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>> WELCOME TO CIVIC SUMMIT.
WHAT IT TAKES FOR TEXAS
FAMILIES.
I'M SHERRI GREENBERG,
DIRECTOR OF THE CENTER FOR
POLITICS AND GOVERNANCE AT
THE L.B.J. SCHOOL FOR PUBLIC
AFFAIRS AT THE UNIVERSITY OF
TEXAS AT AUSTIN.
TONIGHT WE WILL BE
DISCUSSING THE REALITIES OF
POVERTY IN TEXAS.
WITH ONE IN FIVE TEXANS
LIVING BELOW THE POVERTY
LINE, CHANCES ARE SOMEONE
CLOSE TO YOU IS STRUGGLING
WITH THE INCREASING COSTS OF
CHILD CARE, HEALTH CARE AND
DAY-TO-DAY LIVING EXPENSES.
IT DOESN'T HELP THAT TEXAS
RANKS AMONG THE 15 STATES
FOR CHILD POVERTY AND RANKS
50th, DEAD LAST, AMONG
STATES WITH NO HEALTH
INSURANCE.
BUT THERE ARE SOME BRIGHT
SPOTS AS WE LOOK CLOSER INTO
THIS ISSUE.
COMMUNITIES AND
ORGANIZATIONS ACROSS TEXAS
ARE WORKING TOGETHER TO HELP
FAMILIES MOVE AHEAD.
WE'RE GOING TO TALK MORE
ABOUT THAT TONIGHT, BUT
FIRST MEET A FEW OF THE
FAMILIES WHO ARE SHARING
THEIR STORIES IN THE
DOCUMENTARY "A FIGHTING
CHANCE."
ΒΆΒΆ
>> THE FIRST TIME WHEN HE TO
APPLY FOR FOOD STAMPS AND
ASSISTANCE WAS HARD AND
DISTRAUGHT BECAUSE WE NEVER
THOUGHT WE WOULD BE LIVING
IN POVERTY.
>> THE WAY I VIEWED MEDICAID
AND THINGS LIKE FOOD STAMPS
AND THINGS LIKE THAT IN THE
PAST, YOU THOUGHT IT'S JUST
POOR PEOPLE ARE ON THOSE
PROGRAMS.
IT NEVER REALLY BROKE MY
HEART UNTIL MY SON WAS ONE
OF THOSE PEOPLE THAT WAS
UNINSURABLE.
>> WE WERE THERE PRETTY MUCH
24/7.
EVERYBODY THEY WERE TELLING
US THIS COULD BE THE LAST
DAY HE'S HERE.
>> I WAS MAKING PLENTY
ENOUGH MONEY TO TAKE CARE OF
MY FAMILY.
>> WHEN JAMES LOST HIS JOB
WE HAD TO END UP LIVING IN
MOTEL ROOMS.
WE HAD RATS.
IT WASN'T APPROPRIATE FOR
THE KIDS, SO CPS GOT
INVOLVED.
>> I WAS ON MEDICAID, FOOD
STAMPS, AND GETTING HOUSING
ASSISTANCE.
SOMETIMES CEREAL MIGHT HAVE
BEEN A MEAL, JUST WHATEVER I
COULD THINK OF TO PUT FOOD
ON THE TABLE.
>> AFTER COOPER WAS BORN, I
WAS KIND OF JUST THE EVENTS
THAT SENT EVERYTHING ON A
DOWNWARD SPIRAL.
I HAD TO STOP WORKING WITH
ALL OF COOPER'S SURGERIES
AND PROCEDURES, MATT HAD TO
TAKE A LOT OF TIME OFF WORK
WHICH ALSO REDUCED OR INCOME
MORE.
>> MY HUSBAND AND I ARE OUT
WORKING FULL TIME JOBS
EVERYDAY.
WE WORK TWO DIFFERENT SHIFTS
TRYING TO MAKE ENDS MEET.
AND IT'S NOT ENOUGH FOR US.
IT'S NOT ENOUGH.
>> BECAUSE THE DOCTORS'
APPOINTMENTS WENT ON AND THE
CO-PAYS CAME, SAVINGS DIDN'T
LAST LONG AT ALL.
