to give 9 you an idea of what our counselors can help 10 folks do with that extra money. 11 Earlier this year, the State Treasurer 12 announced that Keystone for Scholars Program. A 13 hundred dollars goes into an account for every 14 child born after January 1, 2019. And the 15 Treasurer estimates that if the family puts $25 16 into the account every month, but the time the 17 child is ready to go to college, there will be 18 $10,000 in the account, which is great. 19 Unfortunately, most of the clients we see don't 20 have that extra $25 a month. 21 This family of four through the EITC 22 proposals would have the $600 needed every year 23 to match that or make more than match that money 24 the state is providing to help that family grow 25 well so that college isn't just an idea but is a Page 27 STREHLOW & ASSOCIATES, INC. (215) 504-4622 Special Committee on Poverty Reduction and Prevention November 18, 2019 1 actual goal for the two children living in this 2 family. 3 I used to be a bankruptcy attorney. We 4 go through bankruptcy. The IRS calculates how 5 much you need for basic living expenses. And 6 they give a family of four a credit of about 7 $516 a year for personal care and services. And 8 as any of us know who have worked with folks who 9 are low income, personal care service is one of 10 the first things to go when you can't meet your 11 basic needs. Which has adverse impacts on not 12 only personal well being but also job prospects 13 and how much kids attain in school when they are 14 not dressed appropriately. This thousand 15 dollars would meet that 516-dollar need. 16 That same IRS testing gives a family of 17 the four $260 allowance for out-of-pocket 18 medical costs every month. Medical costs that 19 are often forgone and lead to much higher costs, 20 future medical problems. This thousand dollar 21 credit would cover at least four of those months 22 for this family of four. 23 These are just some of the things that 24 our counselors run into helping folks put 25 together budgets as they come in. And why any Page 28 STREHLOW & ASSOCIATES, INC. (215) 504-4622 Special Committee on Poverty Reduction and Prevention November 18, 2019 1 of them would be very supportive of the EITC and 2 the TANF recommendations. 3 Thank you to the committee for allowing 4 me to talk about this. And I will turn it back 5 to Eva. 6 (Applause.) 7 MS. GLADSTEIN: Our third set of 8 presentations are around improving access to 9 benefits. And to discuss that, I'm not sure if 10 Mitch or Pauline -- Mitch Little, the Office of 11 Community Empowerment and Opportunity will come 12 up; and then Pauline Abernathy from Benefits 13 Data Trust. 14 MR. LITTLE: Good evening again. My 15 name is Mitch Little. I'm the Executive 16 Director of the Office of Community Empowerment 17 and Opportunity, known as CEO. My office serves 18 as the community action agency for Philadelphia 19 who is responsible for administering the 20 Community Services Block Grant funding to help 21 meet the needs of improved life conditions for 22 thousands of Philadelphian residents living near 23 and below the poverty line. 24 Earlier on as we develop our approach 25 for addressing poverty in Philadelphia related Page 29 STREHLOW & ASSOCIATES, INC. (215) 504-4622 Special Committee on Poverty Reduction and Prevention November 18, 2019 1 to termination, that new programs and policies 2 were needed to ensure that every eligible 3 Philadelphian was able to easily apply for and 4 receive all the public benefits to which they 5 were entitled. By public benefit, we mean 6 familiar programs such as Supplemental Nutrition 7 Assistance Program, known as SNAP or food 8 stamps; cash assistance programs such as TANF, 9 Temporary Assistance for Needy Families; LIHEAP, 10 Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program; 11 Medicaid and many others. 12 Why do some eligible households neglect 13 access available for public benefit programs and 14 resources? Well, we understand first and 15 foremost that there is a lack of awareness. 16 There are thousands of people in the City who 17 are eligible for certain public benefits who 18 don't even know that they are eligible. Seniors 19 or people with limited English proficiencies or 20 students, for example, are population who are 21 often unaware of the existing benefits that they 22 qualify for. 23 Secondly, the complexity of the 24 application process. There are also thousands 25 of people in Philadelphia who know about public Page 30 STREHLOW & ASSOCIATES, INC. (215) 504-4622 Special Committee on Poverty Reduction and Prevention November 18, 2019 1 benefits but face difficulty navigating complex 2 applications and recertification processes. 3 They wind up getting discouraged because of 4 their application which are rejected or have 5 their case closed simply because a form they 6 attempt to submit didn't go through and they 7 have to start the whole process over again from 8 the beginning, a phenomenon known as the 9 benefits turn. 10 Oftentimes, the question is asked, why 11 is improving access to public benefits so 12 important to addressing poverty? Well, when 13 families living in poverty don't have access to 14 public benefits that they are eligible for, they 15 miss out on much needed assistance that can make 16 the difference between having heat, food on 17 their tables, access to some needed medical 18 treatment or even keeping a roof over their 19 head. 20 Why did the office begin to investigate 21 the BenePhilly Program five years ago? Well, 22 BenePhilly, which is run by our partners Benefit 23 Data Trust, provides streamline application 24 assistance for 19 different publicly funded 25 benefits. They do that through a network of Page 31 STREHLOW & ASSOCIATES, INC. (215) 504-4622 Special Committee on Poverty Reduction and Prevention November 18, 2019 1 coordinated BenePhilly centers that's enable 2 residents to meet in person, with enrollment 3 specialist housed with entrusted neighborhood 4 organizations that provide direct one-on-one 5 assistance with the application. 6 Residents who prefer to start the 7 process by phone can access the hotline. We go 8 through a step-by-step intake process that will 9 identify all the programs that they qualify for 10 and get each application started. 11 Since the launch of BenePhilly, our 12 agency has provided assistance to more than 13 50,000 applicants, resulting in over 25,000 firm 14 enrollments and generating benefits valued at 15 approximately $52 million. 16 With all that success, though, there is 17 still much more that is needed to improve 18 benefits access for Philadelphians living below 19 or near the poverty line. We need more 20 coordinated access across agencies that serve 21 vulnerable populations to ensure that nobody 22 falls through the cracks. We also need to 23 identify systemic improvements that will make it 24 easier for applicants to confirm and document 25 their eligibility for existing programs and to Page 32 STREHLOW & ASSOCIATES, INC. (215) 504-4622 Special Committee on Poverty Reduction and Prevention November 18, 2019 1 help reduce paperwork required to further 2 streamline the process. 3 The recommendation of the safety -- let 4 me try it again. The Social Safety Net 5 Subcommittee that focuses on benefit access are 6 designed to deal with on the progress made 7 through BenePhilly and similar programs by 8 taking the next necessary steps to eliminate 9 barriers and better integrate enrollment 10 activities throughout our services network. 11 Thank you for taking the time to let me 12 share with you this evening about this very 13 important work and the great strides we are 14 making across the City, and the necessary need 15 to make even more. 16 With that, I will invite Pauline up to 17 talk a little bit more about the recommendations 18 to go with that. 19 (Applause.) 20 MS. ABERNATHY: Thank you, Mitch. 21 Pauline Abernathy with Benefit Data Trust. As 22 you just heard, thanks to the support of CEO, 23 the state, private funders such as PEW, the 24 United Way and many others, it's now possible 25 for people to go to organizations around the Page 33 STREHLOW & ASSOCIATES, INC. (215) 504-4622 Special Committee on Poverty Reduction and Prevention November 18, 2019 1 City, 25 different places, and get assistance, 2 being screened and applying for benefits all in 3 one place rather than having to fill out 4 multiple applications, or they can simply call 5 the hotline that Benefits Data Trust runs. It's 6 a free hotline that you can do the entire 7 screening and application over the phone, 8 whichever people prefer. 9 Our partners in this effort are Catholic 10 Social Services, Campaign for Working Families, 11 Esperanza, Impact Social Services Corporation, 12 HACE, Philadelphia FIGHT, Project HOME, UESF, 13 the United Community Southeast, Philadelphia and 14 others are places where you can go in person and 15 get seen and assistance applying. 16 Since BenePhilly first started in 2008, 17 over 110,000 Philadelphians have been enrolled 18 in benefits for over $330 million. But despite 19 those huge numbers, there is so much more. We 20 estimate, and there's a flyer in the back, that 21 Philadelphians are leaving on the table each 22 year $450 million in benefits for which they are 23 eligible that they are not receiving. Those are 24 all federal and state benefits that people are 25 eligible for including Medicaid; EITC, Earned Page 34 STREHLOW & ASSOCIATES, INC. (215) 504-4622 Special Committee on Poverty Reduction and Prevention November 18, 2019 1 Income Tax Credit; Quick; SNAP, food assistance. 2 And so, this committee's recommendations 3 is an opportunity to develop strategies to 4 ensure that more people are getting those 5 $450 million in benefits that families who 6 desperately need them. And so, we developed 7 three sets of tentative recommendations that we 8 would welcome your input on tonight as a way to 9 do that. 10 The first is to expand the number of 11 locations where people can get seen and 12 assistance for applying benefits in a 13 streamlined where, again, currently you can get 14 screened for up to 19 benefits at a time, and 15 your answers get -- go into the application so 16 you don't have to keep providing the same 17 information 19 times. It's just one set of 18 questions. And it fills them out automatically 19 and is submitted the applications for people in 20 the BenePhilly centers or on the hotline can 21 help you, provide documents if documents are 22 needed to support your application, which 23 sometimes is the case. 24 So, we have a tool called Community 25 Prism that we provide to organizations. And Page 35 STREHLOW & ASSOCIATES, INC. (215) 504-4622 Special Committee on Poverty Reduction and Prevention November 18, 2019 1 it's currently in the 25 locations including 2 health centers, community schools and 3 non-profits. Where people, volunteers or social 4 workers can actually help screen people. We 5 have a separate tool called Benefits Launch 6 where people can do a quick screen themselves in 7 less than ten minutes. One can just tell 8 whether you are likely eligible for up to 19 9 benefits. 10 And then it directs you to where you can 11 get assistance applying if you want assistance. 12 Either to the online application sites or to a 13 new person, location or to the hotline. And 14 then we can follow up with text messages to help 15 you along the way if people get tripped up in 16 the process. And also, just a reminder to 17 follow through on the next step. 18 So, our first recommendation is to 19 provide those tools to more locations. In 20 addition, it's to help support the financial 21 empowerment centers that you just heard Will 22 talk about, so that they are available free 23 one-on-one financial counseling is available in 24 more locations around the City. 25 Our second recommendation has to do with Page 36 STREHLOW & ASSOCIATES, INC. (215) 504-4622 Special Committee on Poverty Reduction and Prevention November 18, 2019 1 providing proactive targeted outreach. Many 2 people don't apply for benefits because they 3 either don't know they exist or they don't know 4 they are eligible. We at Benefits Data Trust 5 has been doing for years is been getting 6 different lists to identify who is eligible and 7 not participating. And we literally then mail 8 or text or call all of the different ways to 9 tell people using a trusted partner, either the 10 state or local non-profit to say we think you 11 are likely eligible for benefits. Call us or go 12 to this location and get assistance. 13 And so, our second recommendation is to 14 do much more of that whether it's done by BDT or 15 City agency or other non-profits, is to use the 16 data that people already have to identify who is 17 likely eligible and not receiving benefits and 18 then do an outreach. We know that just flyers 19 alone don't tend to have much impact. But a 20 personalized letter from a trusted entity that 21 has clear action of where to go, research has 22 been very clear as a huge measurable impact. 23 And then the other part of that 24 recommendation is to really focus on particular 25 populations like immigrant populations, Page 37 STREHLOW & ASSOCIATES, INC. (215) 504-4622 Special Committee on Poverty Reduction and Prevention November 18, 2019 1 students, returning citizens, others who we know 2 are missing out on benefits. And to also not 3 just help people enroll, but also help them to 4 recertification. So each year, often or 5 sometimes even more frequently than that, one 6 has to provide additional information to keep a 7 benefit. 8 In New York City, we contact every 9 participant in the SNAP Program to remind them 10 when it's time to renew the SNAP application. 11 Then we provide text assistance with each step 12 along the way. And so, something similar could 13 be done here either by us or by others to help 14 people in a low cost way, make sure that they 15 keep the benefits once they are on them. 16 And the third and final recommendation 17 is for the City funded benefits, of which there 18 are many to help people with home repairs, 19 property taxes, utility bills and other things. 20 Right now, those are all separate applications, 21 often a paper application. And to instead, move 22 to a single application for City benefits and 23 really move as much as we can towards automatic 24 enrollment. If you're one benefit, so that you 25 can get enrolled in other benefits by simply Page 38 STREHLOW & ASSOCIATES, INC. (215) 504-4622 Special Committee on Poverty Reduction and Prevention November 18, 2019 1 providing consent. 2 And so, that's a place where more work 3 needs to be done. But we are very interested 4 and the City is interested in having a 5 streamlined single application and portal. And 6 so, we need to identify what can be done 7 currently, what might require some legislative 8 change but a tremendous amount can be done 9 currently by having just a single application 10 for multiple benefits. 11 We look forward to getting your input. 12 (Applause.) 13 MS. GLADSTEIN: Okay. It's almost time 14 to break into small groups. But first, we had 15 the pleasure of having the Council President 16 Darrell Clarke in his district we are sitting in 17 now. 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 Page 39 (Applause and boos.) And Councilman Allan Domb who has provided leadership on a number of these issues. I wanted to see if either of them wanted to say a few words. AUDIENCE MEMBER: Give us some of your unused campaign contributions to help us out. (Approaches podium.) STREHLOW & ASSOCIATES, INC. (215) 504-4622 Special Committee on Poverty Reduction and Prevention November 18, 2019 1 COUNCIL PRESIDENT CLARKE: Thank you. 2 First of all, I want to thank all of you 3 for your ongoing either long term/short-term 4 commitment. I know one of the things that we 5 found out when we embarked on this initiative is 6 that there were a lot of people in the City of 7 Philadelphia doing a lot of great work. I want 8 to fully acknowledge that. 9 We do not have the answer for 10 everything, but we thought it was appropriate 11 that members of Council, Councilman Domb and 12 other individuals, that are working on this kind 13 of being -- move the needle forward in terms of 14 pulling everybody together. We do have the 15 ability to have a Public Hearing. We do have 16 access to media, some of the other things that 17 brings this to the forefront. 18 I want to thank all of you so much for 19 what you have done or what I will anticipate you 20 will be doing. 21 Second of all, I want the thank the 22 individuals and our co-chair Eva, Councilwoman 23 Quinones-Sanchez, Melville, Matlock-Turner for 24 their great work in subcommittee chairs. And 25 Councilman Domb is on one of the subcommittee Page 40 STREHLOW & ASSOCIATES, INC. (215) 504-4622 Special Committee on Poverty Reduction and Prevention November 18, 2019 1 for all the great work. Bottom line is, this is 2 about our moon shot. And we called it that 3 because of a documentary on a long time ago. 4 People said, well, we going to figure out how to 5 go to the moon and back in the old days. Some 6 of you all in here weren't even born as I look 7 around the room. 8 The simply reality is everybody thought 9 it was something to never be achieved, but 10 everybody pulled together. Said we are going to 11 do this. Believe it or not, we made it to the 12 moon, right? 