WE'RE PRETTY MUCH DOWN TO
NOTHING.
>> WE'RE CAUGHT IN THE CYCLE
OF NOT BEING ABLE TO GET OUT
OF OUR FINANCIAL BIND AND
GET BACK ON OUR FEET.
>> IF WE'RE NOT ABLE TO KEEP
THIS PLACE, WE'LL END UP
LOSING OUR KIDS, WE WON'T BE
ABLE TO GET THEM BACK.
THAT'S WHY WE'RE TRYING TO
WORK SO HARD TO FIND A JOB
RIGHT NOW.
>> THE DOCTORS, THEIR
THINKING SHE'LL BE RELEASED
IN THE NEXT FEW WEEKS.
WE PRAY EVERYDAY FOR OUR
SON.
WE HOPE EVERYDAY THAT HE
WILL HAVE A HAPPY LIFE,
REALLY LIVE THE AMERICAN
DREAM.
>> IT JUST SHOWS THAT ONE
THING CAN HAPPEN TO A FAMILY
AND IT CAN CHANGE EVERYTHING
COMPLETELY.
>> THAT CLIP IS FROM "A
FIGHTING CHANCE," WHICH IS
AVAILABLE TO VIEW ON THE
KLRU WEBSITE, KLRU.ORG.
WE ARE HONORED TO HAVE ONE
OF THE INDIVIDUALS FEATURED
IN THE FILM HERE IN THE
STUDIO TONIGHT.
RICHARD JAMES LIVES AND
WORKS IN SAN ANTONIO.
WHEN HIS SON WAS BORN WITH A
SERIOUS ILLNESS, HIS FAMILY
EXPERIENCED SIGNIFICANT
FINANCIAL STRAIN AND RELIED
ON MEDICAID TO HELP COVER
SOME OF THE COSTS OF HIS
CARE.
NEXT IS DON BAYLOR, JUNIOR,
A SENIOR POLICY ANALYST AT
THE CENTER FOR PUBLIC POLICY
PRIORITIES.
MR. BAYLOR IS DIRECTOR OF
OPPORTUNITY TEXAS AND
FOCUSES ON ASSET BUILDING,
POST-SECONDARY SUCCESS AND
LABOR MARKETS TO EXPAND
ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY AND
MOBILITY IN TEXAS.
DR. FRANCES DEVINI IS AT THE
CENTER FOR PUBLIC POLICY
PRIORITIES.
SHE IS HEAD OF FACTS AND
DATA TONIGHT.
AS PART OF HER JOB SHE
CONTINUALLY TRACKS THE
STATUS OF CHILD WELL-BEING
IN TEXAS BY COMBING THROUGH
AND ANALYZING NUMEROUS STATE
AND COUNTY LEVEL DATA.
SHE ALSO HELPS COORDINATE
THE CENTER'S FAMILY
COORDINATING PROGRAM.
AND FINALLY MR. WALTER
MURROW.
HE IS THE DIRECTOR OF
FOUNDATION COMMUNITIES,
WHICH IS A UNIQUE AND VITAL
NONPROFIT THAT PROVIDES
AFFORDABLE HOUSING
COMMUNITIES AND SUPPORT
SERVICES LIKE CHILD CARE AND
ENRICHMENT OPPORTUNITIES FOR
RESIDENTS.
THEIR INNOVATIVE MODEL
STRIVES TO HELP FAMILIES
GAIN FINANCIAL STABILITY AND
EDUCATION GNAT SUCCESS.
I'D LIKE TO OPEN THE
CONVERSATION BY PRESENTING A
CURRENT SNAPSHOT OF THE
CHALLENGES AND BARRIERS
TEXANS FACE.
FRANCES, LET'S START WITH
YOU.
CAN YOU SHARE SOME FACTS
ABOUT FAMILIES LIVING IN
POVERTY IN THE STATE OF
TEXAS?
>> I DEFINITELY CAN, BUT I
THINK THE MOST IMPORTANT
THING IS DEFINE POVERTY AND
THE BEST DEFINITION FOR
POVERTY RIGHT NOW IS IT'S
SOMEWHERE NO ONE WANTS TO
LIVE.
IT'S A PLACE THAT NO ONE
WANTS TO BE IN.
AND ALL FAMILIES THAT LIVE
IN POVERTY, THEY REALLY WANT
THE SAME THING THAT
EVERYBODY WHO DOESN'T LIVE
IN POVERTY WANT.
THEY WANT SAFETY, THEY WANT
STABILITY, THEY WANT
LONG-TERM ECONOMIC STABILITY
FOR THEIR FAMILIES AND THEY
WANT GOOD HEALTH FOR
THEMSELVES AND THEIR
CHILDREN AND THEIR FAMILIES.
THAT'S KEY.
BUT YOU ASKED ME ABOUT
NUMBERS SO I'LL GIVE YOU
SOME NUMBERS.
>> I DID.
>> SO POVERTY IS ACTUALLY
VERY EXPLICIT DEFINITION BY
THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.
AND IT'S AN INCOME CUTOFF.
SO TO GIVE YOU AN EXAMPLE,
IT CHANGES DEPENDING ON HOW
MANY PEOPLE YOU HAVE IN YOUR
FAMILY.
BUT FOR A FAMILY OF THREE,
YOU NEED TO MAKE AROUND
$18,000 OR LESS TO BE
CONSIDERED LIVING IN
POVERTY.
FOR FAMILY OF FOUR IT'S
ABOUT $23,000.
FOR A FAMILY OF FIVE IT'S
ABOUT $27,000.
SO KIND OF USING THESE
DIFFERENT CUTOFFS WE KNOW
THAT ABOUT 4.4 MILLION
TEXANS LIVE UNDER THAT
POVERTY LINE.
AND THAT INCLUDES ABOUT
1.8 MILLION CHILDREN.
SO WE HAVE A LOT OF FAMILIES
WHO ARE REALLY STRUGGLING TO
BE ABLE TO MAKE ENDS MEET.
BUT EVERY FAMILY THAT LIVES
UNDER THAT POVERTY LINE,
THEY GET TO THAT PLACE IN
VERY DIFFERENT WAYS.
THEIR STORIES ARE RICH AND
THEY'RE DIFFERENT AND THEY
MAY ARRIVE THERE IN MANY OF
THE WAYS THAT WE SAW IN THE
FILM TONIGHT WITH THE
FAMILIES.
>> SO WHAT DOES IT TAKE --
CAN YOU ELABORATE -- FOR A
FAMILY TO COVER BASIC
EXPENSES?
THERE ARE A LOT OF EXPENSES
IN RAISING A FAMILY.
>> WE USE A FAMILY OF THREE,
FOR EXAMPLE.
SO IN SOME RESEARCH THAT
WE'RE DOING FOR THE CENTER
FOR PUBLIC POLICY PRIORITIES
WE'RE DOING FAMILY BUDGETS
WORK AND WE'RE LOOKING AT IF
YOU TAKE BASIC EXPENSES AND
YOU ADD ALL THOSE UP WHAT
DOES IT ACTUALLY TAKE TO
COVER THOSE BILLS?
FOR A FAMILY OF THREE IN
AUSTIN, TEXAS IT TAKES ABOUT
$45,000 TO COVER REALLY
BASIC EXPENSES.
>> A LOT.
>> IT IS A LOT.
AND REALLY WE'RE USING
SOMETHING PRETTY
CONSERVATIVE IN OUR
MEASURES. WE'RE TALKING
ABOUT A TWO BEDROOM KIND OF
MODERATE COST APARTMENT.
>> RENTS ARE VERY HIGH HERE.
>> RENTS ARE HIGH HERE,
RIGHT.
WE'RE TALKING ABOUT CHILD
CARE FOR ONE CHILD.
WE'RE TALKING ABOUT BASIC
FOOD, NO EATING OUT.
AND WE'RE TALKING ABOUT FOR
THAT $45,000, NO SAVINGS, NO
CHRISTMAS GIFT, NO EXTRAS,
NO CUSHION.
IF YOU RUN INTO A PROBLEM.
AND SO IT'S THAT GAP BETWEEN
KIND OF POVERTY AND MAKING
IT WHERE SO MANY FAMILIES
END UP FALLING THROUGH THE
CRACKS AND STRUGGLING.