13 So, we are saying that we can take this 14 below 20 percent in terms of the poverty rate. 15 And if we all pull together, guess what, we are 16 going to get it done. 17 So, I just want to say thank you. Thank 18 you for your support. We are going to do 19 everything we have to do. Identify this 20 particular component of benefits. We can get 21 250 million, put that, insert that into our 22 economy on a local level. And we will make not 23 only more significant measurable impact on 24 individual's lives, but it will actually make an 25 impact on the City of Philadelphia. Page 41 STREHLOW & ASSOCIATES, INC. (215) 504-4622 Special Committee on Poverty Reduction and Prevention November 18, 2019 1 So just want to say, thank you all. 2 Continue the awesome work. We look forward to Page 42 3 working 4 5 6 with you on a long term basis. Thank you. (Applause.) COUNCILMAN DOMB: Good evening, 7 everyone. 8 I also want to echo Council President 9 Clarke. By the way, this is Council President 10 Clarke's mission. And I'm standing with him a 11 hundred percent on this to get poverty down to 12 20 percent. We have to do it. We have four 13 years I think he gave us. Four years. 14 Let me just say a few things. I saw 15 Mitch and I saw Pauline. And Will hear your 16 comments, too. And, Eva, you are doing a great 17 job. 18 Benefits Data Trust, I have the chart. 19 I carry it in my pocket actually, this chart. 20 It tells us there is $450 million. I want to 21 repeat that. $450 million of federal money that 22 doesn't come back to our residents. That's our 23 number one goal. We should probably be 24 inserting this in every water and sewer bills, 25 every real estate tax bill, every PGW, every STREHLOW & ASSOCIATES, INC. (215) 504-4622 Special Committee on Poverty Reduction and Prevention November 18, 2019 1 electric bill, every way we can to get the word 2 out. This is money taken out of our federal 3 withholding tax that's not coming back to our 4 residents that need it. Whatever we can do to 5 expand this. I know that Eva has been a big 6 supporter of -- she's going around about the 7 EITC. But whatever we can do to expand this, we 8 need to do. 9 And then I just want to talk briefly 10 about a bill we passed in the Finance Committee. 11 Will referred to it. It has to do with the fact 12 of the top 50 cities in the country, sadly 13 embarrassingly, Philadelphia taxes hits lower 14 income people the highest. What Will is 15 referring to is for $25,000 income, we tax 16 people at 18.1 percent. And almost every other 17 City it's 7 to 14. 18 So, the bill that we put forth, 19 basically, will reimburse wage taxes for lower 20 income people, will effect 60,000 household, 21 potentially 90 to a hundred thousand people. 22 Average refund could be 500 to 800 dollars a 23 day. In 2024, because of the ability for it to 24 burn off, it could go up to $1,300. 25 It's a start. It's not a finish, but Page 43 STREHLOW & ASSOCIATES, INC. (215) 504-4622 Special Committee on Poverty Reduction and Prevention November 18, 2019 1 it's a start. We can improve on doing more like 2 that. So, thank you for everyone being here. 3 And thank you for all your support. And this is 4 most important goal in our minds in Council to 5 get this accomplished. 6 Thank you. 7 (Applause.) 8 MS. GLADSTEIN: So, I know the room is a 9 little warm and folks have been sitting for an 10 hour. So now is your opportunity, right? We 11 are going to have about -- we are going to give 12 you the opportunity to talk about 20 minutes 13 around the set of proposals that you heard. 14 Removing Barriers, which primarily focused on 15 criminal justice issues, right; Growing Income, 16 which we heard about EITC and other potentially 17 increasing the size of the TANF Grant just as 18 reminders; and then Benefits Access, which you 19 just heard about. 20 Each table, I believe, has a placard 21 saying what the conversation is going to be 22 focused on. And if you are at the right table, 23 that's great. If not, move to a table that you 24 want to be at. We will give you about 20 25 minutes. And we will have someone at the table Page 44 STREHLOW & ASSOCIATES, INC. (215) 504-4622 Special Committee on Poverty Reduction and Prevention November 18, 2019 1 who is going to ask you some key questions about 2 the proposals and what else you would like to 3 suggest or input that you want to give us about 4 those recommendations. Then we will call time 5 and give you the ability to get up and move and 6 have a second conversation before we end this 7 evening. Page 45 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 Also, there is a table -- Mitch raise your hand. I think that's the table. One over. There is a table next to the water bottles, right, where Rob is. Sorry. That table, if you would want to recommend other suggestions and other proposals for this committee to review, we encourage you to go to that table. Rob is there because he already has one set of proposals that he shared with us around backwater bills for Philadelphians. All right. Time to get up and move around a little bit and choose a table you want to be at. (Break at 5:20 p.m. for discussions.) --- (Public Hearing resumed at 6:09 p.m.) MS. GLADSTEIN: Going to do a really, really quick report out, kind or rapid STREHLOW & ASSOCIATES, INC. (215) 504-4622 Special Committee on Poverty Reduction and Prevention November 18, 2019 1 lightening speed. I know it's warm in the room. 2 Just like one idea that was discussed at each 3 table. Carolyn since you are looking at me, I 4 will ask about your table first. And we will 5 just go around. 6 MS. BROWN: I just want to read two, and 7 I will be real short. They both have to do with 8 process and how we move forward once this 9 meeting ends. 10 The first was to create an inclusive 11 process to continue to allow members of the 12 public to offer feedback on these 13 recommendations. So, this isn't just a one-shot 14 opportunity to have conversations. And also, to 15 have more planning and communication at the 16 grass roots level and, in particular, to engage 17 networks of trust. So, that's involving family, 18 friends, block captains, people who know what's 19 going on in the community, know how to -- know 20 what the needs are and have insight on how to 21 meet the needs. There needs to be more of that. 22 MS. GLADSTEIN: Thank you. 23 (Applause.) 24 MS. GLADSTEIN: We can talk a little bit 25 about what some of the next steps are when we Page 46 STREHLOW & ASSOCIATES, INC. (215) 504-4622 Special Committee on Poverty Reduction and Prevention November 18, 2019 1 are done. Can you hand it to Sharon? 2 MS. DIETRICH: Thank you. Since I only 3 get to put forward -- sorry, Sharon Dietrich, 4 Community Legal Services. 5 So, I'm assuming I only get to put 6 forward one idea. I will put forward, we 7 discussed ways to eliminate court fines and 8 costs and why it's so important that people get 9 threatening letters telling them, pay lots of 10 money in 30 days or you are going to go back to 11 jail. Although, that was not Philadelphia 12 County. But that certainly happens to 13 Philadelphians who've been in other places. Page 47 14 And some of the ideas that we talked 15 about were community service as an alternative 16 to having to pay money that you don't have; 17 amnesty potentially for back fines and costs; 18 and educating the state legislature on these 19 issues. 20 21 22 23 24 25 MS. GLADSTEIN: Great. Thank you. Let's go to this table over here. Not sure who is going to -- great. Thank you. MS. WOLFF: Hi. My name is Jennifer. I'm the Pennsylvania Health Access Network. And we combined tables for the second one, so I will STREHLOW & ASSOCIATES, INC. (215) 504-4622 Special Committee on Poverty Reduction and Prevention November 18, 2019 1 go over our first and second. You can talk 2 about your first ideas. 3 We were the growing income table. And 4 we had a very high level of agreement that 5 people need more income, which is kind of an 6 obvious statement to have, but worth saying 7 anyway. So, we talked about how to maybe 8 increase TANF. We talked about bringing general 9 assistance type program or a universal basic Page 48 10 income putting that back on the table, to 11 increase the amount of income that folks have in 12 Pennsylvania or in Philadelphia, whether or not 13 they are at a certain percentage of the poverty 14 level. 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 And then, we also talked about an idea that's advocacy. A little bit about the federal level, but also brought to the state or local level, the American Families Act, which is somewhat like a EITC-type program, but it really helps out families with children and making sure that they have income to take care of themselves and their families. MS. GLADSTEIN: Great. Thank you. Anything else? MS. SAWYER: Hi. Justine Sawyer. And STREHLOW & ASSOCIATES, INC. (215) 504-4622 Special Committee on Poverty Reduction and Prevention November 18, 2019 1 I'm part of Women United for Greater 2 Philadelphia. Another couple additional 3 elements that we discussed during growing income Page 49 4 was the 5 6 this is 7 But we need to really educate and think about 8 ways to really increase what we are receiving 9 for individuals who are definitely in need. So element of really savings and investing. So, we all understand that, you know, a great element is to have more money. 10 part of the conversation was, what if we had 11 different savings and investment accounts, 12 certain tax credits, 2 percent or 5 percent of 13 that was allocated into a savings and that was 14 invested for you. And you can take it out and 15 say when an individual family member is 16 beneficiary turns 18, they can take it and spend 17 it on college. 18 Or certain countries in Europe, they 19 have savings and investment accounts for 20 children who are born into poverty or whatever 21 that may look like. They allocate 2000. It's 22 invested over X-amount of years. And they can 23 pull it and use it for secondary education or 24 whatever that may look like. 25 Being more proactive about how we are STREHLOW & ASSOCIATES, INC. (215) 504-4622 Special Committee on Poverty Reduction and Prevention November 18, 2019 1 spending and educating those individuals in our 2 community versus just giving them a certain tax 3 allotment. So, that was part of our 4 conversation. 5 MS. GLADSTEIN: Great. Thank you. 6 Let's start talking about -- where are benefits 7 heres. 8 9 10 11 Against 12 group mentioned more grass roots and individuals 13 with lift experience should be involved in 14 providing comments and the messaging. So such 15 as discussing where BenePhilly sites could be 16 located near transit hubs. 17 The challenges to even affording getting 18 a birth certificate or affording SEPTA fare to 19 go get documents that are needed, tracking those 20 down. And then also, their input on the 21 messaging and outreach that's focused group 22 tested and really going to speak for the people 23 that need access to the benefits the most. 24 MS. GLADSTEIN: Great. Thank you. And 25 this table, Benefits Access, additional idea? Page 50 Is that Kathy? MS. FISHER: Yeah. MS. GLADSTEIN: Identify yourself. MS. FISHER: Kathy Fisher, Coalition Hunger. And I'm going to echo the other STREHLOW & ASSOCIATES, INC. (215) 504-4622 Special Committee on Poverty Reduction and Prevention November 18, 2019 1 MS. ABERNATHY: Very similar talking 2 about being shown the information, getting out 3 into the neighborhood where people live. One 4 idea was electronic signs at SEPTA places. A 5 lot of issues around transportation barriers for 6 people with disabilities and others. And then 7 assistance so people don't need to travel. 8 MS. GLADSTEIN: Great, thank you. 9 And now we are in Removing Barriers. 10 MS. ROMENS: Hi. I'm Kristin Romens 11 from PEW Charitable Trust. At our table we 12 actually talked about Removing Barrier and then 13 Benefits Access. We will do one on each. 14 Removing Barriers. We, in general, 15 talked about the recommendations as being 16 positive to help people who are really stuck to 17 be able to move forward. You know, decreasing 18 fines was a huge need. But at the same time, we 19 also recognize that expungement or sealing 20 records happens after ten years without a 21 conviction. And to get people to ten years is a 22 really big deal. So, the need for work while 23 still incarcerated and transitioning out of 24 incarceration, to really make these meaningful, 25 we have to do something for ten years. Page 51 STREHLOW & ASSOCIATES, INC. (215) 504-4622 Special Committee on Poverty Reduction and Prevention November 18, 2019 1 UNKNOWN SPEAKER: I'm supporting this 2 effort through Managing Director's Office. A 3 lot of the things that were mentioned before 4 were also talked about here. What's interesting 5 was the business of making sure that the 6 information was right. Whether it be things -- 7 or where people get clothing or other things we 8 know. And for people with disabilities, even 9 going door to door or getting people that 10 needing those services. Page 52 11 12 you. 13 Will, do you have any more from your 14 table. 15 16 Hall. I'm from the Office of community 17 Empowerment and Opportunity. The folks that are 18 able are not here anymore, who are really 19 supportive of the Clean Slate and the fines and 20 fees recommendations. And pointed out a need to 21 focus on folks who are incarcerated and similar 22 things that are dealt with. There were a lot of 23 things that got thrown around. 24 COUNCIL PRESIDENT CLARKE: Great, thank 25 you. So, has every table given us at least one? COUNCIL PRESIDENT CLARKE: Great. Thank MR. HALL: Yes. The folks -- I'm Will STREHLOW & ASSOCIATES, INC. (215) 504-4622 Special Committee on Poverty Reduction and Prevention November 18, 2019 1 So, I just really want to thank everybody 2 because this was really great work. And it's a 3 lot of input. It sounds like there was some 4 themes in terms of our process, but still for 5 getting input, making sure about accessibility 6 being at the community and family level. To 7 think kind of more upstream, right, so giving 8 people information about their rights and access 9 to supports and services, not after the event 10 but during and before to the extent that we can. 11 And a lot of great advocacy ideas at least at 12 the state level for things that we can control. 13 So, we really appreciate that. 14 I just want to speak for a minute about 15 next steps, which makes sure everybody is aware. 16 So, we have been on camera this evening and on 17 tape and we are being recorded. Which means a 18 number of other people are going to be able to 19 see this and hear about it on Channel 64. And Page 53 20 I'm not sure if 21 right? It's 63 22 not quite sure. 23 It will 24 times. I know that they often do that. If you 25 have access to the internet, it's going -- it's you have Fios, what it is, or something like that. So, I'm probably be played a number of STREHLOW & ASSOCIATES, INC. (215) 504-4622 Special Committee on Poverty Reduction and Prevention November 18, 2019 1 on City Council's website including, like, the 2 actual notes. And that's phila.gov/Council. 3 And on that, I just want to make sure everybody 4 is aware. There is a form you can fill in with 5 as much information as you want to share if you 6 have additional or new ideas. So, there is an 7 ongoing way for people to provide input. If 8 this stimulated your thinking or you want to 9 talk to your neighbor or family member, please, 10 use those avenues. 11 In addition, there will be a final 12 hearing of the big committee, which is a 13 composition of all of these subcommittees, in 14 December. I believe the date for that final 15 hearing, is it December 10? Not sure. We are 16 still thinking through when that final hearing 17 will be. So, be one more hearing or gathering 18 which will be in City Hall for that purpose. 19 In terms of the notes that we have this 20 evening, we have notes that people took 21 diligently at each table that we will be 22 collecting, summarizing, and you will be making 23 those available, as well. And then, there are a 24 number of Post-Its, I was happy to see, about 25 new ideas. Not only ideas discussed at this Page 54 STREHLOW & ASSOCIATES, INC. (215) 504-4622 Special Committee on Poverty Reduction and Prevention November 18, 2019 1 table, but there are some that are tacked up 2 that are really pretty interesting on the back 3 wall that we will be taking back to our 4 committee. Did everyone sign in when they came 5 in this evening so we have your contact 6 information? 7 AUDIENCE MEMBER: The purpose of the 8 hearing is to develop the ideas towards a bill 9 or a set of bills? What's the purpose of that 10 final hearing? 11 MS. GLADSTEIN: So, the final report -- 12 so, there will be a final hearing and then a 13 report. We are anticipating that there will be 14 short meeting and long term recommendations. 15 Some will be around City Council legislation. 