>> AND ISN'T ACCESS TO
QUALITY CHILD CARE A BIG
PROBLEM?
>> IT IS A BIG PROBLEM.
AND THE WAY THAT WE
STRUCTURE THINGS IN TEXAS IS
THAT WE HAVE CHILD CARE THAT
IS SUBSIDIZED.
AND WE ONLY HAVE A ONE POT
OF MONEY AND WHAT THAT POT
OF MONEY IS GONE, IT'S GONE.
SO WE OFTEN RUN UP INTO HIGH
WAITING LISTS FOR CHILDREN
WHO ARE WAITING TO GET INTO
CHILD CARE SUBSIDIES.
>> AND WHAT HAPPENS WITH
THOSE CHILDREN WHEN THEY
CAN'T GET INTO CHILD CARE?
>> YOU KNOW, IN CHILD CARE
OR WITH FOOD OR WITH
HOUSING, THEY ALL RESULT IN
THE TOUGH CHOICES THAT
FAMILIES HAVE TO MAKE. SO
IF THEY DON'T MAKE THAT
45,000-DOLLAR CUTOFF, AGAIN,
THAT'S JUST FOR A FAMILY OF
THREE, AND YOU'RE MAKING
LESS THAN THAT OR YOU'RE
MAKING CLOSE TO POVERTY
LINE, WHAT DO YOU DO?
>> RIGHT.
WHAT GETS CUT?
>> YOU HAVE TO MAKE A
CHOICE.
YOU HAVE TO EITHER BUY FOOD
FOR DINNER TONIGHT OR PUT
GAS IN THE GAS TANK TO YOU
CAN GET TO WORK.
YOU WILL PAY YOUR ELECTRIC
BILL OR PAY YOUR HEALTH CARE
BILL.
AND YOU HAVE TO MAKE THOSE
REALLY TOUGH CHOICES AND
CHILD CARE ONE OF THOSE
AREAS THAT MANY FAMILIES CUT
RIGHT OFF THE BAT BECAUSE
THEY THINK WELL, I CAN USE
FAMILY, FRIEND OR NEIGHBOR
CARE THAT CAN BE REALLY GOOD
OR IT CAN BE NOT SUCH HIGH
QUALITY SOMETIMES AND IT MAY
PUT THE FAMILY IN A TOUGH
SITUATION THAT THEY HAVE TO
MAKE CHOICES THEY WOULDN'T
LIKE TO MAKE.
>> AND CAN IT BE A SITUATION
WHERE THE FAMILY CAN'T GET
CHILD CARE, THEN ONE OF THE
INDIVIDUALS OR IF YOU HAVE
ONE PARENT WHO IS WORKING IN
A FAMILY, THAT PERSON CAN'T
WORK, THEN WHAT HAPPENS?
>> EXACTLY.
THEN YOU'RE CUTTING THAT
INCOME IN HALF, RIGHT?
AND THAT PUTS THE FAMILY IN
EVEN GREATER FINANCIAL
STRAIN.
MOST OF THE TIME CHILD CARE,
EVEN FOR LOW INCOME WORKERS,
CHILD CARE IS GOING TO BE
ONE OF THE BIGGEST CHUNKS OF
THEIR EXPENSES.
AND IF YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT
A FAMILY WITH TWO KIDS OR
THREE CHILDREN IT CAN BE
EVEN MORE THAN RENT.
IT REALLY CAN PUT A LOT OF
FINANCIAL STRAIN ON A
FAMILY.
>> AND SO WHEN WE'RE TALKING
ABOUT THIS AND WE'RE SAYING
WHAT DOES IT TAKE, WHAT DOES
IT REALLY TAKE IN YOUR
EXPERIENCE?
>> AS FAR AS WITH ME, MY
WIFE AND OUR SON, WE STARTED
OUT BOTH COLLEGE STUDENTS,
BOTH WORKING.
WE'RE MAKING IT.
WE FOUND OUT THAT WE'LL HAVE
OUR SON, HE WAS BORN WITH
KIDNEY FAILURE.
AND FROM THAT POINT WE JUST
DIDN'T KNOW WHAT TO DO.
WE THOUGHT THAT WE COULD GET
INSURANCE AND THAT WASN'T
THE CASE.
WE LEARNED THAT VERY
QUICKLY.
AND THERE WERE -- WE'VE CUT
PRETTY MUCH EVERYTHING.
THERE WAS NOTHING THAT WE
COULD DO.
IT WAS -- FOR A GOOD SEVERAL
MONTHS IT WAS A DAY-TO-DAY
BASIS WITH OUR SON.
I COULDN'T WORK.
MY WIFE COULDN'T WORK.
WE WERE THERE AT THE
HOSPITAL 24/7.
AND SO WE DIDN'T HAVE
ANYTHING.
>> SO YOU'RE MAKING --
ASKING PEOPLE TO MAKE
IMPOSSIBLE CHOICES.
IS THAT WHAT YOU SEE?
>> IT'S A HUGE STRUGGLE.
WHAT I'VE SEEN ARE PROGRAMS
THAT REALLY WORK, I CALL
THEM HANDS UP PROGRAM.
NOT JUST A HANDOUT.
AND THEY TRY TO ADDRESS
HOLISTICALLY THE WHOLE
SITUATION, PROVIDING SOME
STABLE HOUSING, TRYING TO
ADDRESS CHILD CARE OPTIONS,
FIGURING OUT EMPLOYMENT OR
BETTER EMPLOYMENT.
ARE THEY ON A PATH TO
GETTING A JOB THAT WILL PAY
A LIVING WAGE?
THE PROGRAMS THAT REALLY
WORK AROUND TEXAS TAKE A
HOLISTIC APPROACH.
AND WE NEED SAFETY NET
PROGRAMS THAT KIND OF HAVE
HEALTH CARE COVERAGE FOR
FOLKS WHEN CATASTROPHIC
THING KIND OF HAPPENS.
>> AND THIS IS REALLY I
THINK IMPORTANT FROM A
POLICY PERSPECTIVE BECAUSE
PEOPLE DON'T REALIZE THAT
YOU CAN HAVE A SITUATION
WHERE A FAMILY IS DOING FINE
AND IT CAN TAKE JUST ONE
INCIDENT AND THEY'VE GONE
FROM DOING FINE TO LIVING ON
THE STREET.
SO THERE ARE REAL POLICY
ISSUES HERE, AREN'T THERE?
>> YEAH, THERE ARE.
AND I THINK THAT WHEN WE
THINK ABOUT CRAFTING PUBLIC
POLICY IN TEXAS, WE HAVE TO
THINK ABOUT FAMILIES'
PURSUIT OF THE ECONOMIC
LADDER, WHICH IS REALLY
CALLED THE AMERICAN DREAM,
WHICH IS WHAT THE "FIGHTING
CHANCE" TALKS ABOUT.
SO WE SEE WITH THE GREAT
RECESSION AND OTHER
CIRCUMSTANCES THAT FAMILIES
GET PUSHED DOWN.
AND WHAT YOU SEE IN THE
VIDEO IN "FIGHTING CHANCE"
WAS SO GREAT, IS THE
RESILIENCE OF FAMILIES, THAT
THEY STILL WANT TO KEEP UP
CLIMBING.
SO WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT
WE BOLSTER EDUCATION, MAKE
SURE THAT PEOPLE HAVE THAT
PATHWAY INTO POST-SECONDARY,
BUT WE ALSO NEED TO MAKE
SURE THAT WE HAVE POLICIES
THAT ENSURE FINANCIAL
STABILITY AND THE ECONOMIC
MOBILITY TO CONTINUE THAT
CLIMB OF THE ECONOMIC
LADDER.
>> I THINK IT'S A REALLY
INTERESTING POINT BECAUSE
WHAT WE SAW IN THE FILM IS
THERE WERE SEVERAL PATHWAYS
TO POVERTY.
YOU COULD HAVE A MEDICAL
CRISIS IN YOUR FAMILY.
YOU COULD HAVE THE RESULT OF
THE RECESSION, OF THE GREAT
RECESSION WHERE YOU HAVE A
JOB LOSS.
IN FACT, WE HAVE ABOUT
500,000 KIDS IN TEXAS WHO
HAVE AN UNEMPLOYED PARENT
RIGHT NOW.
THAT'S A 70% INCREASE SINCE
PRIOR TO THE RECESSION.