16 Some may be about funding something that's great 17 but should be expanded. And some will be around 18 the advocacy, particularly the state or federal 19 level. 20 So, we are looking for the report to 21 include all of those. And I think you have 22 heard tonight that we have recommendations that 23 fit in all those categories because places where 24 work is being done well, but we just need to 25 scale it up and make sure it's more available, Page 55 STREHLOW & ASSOCIATES, INC. (215) 504-4622 Special Committee on Poverty Reduction and Prevention November 18, 2019 1 work that might require some legislative fixes 2 and work that might require some advocacy, for 3 example, restoring general assistance at the 4 state level or amplifying the impact of the 5 Clean Slate Law at the state level. 6 So, we have recommendations that fit in 7 all those categories and the final report should 8 do that. The final report, I know this is a 9 little frustrating because people also had great 10 ideas about education, jobs and housing. So, 11 there are other subcommittees that are 12 addressing that. And their hearings are coming 13 down the pike. One is on November 25. I am 14 forgetting which one. And one is on December 5, 15 I believe. Eric is going to get up here and 16 tell us what's what. So, we want to also 17 encourage people to attend those. 18 MR. BODZIN: Hi, everyone. My name is 19 Eric Bodzin. I'm from Councilwoman Sanchez' 20 office. Thank you for your support. 21 The upcoming hearings for the Housing 22 Subcommittee, the hearing is next Monday from 23 four o'clock to seven o'clock. That is at 24 Temple School of Medicine. It's at 3500 North 25 Broad Street. All this is on the flyer at the Page 56 STREHLOW & ASSOCIATES, INC. (215) 504-4622 Special Committee on Poverty Reduction and Prevention November 18, 2019 1 back, which we will make sure we hand out as we 2 leave and being held up right now in the middle 3 of the room. That is the Housing Subcommittee 4 Hearing. And there is a hearing on jobs and 5 education strategies to reduce and prevent 6 poverty. That hearing is on Thursday, 7 December 5 from four to six p.m. at Dobbins High 8 School on Lehigh Avenue. 9 And again, all of that information is 10 available on the flyer which is being held up in 11 the middle of the room and which is available on 12 that back table. 13 MS. GLADSTEIN: Thank you, Eric. 14 (Applause.) 15 MS. GLADSTEIN: Now, I just want 16 everybody to give themselves a round of applause 17 for working hard. 18 (Applause.) 19 MS. GLADSTEIN: And to the subcommittee 20 members and the staff who helped prepare the 21 agenda, facilitate the conversation and take the 22 notes, we really appreciate all of that. What 23 makes for a smooth running meeting. So, I 24 didn't do that. A lot of other people did that, 25 so I want them to get credit for it. Page 57 STREHLOW & ASSOCIATES, INC. (215) 504-4622 Special Committee on Poverty Reduction and Prevention November 18, 2019 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 And with that, thank you. But make sure you pick up materials at the resource table before you walk out if you haven't. Thank you all. (At this time, the Public Hearing concluded at 6:28 p.m.) Page 58 STREHLOW & ASSOCIATES, INC. (215) 504-4622 Special Committee on Poverty Reduction and Prevention November 18, 2019 CERTIFICATION I, hereby certify that the proceedings and evidence noted are contained fully and accurately in the stenographic notes taken by me in the foregoing matter, and that this is a correct transcript of the same. -------------------------- ANGELA M. KING, RPR, Court Reporter, Notary Public (The foregoing certification of this transcript does not apply to any reproduction of the same by any means, unless under the direct control and/or supervision of the certifying reporter.) STREHLOW & ASSOCIATES, INC. (215) 504-4622 Special Committee on Poverty Reduction and Prevention November 18, 2019 Page 1 A AARP 20:25 Abernathy 7:6,6 29:12 33:20,21 51:1 ability 13:5,9 13:14 14:2 40:15 43:23 45:5 able 2:25 3:10 6:4 10:16 11:20 13:16 16:1 30:3 51:17 52:18 53:18 absorb 2:22 access 5:3,24 6:19 8:16 29:8 30:13 31:11,13,17 32:7,18,20 33:5 40:16 44:18 47:24 50:23,25 51:13 53:8 53:25 accessibility 53:5 accomplished 11:19 44:5 account 5:23 27:13,16,18 accounts 49:11,19 accumulation 26:12 accurately 59:4 achieved 41:9 acknowledge 40:8 acronym 22:4 Act 48:18 action 29:18 37:21 activities 33:10 actual 28:1 54:2 add 2:25 13:13 23:4 adding 21:11 addition 28:17 applicants 32:13,24 application 30:24 31:4 31:23 32:5 32:10 34:7 35:15,22 36:12 38:10 38:21,22 39:5,9 applications 31:2 34:4 35:19 38:20 applies 15:9 15:11,15 20:22 apply 21:2 30:3 37:2 59:15 applying 34:2 34:15 35:12 36:11 appreciate 2:10 3:6,17 53:13 57:22 appreciation 3:12 4:2 approach 29:24 Approaches 39:25 appropriate 40:10 appropriat... 28:14 approximat... 12:14 32:15 area 10:7 24:13 argue 10:15 arsenal 25:10 asked 31:10 asking 24:8 assault 16:3 Assembly 19:2 23:19 assessed 13:11 asset 26:11 assistance 30:7,8,9,10 31:15,24 32:5,12 34:1,15 47:10,17 32:14,18 34:2,5,18 34:22,24 35:5,12,14 36:5,9 37:2 37:4,11,17 38:2,15,17 38:22,25 39:10 41:20 42:18 44:18 50:6,23,25 51:13 BenePhilly 31:21,22 32:1,11 33:7 34:16 35:20 50:15 Bergman 7:1 7:1 better 33:9 big 14:23 24:15 43:5 51:22 54:12 bill 18:15,19 24:5,8 42:25 43:1 43:10,18 55:8 bills 38:19 42:24 45:16 55:9 birth 21:20 50:18 bit 2:12 11:2 25:19 33:17 45:19 46:24 48:16 block 29:20 46:18 blocks 5:7 6:3 Bodzin 56:18 56:19 boos 39:18 born 27:14 41:6 49:20 borne 24:15 bottles 45:10 Bottom 41:1 brackets 22:19 break 39:14 45:21 breaks 22:8 brief8:11 briefly 43:9 bring 9:7 24:18 bringing 48:8 brings 40:17 broad 1:6 16:8 56:25 broadly 16:12 brought 14:6 48:17 Brown 7:20 7:20 46:6 budget 26:6,6 26:10,13,20 budgets 28:25 Buenos 6:20 building 5:7 6:3 burden 24:13 burdens 24:15 burn 43:24 business 24:16 52:5 businesses 22:8 24:18 25:7 C C 59:1,1 calculates 28:4 calculations 23:5 call 34:4 37:8 37:11 45:4 called 7:12 8:13 14:25 15:12 19:9 35:24 36:5 41:2 camera 53:16 campaign 20:24 34:10 39:24 capacity 24:20 captains 46:18 captured 3:24 15:24 36:20 54:11 additional 2:21 6:2 8:8 23:22 38:6 49:2 50:25 54:6 address 9:2 addressing 29:25 31:12 56:12 administeri... 29:19 administrat... 23:25 admitted 12:14 adverse 28:11 advocacy 24:7 48:16 53:11 55:18 56:2 afford 13:6 affording 50:17,18 afternoon 2:9 afternoon/e... 2:8 agencies 11:7 11:25 32:20 agency 29:18 32:12 37:15 agenda 2:13 6:8 8:11 57:21 Aging 1:5 3:21 4:3 6:16 ago 7:14 31:21 41:3 agreement 48:4 Allan 1:12 39:19 allocate 49:21 allocated 49:13 allotment 50:3 allow 17:5 46:11 allowance allowing 17:12,16 29:3 altering 12:9 alternative 47:15 amazing 20:23 Amazon 24:18 ambitious 5:16,19 American 48:18 amnesty 47:17 amount 2:15 22:22 23:10 23:11 39:8 48:11 amplifying 56:4 Analyst 6:18 and/or 59:18 Angela 3:22 59:11 announced 27:12 answer 40:9 answers 35:15 Anthony 18:17 anticipate 40:19 anticipating 55:13 anybody 7:24 anymore 52:18 anyway 24:7 48:7 applause 4:4 4:5 11:23 14:4 19:19 25:14 29:6 33:19 39:12 39:18 42:5 44:7 46:23 57:14,16,18 applicable 16:13 35:1,12 36:11,11 37:12 38:11 48:9 51:7 56:3 Assistant's 7:17 assuming 47:5 astounding 13:7 attain 28:13 attempt 31:6 attend 56:17 attention 25:12 attorney 13:6 28:3 AUDIENCE 39:23 55:7 auditorium 3:20 automatic 17:15 38:23 automatical... 15:22 16:23 17:16,24 18:7 35:18 available 3:25 10:8 19:11 30:13 36:22,23 54:23 55:25 57:10,11 Avenue 57:8 avenues 54:10 Average 43:22 aware 53:15 54:4 awareness 30:15 awesome 42:2 awful 27:1 B babies 21:20 back 2:22 9:7 9:12 17:9 18:7 29:4 34:20 41:5 42:22 43:3 48:10 55:2 55:3 57:1 57:12 background 14:20 backwater 45:16 bail 13:9 balanced 26:7 bankruptcy 28:3,4 barrier 17:2 18:10 51:12 barriers 8:14 9:20 11:9 12:20,25 19:21 20:3 33:9 44:14 51:5,9,14 based 5:22 basic 5:4,7,24 26:6 28:5 28:11 48:9 basically 15:2 23:8 43:19 basis 42:3 BDT 37:14 bear 24:13 beautiful 4:6 beauty 16:9 beginning 31:8 believe 22:6 26:23 41:11 44:20 54:14 56:15 Ben 4:3 6:13 6:14 beneficiary 49:16 benefit 30:5 30:13 31:22 33:5,21 38:7,24 benefits 7:7 8:16 10:8 22:21 29:9 29:12 30:4 30:17,21 31:1,9,11 31:14,25 STREHLOW & ASSOCIATES, INC. (215) 504-4622 Special Committee on Poverty Reduction and Prevention November 18, 2019 Page 2 card 8:21 care 28:7,9 48:21 Carolyn 7:20 46:3 carry 42:19 case 3:18 15:10 16:23 16:25,25 17:18 31:5 35:23 cases 13:12 15:21 16:7 16:16,17 17:24 18:23 18:24 19:15 cash 30:8 categories 55:23 56:7 Catholic 34:9 Ceiba 6:22 20:12,24 Center 19:15 centers 25:23 27:6 32:1 35:20 36:2 36:21 CEO 7:19 29:17 33:22 certain 15:5 16:11 30:17 48:13 49:12 49:18 50:2 certainly 3:13 47:12 certificate 50:18 certification 59:13 certify 59:3 certifying 59:19 cetera 5:25 chairs 40:24 challenges 50:17 Chambers 2:18 change 16:5 39:8 Channel 53:19 charged 13:3 Charitable 7:9 51:11 chart 42:18 42:19 Chestnut 19:16 child 27:14 27:17 children 21:14,15 26:24 28:1 48:20 49:20 choose 45:19 cities 43:12 citizens 38:1 City 1:1 2:5 2:17,17 3:5 3:25 10:9 10:17 11:3 11:6,14,22 19:16 21:5 21:8 24:5,8 24:14,20,25 30:16 33:14 34:1 36:24 37:15 38:8 38:17,22 39:4 40:6 41:25 43:17 54:1,18 55:15 claim 23:15 clarification 8:19 Clarke 1:12 3:14 39:16 40:1 42:9 52:11,24 Clarke's 42:10 clean 13:16 14:25 15:24 17:15,19 18:17 19:5 19:7,10 52:19 56:5 clear 9:14 14:18 37:21 37:22 cleared 15:5 client 26:5 clients 14:12 14:13 25:21 26:8 27:19 clinic 19:13 close 11:21 closed 31:5 clothing 52:7 CLS 16:7 19:8,14 co-chair 40:22 co-chairs 3:4 Coalition 7:5 50:10 collaborative 11:15 collaborativ... 