>> 70%.
>> 70% INCREASE.
AND THAT'S EVEN RECENT
NUMBERS, 2011 NUMBERS.
SO IT'S VERY CURRENT.
>> SO EVEN AFTER WE'VE
RECOVERED SOME, RIGHT?
>> RIGHT.
AND THE OTHER PATH IS WE
HAVE FAMILIES WHO ARE BOTH
WORKING FULL TIME TRYING AS
HARD AS THEY CAN TO MAKE
ENDS MEET AND IT'S STILL NOT
ENOUGH.
SO WHAT WE HAVE IS MANY,
MANY JOBS IN TEXAS IS
ACTUALLY THE THIRD WORST
RATE OF LOW INCOME JOBS IN
THE COUNTRY, WHICH MEANS
THAT WE HAVE THE THIRD KIND
OF HIGHEST RATE OF JOBS THAT
PAY MINIMUM WAGE OR LESS.
>> RIGHT.
>> AND WITH THOSE JOBS IT
USUALLY MEANS THAT YOU DON'T
HAVE BENEFITS.
YOU DON'T HAVE HEALTH
INSURANCE.
YOU DON'T HAVE RETIREMENTS.
YOU DON'T HAVE ALL OF THOSE
OTHER THINGS THAT --
>> HEALTH CARRY.
>> YOU DON'T HAVE HEALTH
CARE AND DON'T HAVE THOSE
THINGS THAT CAN HELP TO
BOLSTER A FAMILY,
PARTICULARLY IN A TIME OF
CRISIS.
AND SO THAT'S SOMETHING THAT
WE REALLY NEED TO WORK ON IS
MOVING FAMILIES INTO NEW
OPPORTUNITIES WHERE THEY CAN
MOVE THEIR FAMILIES OUT OF
POVERTY.
>> SURE, BECAUSE AS YOU
POINTED OUT YOU CAN HAVE A
SITUATION WHERE YOU HAVE TWO
PEOPLE WHO ARE WORKING, BUT
AT MINIMUM WAGE, AND THEY
JUST CAN'T MANAGE TO CRAWL
THEIR WAY UP OUT OF THIS
SITUATION WHETHER THEY CAN'T
MAKE ENDS MEET.
AND WHAT KIND OF POLICIES
CAN WE HAVE TO ADDRESS THIS?
>> WELL, I THINK IN TEXAS I
THINK WE'VE BEEN
PARTICULARLY GOOD AT
INVESTING IN BUSINESS
CAPITAL.
I THINK WE REALLY NEED TO BE
EXCEPTIONAL IN INVESTING IN
HUMAN AND FINANCIAL CAPITAL
FOR WORKING FAMILIES IN
TEXAS.
SO I THINK THAT WE -- IN
SOME WAYS WE KIND OF NEED A
SHIFT IN TERMS OF WHAT WE
CONSIDER TO BE A GOOD
INVESTMENT OVER THE
LONG-TERM.
AND I THINK THAT TEXANS WORK
HARD AS ANYBODY.
WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE SHARE
OF TEXANS THAT, YOU KNOW,
WORK THAT ARE ABLE TO WORK,
WE ARE AT THE TOP.
SO IN TERMS OF TEXANS BEING
WANTING TO WORK AND WANTING
TO MOVE AHEAD, I WOULDN'T
PUT US AGAINST -- I WOULDN'T
PUT US AGAINST ANYBODY.
SO I THINK THAT TEXAS
WORKING FAMILIES ARE A GREAT
INVESTMENT AND SO I THINK
THAT WE NEED FROM AN
EDUCATIONAL STANDPOINT, FROM
A SOCIAL SAFETY NET
STANDPOINT, BUT ALSO IN
TERMS OF THE BALANCE SHEET,
BUILDING SAVINGS, BUILDING
ASSETS FOR WORKING FAMILIES,
COLLEGE SAVINGS, OTHER TYPES
OF DUAL GENERATIONAL
PROGRAMS THAT REALLY MAKE
FAMILIES MORE FINANCIALLY
STABLE.
I THINK THAT WE KNOW IT
WORKS.