13:23 collateral 12:15 collecting 54:22 collection 5:5 college 27:17 27:25 49:17 color 12:18 Columbia 21:25 combined 47:25 come 9:22 14:13,17 19:14 25:1 26:1,1,8 28:25 29:11 42:22 comes 27:5 coming 3:7 19:23 20:9 43:3 56:12 comments 42:16 50:14 Commission 23:20 commit 18:4 commitment 40:4 committed 8:2,2 24:23 committee 1:2 2:5 3:5 4:18,25 5:16 7:14 9:22 13:23 25:10 26:15 29:3 43:10 45:13 54:12 55:4 committee's 35:2 Commonwe... 23:23 communica... 46:15 communities 11:11 12:17 12:18 community 6:24 7:22 12:1,22 14:11 25:16 29:11,16,18 29:20 34:13 35:24 36:2 46:19 47:4 47:15 50:2 52:16 53:6 complex 31:1 complexity 30:23 component 41:20 composition 54:13 concluded 58:6 conditions 29:21 confirm 32:24 consent 39:1 consequences 12:15 consider 9:23 9:25 consideration 24:16 consultant 7:19 contact 38:8 55:5 contained 59:4 continue 2:23 42:2 46:11 continues 12:7 continuing 8:2 contributions 39:24 control 53:12 59:17 conversation 2:16,22 44:21 45:6 49:10 50:4 57:21 conversations 46:14 convicted 15:17 conviction 17:6 51:21 convictions 15:12,15 18:5 19:3 coordinated 32:1,20 Corporation 1:5 3:20 4:2 6:16 34:11 corporations 25:1 correct 59:6 cost 23:23 38:14 costly 23:2 costs 10:7 15:14,18 16:25 18:10 18:12 24:1 28:18,18,19 47:8,17 Council 1:1 1:12 2:5,18 3:5,14 24:5 24:8 39:15 40:1,11 42:8,9 44:4 52:11,24 55:15 Council's 3:25 54:1 Councilman 1:12 3:6 24:3 39:19 40:11,25 42:6 Councilwo... 3:9 24:3 40:22 56:19 counsel 13:4 counseling 25:24 36:23 counselors 26:18 27:9 28:24 countries 49:18 country 12:11 17:11 17:12 20:16 43:12 counts 5:21 County 7:17 21:18 47:12 couple 7:14 49:2 course 18:13 court 13:11 15:7 16:25 47:7 59:11 court-appoi... 13:4 courts 17:22 18:3 cover 10:6 28:21 cracks 32:22 crazy 21:24 create 12:2 46:10 created 11:9 credit 20:14 20:21 21:3 21:7,8,16 22:2,6,13 22:15 23:3 23:6,10,12 23:14,16,23 24:10 28:6 28:21 35:1 57:25 credits 20:13 23:25 49:12 crime 13:3 criminal 11:1 11:2,6,8,13 11:15,25 12:2,7,11 12:15,20 13:1,8,14 14:14 44:15 crisis 26:1,5 26:10,13,20 currently 24:5,8 35:13 36:1 39:7,9 cuts 24:18 D damaging 11:10 Darrell 1:12 3:14 39:16 data 7:7 16:15,18 17:23 29:13 31:23 33:21 34:5 37:4 37:16 42:18 date 11:18 54:14 day 43:23 days 41:5 47:10 deal 33:6 51:22 dealing 26:25 dealt 26:4 52:22 debate 10:3 Debbie 7:10 decades 10:5 December 54:14,15 56:14 57:7 decreasing 51:17 deep 20:16 deeply 12:16 defender 13:5 define 4:20 definitely 6:1 49:9 definition 4:23 10:3,5 10:19 degree 16:3 16:20,21 Department 7:16 21:1 depend 13:20 Deputy 3:2 7:1 designed 33:6 desperately 35:6 despite 12:6 34:18 determine 23:11 determined 10:10 develop 29:24 35:3 55:8 developed 35:6 development 24:24 Dietrich 6:23 6:23 9:19 14:5,6 47:2 47:3 difference 14:23 31:16 different 8:12 31:24 34:1 37:6,8 49:11 difficulty 31:1 diligently 54:21 direct 32:4 59:17 directly 12:17 Director 3:3 6:21,24 7:2 7:4,12,20 10:24 20:11 25:17 29:16 Director's 10:25 52:2 directs 36:10 disabilities 51:6 52:8 disconnection 12:23 discouraged 31:3 discuss 2:19 8:22 13:18 29:9 discussed 46:2 47:7 49:3 54:25 discussing 50:15 STREHLOW & ASSOCIATES, INC. (215) 504-4622 Special Committee on Poverty Reduction and Prevention November 18, 2019 Page 3 discussion 4:24 8:24 8:25 9:3,16 9:17,17 10:19 discussions 19:25 45:21 district 21:25 39:16 diversionary 13:12 Dobbins 57:7 document 32:24 documentary 41:3 documents 35:21,21 50:19 doing 21:1 37:5 40:7 40:20 42:16 44:1 dollar 25:5 28:20 dollars 27:8 27:13 28:15 43:22 Domb 1:12 3:6 24:3 39:19 40:11 40:25 42:6 donations 22:9 door 52:9,9 dressed 28:14 dropped 15:11 drug 17:9 DUI 18:6 E E 59:1 earlier 12:3 27:11 29:24 earliest 13:8 earned 20:13 20:14 21:7 21:8 22:2 22:12,15 23:6,11,22 23:24 24:9 25:20 34:25 earning 20:18 24:21 easier 32:24 easiest 4:21 easily 30:3 echo 42:8 50:11 economic 5:8 11:9 13:6 13:13 economy 25:8 41:22 educate 49:7 educating 47:18 50:1 education 4:17 12:21 49:23 56:10 57:5 educational 14:21 22:9 effect 15:1 24:9 25:5 26:24 43:20 effective 17:20 effects 25:19 26:21,23 effort 11:16 34:9 52:2 efforts 20:24 24:17 Eisenberg 9:19 10:21 10:24 EITC 21:11 21:15,19,24 22:4,7,11 23:2,19 24:4,12,21 25:2,2,5,9 25:10 27:3 27:6,21 29:1 34:25 43:7 44:16 EITC-type 48:19 EITCs 21:12 21:12 either 13:4 36:12 37:3 37:9 38:13 39:21 40:3 electric 43:1 electronic 51:4 element 49:4 49:6 elements 49:3 eligibility 32:25 eligible 15:9 19:3 20:21 21:21 30:2 30:12,17,18 31:14 34:23 34:25 36:8 37:4,6,11 37:17 eliminate 18:12 33:8 47:7 eliminated 18:10,11 Ellis 4:3 6:14 6:14 embarked 40:5 embarrassi... 43:13 employers 14:19 employment 12:21 14:10 empowered 3:15 empowerm... 7:22 25:17 25:23 27:6 29:11,16 36:21 52:17 enable 32:1 encourage 24:24 25:1 45:14 56:17 ends 21:13 46:9 Energy 30:10 engage 46:16 engaged 11:15 English 30:19 enroll 38:3 enrolled 34:17 38:25 enrollment 32:2 33:9 38:24 enrollments 32:14 ensure 5:6 13:20,24 30:2 32:21 35:4 entering 22:25 entire 34:6 entitled 30:5 entity 37:20 entrusted 32:3 equitable 13:25 24:23 Eric 56:15,19 57:13 especially 16:17 21:14 Esperanza 34:11 establishing 12:22 estate 42:25 estimate 34:20 estimates 27:15 et 5:25 ethnicity 14:1 Europe 49:18 Eva 3:2 20:7 29:5 40:22 42:16 43:5 Evaluation 7:21 evening 2:2,8 2:9 4:7,24 9:2 10:21 25:15 29:14 33:12 42:6 45:7 53:16 54:20 55:5 event 53:9 everybody 7:24 9:14 20:21 40:14 41:8,10 53:1,15 54:3 57:16 eviction 26:2 evidence 59:4 exacerbates 12:24 example 20:17 21:18 30:20 56:3 exceeds 23:16 excuse 17:8 Executive 6:21 7:12 20:11 29:15 exist 17:23 37:3 existing 30:21 32:25 expand 35:10 43:5,7 expanded 55:17 expect 24:19 expecting 2:24 expenses 28:5 experience 12:19 13:1 50:13 experiences 2:25 express 3:12 expunged 14:18 expungement 19:13 51:19 extent 53:10 extra 26:18 27:10,20 extraordina... 15:19 F F 59:1 face 31:1 facilitate 57:21 facilitator 8:24 facilities 11:22 facing 26:2 fact 11:14 43:11 fair 10:4 13:25 fairly 8:11 falls 32:22 familiar 30:6 families 21:9 21:12,13 22:18,24 24:22 30:9 31:13 34:10 35:5 48:18 48:20,22 family 9:24 9:24 10:13 12:22 20:17 20:25 26:15 26:22 27:5 27:15,21,24 28:2,6,16 28:22 46:17 49:15 53:6 54:9 far 11:7 12:8 15:19,20 fare 50:18 federal 5:21 10:2,11,13 20:15 21:3 21:10 22:2 23:7,10,22 34:24 42:21 43:2 48:16 55:18 feedback 8:7 46:12 feel 9:9 fees 13:11,12 13:13,15 52:20 felonies 17:9 17:13,16 felony 15:17 16:20 17:6 19:3 felt 12:16 FIGHT 34:12 figure 41:4 file 17:17 filers 23:8,15 fill 34:3 54:4 fills 35:18 final 38:16 54:11,14,16 55:10,11,12 56:7,8 finally 15:15 17:4 19:1 Finance 6:15 43:10 financial 13:21 18:1 25:18,23 26:11 27:6 36:20,23 find 15:6 24:20 fines 13:11 15:14,18 16:25 18:10 18:12 47:7 47:17 51:18 52:19 finish 43:25 Fios 53:20 firm 32:13 first 2:4 4:13 4:19 8:13 16:14 17:21 20:4,6 22:2 26:3 28:10 30:14 34:16 35:10 36:18 39:14 40:2 46:4,10 48:1,2 Fisher 7:3,3 50:8,10,10 fit 55:23 56:6 five 11:18 31:21 fixes 56:1 flyer 34:20 56:25 57:10 flyers 37:18 focus 37:24 52:21 focused 44:14 44:22 50:21 focuses 33:5 folks 7:25 9:9 26:1,11 27:10 28:8 28:24 44:9 48:11 52:15 52:17,21 follow 36:14 36:17 following 17:20 food 5:4,25 30:7 31:16 35:1 forefront 40:17 foregoing 59:5,13 foremost 30:15 forgetting 56:14 Forgiveness 22:20 forgone 28:19 form 23:4 31:5 54:4 formal 2:17 forth 43:18 forward 4:24 13:22 18:8 39:11 40:13 42:2 46:8 47:3,6,6 51:17 found 15:11 40:5 four 3:4 9:25 10:14 20:18 27:5,21 28:6,17,21 28:22 42:12 42:13 56:23 57:7 free 9:9 25:23 34:6 36:22 frequently 38:5 Friday 19:17 friends 46:18 front 6:12 frustrating 56:9 full 9:3 fully 40:8 59:4 funded 31:24 38:17 funders 33:23 funding 29:20 55:16 further 33:1 future 6:5 28:20 G STREHLOW & ASSOCIATES, INC. (215) 504-4622 Special Committee on Poverty Reduction and Prevention November 18, 2019 Page 4 gathering 54:17 gender 14:1 general 19:1 23:19 48:8 51:14 56:3 generating 32:14 getting 10:7 14:21 18:21 31:3 35:4 37:5 39:11 50:17 51:2 52:9 53:5 give 8:23 20:17 22:7 27:8 28:6 39:23 44:11 44:24 45:3 45:5 57:16 given 12:14 52:25 gives 4:6 28:16 giving 50:2 53:7 Gladstein 2:2 3:2 4:5 7:23 10:2 19:20 29:7 39:13 44:8 45:24 46:22,24 47:20 48:23 50:5,9,24 51:8 55:11 57:13,15,19 Glenn 7:1 go 3:1 4:11,25 9:1 18:7 19:13 20:2 27:17 28:4 28:10 31:6 32:7 33:18 33:25 34:14 35:15 37:11 37:21 41:5 43:24 45:14 46:5 47:10 47:21 48:1 50:19 goal 5:15,19 16:7 28:1 42:23 44:4 goals 6:6 goes 27:13 going 2:9,11 3:16 4:8,13 4:24 6:7,10 8:10,11,19 8:22 9:18 15:6 17:1 19:12 20:4 20:6 26:25 41:4,10,16 41:18 43:6 44:11,11,21 45:1,24 46:19 47:10 47:22 50:11 50:22 52:9 53:18,25 56:15 Gonzalez 6:20,21 20:5,7,11 good 2:2 4:6 10:21 16:6 25:3,15 29:14 42:6 Government 5:21 10:11 23:20 grade 16:18 grades 18:5 Grant 29:20 44:17 grass 46:16 50:12 great 27:18 33:13 40:7 40:24 41:1 42:16 44:23 47:20,22 48:23 49:6 50:5,24 51:8 52:11 52:24 53:2 53:11 55:16 56:9 greater 7:4 26:21 49:1 greatly 18:24 group 19:24 50:12,21 groups 8:12 39:14 grow 26:10 27:24 growing 8:15 11:12 44:15 48:3 49:3 guess 41:15 guide 4:24 guilty 15:11 H HACE 34:12 Hall 2:17 20:6 25:15 25:16 52:15 52:16 54:18 halls 2:17 hand 45:9 47:1 57:1 happens 47:12 51:20 happy 54:24 hard 8:1,3 13:19 57:17 Harris 18:15 18:19 head 31:19 health 3:3 6:19 14:13 36:2 47:24 healthcare 5:3,25 healthy 5:7 hear 3:7 17:2 18:13 42:15 53:19 heard 33:22 36:21 44:13 44:16,19 55:22 hearing 8:7 20:10 40:15 45:23 54:12 54:15,16,17 55:8,10,12 56:22 57:4 57:4,6 58:5 hearings 56:12,21 heat 31:16 held 57:2,10 help 4:23 5:14,17 14:7 17:22 18:2 19:12 21:12 24:21 27:9,24 29:20 33:1 35:21 36:4 36:14,20 38:3,3,13 38:18 39:24 51:16 helped 16:11 57:20 helpful 21:9 22:23 helping 28:24 helps 48:20 heres 50:7 Hi 6:17,23 7:3,8,10,15 14:5 47:23 48:25 51:10 56:18 high 48:4 57:7 higher 10:16 22:19 28:19 highest 24:13 43:14 hint 19:22 hits 43:13 hold 8:18 holding 3:19 17:9 hole 11:11 home 4:8 30:10 34:12 38:18 homework 4:14 honestly 18:23 honored 3:4 hope 6:11 24:6 hopefully 6:5 14:7 hotline 32:7 34:5,6 35:20 36:13 hour 44:10 house 18:19 housed 32:3 household 43:20 households 30:12 housing 4:16 5:4,25 12:21 14:20 56:10,21 57:3 hubs 50:16 huge 17:1 34:19 37:22 51:18 Human 3:3 7:16 hundred 5:17 27:13 42:11 43:21 Hunger 7:5 50:11 I idea 9:23 27:9,25 46:2 47:6 48:15 50:25 51:4 ideas 2:20 8:8 9:5,7,10 47:14 48:2 53:11 54:6 54:25,25 55:8 56:10 identify 32:9 32:23 37:6 37:16 39:6 41:19 50:9 immediate 26:4,20 immigrant 37:25 impact 12:8 34:11 37:19 37:22 41:23 41:25 56:4 impacted 12:18 impacts 13:6 13:10,13,15 28:11 implement 24:17,21 important 20:9 22:14 31:12 33:13 44:4 47:8 improve 5:2 5:12 32:17 44:1 improved 29:21 improvement 22:10 improveme... 32:23 improving 29:8 31:11 incarcerated 13:10 51:23 52:21 incarceration 11:14 12:16 12:23 51:24 incentivize 22:21 25:3 include 55:21 including 10:6 22:24 34:25 36:1 54:1 Inclusion 25:18 inclusive 46:10 income 5:4,14 5:22 8:15 10:16 19:14 20:13,14 21:7,8 22:2 22:13,15,18 22:19,24 23:6,7,10 23:11,13,23 23:25 24:9 25:4,20,25 26:9,12,19 28:9 30:10 35:1 43:14 43:15,20 44:15 48:3 48:5,10,11 48:21 49:3 increase 18:24 26:15 26:16 48:8 48:11 49:8 increased 21:19 increasing 44:17 incredible 11:24 individual 49:15 individual's 13:9 41:24 individuals 5:17 10:12 11:10 12:10 12:17 25:4 26:19 40:12 40:22 49:9 50:1,12 information 3:24 19:8 35:17 38:6 51:2 52:6 53:8 54:5 55:6 57:9 initial 26:13 initiative 40:5 input 8:7 20:1 35:8 39:11 45:3 50:20 53:3 53:5 54:7 insert 41:21 inserting 42:24 insight 46:20 institutions 14:21 intake 19:15 32:8 integrate 33:9 intensive 17:25 interest 3:7 12:3 interested 18:4 19:7 19:25 39:3 39:4 interesting 52:4 55:2 internet 53:25 introduce 2:14 6:9 invested 49:14,22 investigate 31:20 investing 49:4 investment 25:7 49:11 49:19 investments 25:3 invite 33:16 inviting 20:10 involve 18:23 involved 50:13 involvement 13:14 involving 46:17 IRS 28:4,16 issues 20:20 39:20 44:15 47:19 51:5 item 23:4 J jail 11:17,19 11:21 47:11 jails 12:14 January 27:14 Jennifer 6:18 47:23 job 28:12 42:17 jobs 4:17 56:10 57:4 joined 3:6 7:13 joint 11:5 23:19 jointly 12:1 Jordan 18:15 18:19 justice 11:1,3 11:6,8,13 11:16,25 12:2,7 13:1 13:8,14,20 13:24 44:15 Justine 48:25 K Kathy 7:3 50:7,10 keep 4:8 STREHLOW & ASSOCIATES, INC. (215) 504-4622 Special Committee on Poverty Reduction and Prevention November 18, 2019 Page 5 35:16 38:6 38:15 keeper 8:25 keeping 9:15 31:18 keeps 21:13 kept 21:15 key 14:22 45:1 Keystone 27:12 kids 28:13 kind 8:3,5 9:15 17:10 19:21 40:12 45:25 48:5 53:7 kindergarten 22:10 kinds 5:23 KING 59:11 know 3:7 9:15,22 13:2 15:10 16:2 19:6 19:10 21:4 22:3 24:6 26:20 27:1 28:8 30:18 30:25 37:3 37:3,18 38:1 40:4 43:5 44:8 46:1,18,19 46:19 49:5 51:17 52:8 53:24 56:8 known 29:17 30:7 31:8 Kristin 7:8 51:10 L L 1:12 labor 17:25 lack 30:15 large 11:15 largest 11:21 lasting 12:9 launch 32:11 36:5 law 14:25 15:20 19:12 56:5 28:18,18,20 laws 17:15 lawyer 15:6 15:23 16:2 lead 28:19 leadership 3:13 24:14 39:20 learn 3:8 8:14 learning 19:25 leave 57:2 leaving 34:21 Legal 6:24 14:11 47:4 legislation 55:15 legislative 39:7 56:1 legislature 47:18 Lehigh 57:8 Let's 47:21 50:6 letter 37:20 letters 47:9 level 10:3,10 10:13 18:6 41:22 46:16 48:4,14,17 48:18 53:6 53:12 55:19 56:4,5 liability 23:17 life 5:13 12:8 14:24 17:8 29:21 lift 50:13 lightening 46:1 LIHEAP 30:9 limited 22:22 30:19 line 20:19 21:16 23:4 29:23 32:19 41:1 lists 37:6 literally 37:7 Litigation 6:24 little 2:12 22:23 25:19 27:7 29:10 29:14,15 33:17 44:9 45:19 46:24 48:16 56:9 live 24:12,25 51:3 lives 41:24 living 10:12 21:15 27:1 28:1,5 29:22 31:13 32:18 local 11:17,25 12:12 20:13 21:8,11,19 24:4,9,12 24:21 25:2 25:8,9 37:10 41:22 48:17 located 50:16 location 36:13 37:12 locations 35:11 36:1 36:19,24 long 11:7 12:9 26:22 40:3 41:3 42:3 55:14 look 13:22 39:11 41:6 42:2 49:21 49:24 looking 5:11 6:1,13 14:16 46:3 55:20 looks 5:1 lot 10:6 12:5 13:21 17:5 17:9 25:25 26:8 27:3 40:6,7 51:5 52:3,22 53:3,11 57:24 lots 47:9 low 5:14 18:6 19:14 21:20 31:17 Medicine 56:24 meet 5:15 21:13 28:10 28:15 29:21 32:2 46:21 meeting 2:16 3:19 46:9 55:14 57:23 meetings 2:5 meets 26:6 Melville 40:23 member 39:23 49:15 54:9 55:7 members 2:13 6:9 10:22 12:1 40:11 46:11 57:20 mentioned 50:12 52:3 messages 36:14 messaging 50:14,21 metro 24:13 Michigan 17:14 middle 57:2 57:11 million 15:21 16:7 23:24 32:15 34:18 34:22 35:5 41:21 42:20 42:21 minds 44:4 minor 18:5 minus 10:14 minute 6:8 8:15 53:14 minutes 36:7 44:12,25 misdemeanor 15:13,15,17 16:19,20,21 17:24 18:22 missing 38:2 mission 42:10 Mitch 29:10 29:22 32:19 50:16 necessarily 5:23 necessary 6:2 33:8,14 need 10:15 16:1 23:4 24:11 25:9 28:5,15 32:19,22 33:14 35:6 39:6 43:4,8 48:5 49:7,9 50:23 51:7 51:18,22 52:20 55:24 needed 27:22 30:2 31:15 31:17 32:17 35:22 50:19 needing 15:22 52:10 needle 40:13 needs 26:7 28:11 29:21 39:3 46:20 46:21,21 Needy 30:9 neglect 30:12 neighbor 54:9 neighborho... 32:3 51:3 neighborho... 25:8 net 4:18,21 5:2,5 8:9 33:4 network 6:19 31:25 33:10 47:24 networks 46:17 never 41:9 new 2:21 9:5 14:12,12 19:15 30:1 36:13 38:8 54:6,25 news 9:11 non-convict... 15:9 non-profit 7:12 37:10 non-profits 36:3 37:15 North 1:6 56:24 Notary 59:11 noted 59:4 notes 9:9,10 54:2,19,20 57:22 59:5 notice 26:2 noticed 3:18 November 1:7 56:13 number 9:25 14:15 18:24 35:10 39:20 42:23 53:18 53:23 54:24 numbers 34:19 numerous 21:9 Nutrition 30:6 nutritious 5:3 O O 59:1 o'clock 56:23 56:23 obvious 48:6 obviously 18:11 offense 18:22 offer 25:23 46:12 office 7:17,21 10:25 19:16 25:16 29:10 29:16,17 31:20 52:2 52:16 56:20 Oftentimes 31:10 Okay 16:6 39:13 old 16:17 17:7 41:5 oldest 11:21 once 26:4 38:15 46:8 one-on-one 25:24 26:19 28:9 30:10 38:14 low-wage 24:21 lower 43:13 43:19 lowest 22:24 M M 59:11 mail 37:7 majority 12:25 making 20:20 27:5 33:14 48:20 52:5 53:5 54:22 Managing 3:3 10:25 52:2 Maria 3:9 24:3 martial 24:17 Maryland 21:19 mass 11:13 match 27:23 27:23 materials 4:12 58:2 Matlock-T... 40:23 matter 17:6 25:13 59:6 maximum 21:2 23:15 mean 9:20 19:20 30:5 meaning 13:5 22:12 meaningful 51:24 means 22:17 23:14 53:17 59:16 meant 4:20 measurable 37:22 41:23 media 40:16 Medicaid 30:11 34:25 29:10,15 33:20 42:15 45:8 mobility 5:8 model 26:10 moderate 25:25 Monday 1:7 19:16 56:22 money 13:9 27:10,23 42:21 43:2 47:10,16 49:6 Montgomery 21:18 month 26:7,7 26:17,17,18 27:16,20 28:18 months 28:21 moon 41:2,5 41:12 mothers 21:22 move 5:18 6:4 9:16 10:16 18:8 38:21 38:23 40:13 44:23 45:5 45:18 46:8 51:17 multiple 23:9 34:4 39:10 multiplier 25:5 mycleanslat... 19:9 N N 59:1 name 3:2 6:14,17,20 10:23 20:10 25:15 29:15 47:23 56:18 nation 16:10 Nationally 12:10 nationwide 11:12 navigating 31:1 near 6:5 4:14 11:1 23:25 25:3 medical STREHLOW & ASSOCIATES, INC. (215) 504-4622 Special Committee on Poverty Reduction and Prevention November 18, 2019 Page 6 25:24 32:4 36:23 one-shot 46:13 one-time 20:19 ongoing 40:3 54:7 online 36:12 opening 2:11 opportunity 7:22 8:23 9:1 25:17 29:11,17 35:3 44:10 44:12 46:14 52:17 organizations 32:4 33:25 35:25 orientation 14:1 out-of-pocket 28:17 outreach 37:1 37:18 50:21 outside 2:16 overarching 5:15 overly 11:8 owe 16:24 18:20 23:16 owed 22:22 P p.m 1:7 45:21 45:23 57:7 58:6 paid 15:14,18 paper 38:21 paperwork 33:1 parole 12:13 part 37:23 49:1,10 50:3 participant 38:9 participating 37:7 particular 10:7 22:7 37:24 41:20 46:16 particularly 5:13 12:18 17:8 55:18 partner 11:6 37:9 partners 31:22 34:9 parts 27:1 pass 17:14 passed 43:10 pathways 12:2 Pauline 7:6 29:10,12 33:16,21 42:15 pay 13:9,15 14:2 22:18 22:23 47:9 47:16 Pennsylvania 1:6 6:19 21:6,24 22:5,12,16 22:20 23:3 23:18 47:24 48:12 Pennsylvan... 17:4 people 6:3 12:8,12,13 12:25 13:3 16:9,10 17:2,9 18:8 21:2 24:12 30:16,19,25 33:25 34:8 34:24 35:4 35:11,19 36:3,4,6,15 37:2,9,16 38:3,14,18 40:6 41:4 43:14,16,20 43:21 46:18 47:8 48:5 50:22 51:3 51:6,7,16 51:21 52:7 52:8,9 53:8 53:18 54:7 54:20 56:9 56:17 57:24 people's 13:21 percent 10:11 11:17,20 13:2 21:20 21:21 23:22 24:1,14 25:7 41:14 42:11,12 43:16 49:12 49:12 percentage 23:7,9 48:13 person 3:14 15:4,22 32:2 34:14 36:13 personal 28:7 28:9,12 personalized 37:20 petition 17:18 PEW 7:9 33:23 51:11 PGW 42:25 phase 26:16 phenomenon 31:8 phila.gov/C... 54:2 Philabunda... 7:2 Philadelphia 1:1,5,6 3:20 5:18 6:15 7:4,16 10:9 10:17 11:4 12:12 13:3 13:19 16:16 18:3,16 20:23 21:7 24:2,12,19 24:22 25:2 25:9 29:18 29:25 30:25 34:12,13 40:7 41:25 43:13 47:11 48:12 49:2 Philadelphi... 19:14 29:22 30:3 Philadelphi... 15:7,25 primary 15:3 prime 18:16 print 9:11 Prism 35:25 private 33:23 proactive 37:1 49:25 probability 21:19 probably 42:23 53:23 probation 12:13 problem 16:12,21 problems 28:20 proceedings 59:3 process 3:1 9:13 13:8 16:14 30:24 31:7 32:7,8 33:2 36:16 46:8,11 53:4 processes 31:2 proficiencies 30:19 program 13:13 20:15 21:17 22:6 22:20 23:8 27:12 30:7 30:10 31:21 38:9 48:9 48:19 programs 20:16 23:6 30:1,6,8,13 32:9,25 33:7 progress 12:6 33:6 prohibited 18:21 project 3:13 34:12 promising 14:8 property 38:19 proportion... 55:7,9 5:3 Philadelphi... 5:6,13 24:11 25:25 32:18 34:17 34:21 45:17 47:13 Philly 24:4 phone 32:7 34:7 pick 4:12 58:2 piece 4:14 pike 56:13 placard 20:3 44:20 place 19:8 26:1 34:3 39:2 places 34:1 34:14 47:13 51:4 55:23 planning 7:21 10:25 46:15 played 53:23 please 54:9 pleased 2:7 pleasure 39:15 plus 10:14 21:25 pocket 42:19 podium 39:25 point 4:12 6:4 pointed 52:20 points 21:21 26:23 policies 30:1 Policy 6:18 7:4 10:24 poor 21:9 population 11:17,20 30:20 populations 32:21 37:25 37:25 portal 39:5 positioned 5:8 positive 51:16 possible 15:4 18:5 33:24 possibly 16:8 Post-Its 54:24 potentially 43:21 44:16 47:17 poverty 1:2 2:6 5:1,18 5:22 6:4 9:23,25 10:3,10,13 10:17 11:3 12:19 13:1 20:16 21:5 21:14,16 25:11 27:2 29:23,25 31:12,13 32:19 41:14 42:11 48:13 49:20 57:6 pre-trial 13:10 prefer 32:6 34:8 prepare 57:20 present 1:11 9:5,6 presentation 14:7 presentations 8:12,17 29:8 presenting 8:4 President 1:12 3:14 6:15 39:15 40:1 42:8,9 52:11,24 pretty 14:18 55:2 prevent 57:5 Prevention 1:2 2:6 5:1 25:11 previously 16:1 primarily 14:16 25:24 44:14 22:18 proposals 2:19,21 5:12 8:8,13 8:22 25:20 27:4,7,22 44:13 45:2 45:13,15 proposed 26:16 prospects 28:12 prosperity 11:10 prostitution 18:6 proud 12:4 20:23 proved 20:8 provide 23:3 23:21 32:4 35:21,25 36:19 38:6 38:11 54:7 provided 3:12 32:12 39:20 providers 14:20 provides 31:23 providing 20:1 27:24 35:16 37:1 39:1 50:14 public 13:4 30:4,5,13 30:17,25 31:11,14 40:15 45:23 46:12 58:5 59:11 publicly 31:24 Puerto 22:1 pull 41:15 49:23 pulled 41:10 pulling 40:14 punitive 11:8 purpose 10:18 54:18 put 12:20 23:21 24:9 26:5,9,19 28:24 41:21 43:18 47:3 47:5,6 puts 27:15 putting 9:11 17:22 48:10 Q qualify 22:8 30:22 32:9 quality 2:22 5:12 question 9:21 31:10 questions 8:18 35:18 45:1 quick 35:1 36:6 45:25 quickly 14:23 Quinones-S... 3:9 24:4 40:23 quite 5:16 53:22 R R 59:1 race 14:1 Rachel 9:18 10:23 19:23 raise 45:8 rapid 45:25 rate 21:4,20 23:7 41:14 read 46:6 ready 19:24 23:18 24:2 27:17 real 3:12 42:25 46:7 reality 41:8 really 2:7,10 2:14 3:16 8:1 14:15 22:12 37:24 38:23 45:24 45:25 48:19 49:4,7,8 50:22 51:16 STREHLOW & ASSOCIATES, INC. 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(215) 504-4622 Special Committee on Poverty Reduction and Prevention November 18, 2019 Page 8 streamline 31:23 33:2 streamlined 35:13 39:5 Street 1:6 56:25 strengtheni... 8:9 stress 26:21 strides 33:13 stuck 51:16 students 5:20 30:20 38:1 studies 21:10 study 23:21 subcommitt... 2:4,13 4:20 6:1,9 9:7 10:22 33:5 40:24,25 56:22 57:3 57:19 subcommitt... 4:16 5:11 8:1 54:13 56:11 subject 23:20 submit 31:6 submitted 35:19 success 32:16 successful 15:20 20:15 sufficient 26:9,12 suggest 45:3 suggestions 45:12 summarizing 54:22 summary 15:12 18:22 supervision 13:12 59:18 Supplemen... 30:6 support 11:12 18:1 18:2,15 24:6 33:22 35:22 36:20 41:18 44:3 56:20 supporter 57:21 ten 15:13,16 18:7 36:7 51:20,21,25 tend 37:19 tentative 35:7 term 26:22 42:3 55:14 term/short-... 40:3 termination 30:1 terms 20:19 20:20 40:13 41:14 53:4 54:19 tested 50:22 testify 20:10 testing 28:16 text 36:14 37:8 38:11 thank 2:3 7:25 10:22 14:3 19:18 19:23 20:7 20:9 25:12 29:3 33:11 33:20 40:1 40:2,18,21 41:17,17 42:1,4 44:2 44:3,6 46:22 47:2 47:20,22 48:23 50:5 50:24 51:8 52:11,24 53:1 56:20 57:13 58:1 58:4 thanks 24:2 33:22 theft 18:6 themes 53:4 thing 4:22 15:3 16:24 17:25 18:9 19:7 things 4:1,15 4:19 14:22 15:2,25 16:11 25:22 26:4 28:10 28:23 38:19 40:4,16 42:14 52:3 52:6,7,22 52:23 53:12 think 5:10,24 9:8 10:14 14:15 19:10 37:10 42:13 45:9 49:7 53:7 55:21 thinking 54:8 54:16 third 8:16 16:21 29:7 38:16 thought 40:10 41:8 thoughts 3:1 thousand 5:17 27:8 28:14,20 43:21 thousands 29:22 30:16 30:24 threat 26:4 threatening 47:9 three 2:4 4:15 8:12 12:10 14:15 26:16 35:7 three-fifths 17:12 thrive 5:9 thrown 52:23 Thursday 57:6 time 2:15 6:5 9:15 24:25 27:16 33:11 35:14 38:10 39:13 41:3 45:4,18 51:18 58:5 times 35:17 53:24 today 3:24 10:23 14:6 17:3 tonight 4:9 8:4 35:8 55:22 tonight's 10:18 tool 35:24 36:5 tools 36:19 top 43:12 topics 9:2 tracking 50:19 transcript 59:6,14 transit 50:16 transitioning 51:23 transportat... 51:5 travel 51:7 Treasurer 27:11,15 treatment 31:18 tremendous 39:8 tripped 36:15 trust 7:7,9 29:13 31:23 33:21 34:5 37:4 42:18 46:17 51:11 trusted 37:9 37:20 try 8:18 18:4 33:4 trying 2:14 turn 17:7 29:4 31:9 turnout 2:7 turns 49:16 Twenty-nine 21:25 two 9:1,2 14:14 15:2 20:5 28:1 46:6 type 48:9 types 17:10 typically 24:1 U UESF 34:12 unaware 30:21 understand 30:14 49:5 undertaking 11:24 unfortunat... 3:10 16:16 18:1 26:8 27:19 unit 14:10 United 33:24 34:13 49:1 universal 48:9 UNKNOWN 52:1 unused 39:24 upcoming 56:21 upstream 53:7 use 37:15 49:23 54:10 utility 26:2 38:19 V value 21:10 23:15 valued 32:14 vast 12:25 version 22:1 versus 50:2 Vice 6:15 volunteers 36:3 vulnerable 32:21 W wage 43:19 walk 58:3 wall 9:12 55:3 want 3:11 4:1 4:12,22 8:6 8:18 9:5,22 14:17,19 18:9 19:1 19:10,11 25:18 27:8 36:11 40:2 40:7,18,21 41:17 42:1 42:8,20 43:9 44:24 45:3,12,19 46:6 53:1 53:14 54:3 54:5,8 56:16 57:15 57:25 wanted 39:21 39:21 warm 44:9 46:1 water 42:24 45:10 way 2:19 5:21 8:10 15:21 18:11 33:24 35:8 36:15 38:12,14 42:9 43:1 54:7 ways 12:8 20:8 24:20 37:8 47:7 49:8 website 3:25 19:8,11 54:1 weeks 7:14 welcome 35:8 weren't 41:6 whatnot 18:7 whichever 34:8 who've 47:13 Williams 7:18 7:18 18:17 Wills 20:5,8 wind 31:3 withholding 43:3 Wolff 6:17,18 47:23 Women 49:1 word 4:2 43:1 words 2:12 39:22 work 2:23 3:16 4:7 8:3 8:10 12:5 14:8 22:21 25:4,21 26:5,18 33:13 39:2 40:7,24 41:1 42:2 51:22 53:2 43:6 supporting 52:1 supportive 18:14 29:1 52:19 supports 5:4 5:6,24 6:2 12:23 53:9 supposed 26:10 sure 20:2,20 20:25 21:2 29:9 38:14 47:22 48:20 52:5 53:5 53:15,20,22 54:3,15 55:25 57:1 58:1 system 11:3,8 12:1,3,7 13:1,7,24 16:15 22:17 systemic 32:23 T T 59:1,1 table 2:20 4:10 8:20 8:21,23 9:4 9:8,17,17 34:21 44:20 44:22,23,25 45:8,9,10 45:11,14,19 46:3,4 47:21 48:3 48:10 50:25 51:11 52:14 52:25 54:21 55:1 57:12 58:2 tables 9:1 20:2 31:17 47:25 tacked 55:1 take 2:22 5:23 9:12 19:15 24:16 41:13 48:21 49:14,16 taken 43:2 59:5 talk 2:12 25:18 29:4 33:17 36:22 43:9 44:12 46:24 48:1 54:9 talked 27:3 47:14 48:7 48:8,15 51:12,15 52:4 talking 6:7 15:3 21:23 22:11 50:6 51:1 TANF 26:15 29:2 30:8 44:17 48:8 tape 53:17 Tardes 6:20 targeted 37:1 tax 20:13,14 20:19 21:3 21:7,8,16 22:2,6,8,13 22:15,17,20 22:22,23 23:4,6,7,9 23:10,12,13 23:14,16,17 23:23,25 24:9,13,15 24:17 25:6 27:7 35:1 42:25 43:3 43:15 49:12 50:2 taxes 22:19 38:19 43:13 43:19 technology 15:7 17:22 tell 36:7 37:9 56:16 telling 8:21 47:9 tells 42:20 Temple 56:24 Temporary 30:9 STREHLOW & ASSOCIATES, INC. 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