>> SO WHAT YOU'RE SAYING IS
WE NEED TO INVEST IN
PROGRAMS WHERE WE INVEST IN
THE FAMILIES AND THEY IN
TURN WILL THEN HAVE THE
ABILITY TO INVEST IN TEXAS.
THEY'RE OUR FUTURE.
>> I THINK THAT'S RIGHT.
IN TERMS OF BUILDING A
BROADER TAX BASE THAT CAN
BUILD ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT,
I THINK THERE'S NO BETTER
INVESTMENT THAN TEXAS
WORKING FAMILIES.
>> I WOULD JUMP IN AND SAY
WE NEED THAT PUBLIC
INVESTMENT.
I DIRECT FOUNDATION
COMMUNITIES.
WE'RE PRETTY GOOD
FUND-RAISERS.
>> INDEED.
>> BUT THE NEED IS HUGE.
ON MONDAY MORNINGS WHEN OUR
STAFF SITS DOWN AND DOES
INTAKE WE HAVE ABOUT 100
APARTMENTS FOR FAMILIES THAT
ARE IN CRISIS SITUATIONS.
WE GET ABOUT 15 APPLICATIONS
A WEEK AND THEY SPREAD THEM
OUT ON THE CONFERENCE ROOM
TABLE AND THEY GENERALLY
HAVE ABOUT ONE OPENING A
WEEK.
YOU KNOW, I CAN FUND RAISE
REALLY HARD AND WE RAISE A
FEW MILLION A YEAR, BUT IN
ORDER TO REALLY EXPAND THAT
PROGRAM SO I HAVE AT LEAST
TWO OR THREE SLOTS OPEN --
>> THAT RATIO IS REALLY
STAGGERING, YES.
>> SO SPEAKING FOR ALL THE
NONPROFIT CHARITABLE
ORGANIZATIONS OUT THERE IN
TEXAS, WE'RE CREATIVE, WE
PIECE TOGETHER FUNDING TO
CREATE THESE HANDS UP
PROGRAMS, BUT WE REALLY
CAN'T BRING THE CAPITAL TO
BEAR THAT'S NEEDED.
>> AND I THINK YOU BRING UP
A GOOD POINT.
THIS REALLY IS A
PARTNERSHIP, RIGHT, BETWEEN
THE PUBLIC SECTOR, THE
PRIVATE SECTOR, THE
NONPROFIT SECTOR WITH
EVERYBODY DOING A PART, WITH
EVERYBODY INVESTING, THAT'S
WHAT IT'S GOING TO TAKE IS
WHAT I'M HEARING.
>> I THINK WHAT PEOPLE DON'T
REALIZE IS THAT A LOT OF
TIMES WE FEEL LIKE,
PARTICULARLY AROUND THE
HOLIDAYS WE THINK ABOUT
PHILANTHROPY AND HOW
IMPORTANT THAT IS AND FOR
GIVING.
AND I DO BELIEVE THAT'S
CRITICALLY IMPORTANT.
BUT PHILANTHROPY AND
ORGANIZATIONS THAT ARE BASED
ON FUND-RAISING ARE ALSO
VERY AFFECTED BY THE GREAT
RECESSION.
>> ABSOLUTELY.
>> SO IN THOSE TIMES WHERE
SO MANY FAMILIES ARE
STRUGGLING PEOPLE AREN'T
ABLE TO GIVE AS MUCH AS THEY
WERE BEFORE SO IT'S REALLY
DIFFICULT FOR A LOT OF
ORGANIZATIONS THAT ARE BASED
ON FUND-RAISING TO BE ABLE
TO FILL IN THE GAPS.
AND THAT'S THE IMPORTANT
ROLE THAT GOVERNMENT CAN
SERVE IS TO BE ABLE TO STEP
IN THAT N THAT TIME AND
REALLY REACH A BROADER BASE
THAN INDIVIDUAL PHILANTHROPY
CAN DO AND COME UP WITH NEW
STRATEGIES THAT WE CAN TAKE
TO SCALE.
>> YES.
>> ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE
SAY IN TERMS OF THE
IMPORTANCE NOT ONLY OF
HELPING PEOPLE MOVE UP
THROUGH EDUCATION, FINANCIAL
STABILITY AND SAVINGS, BUT
MAKING SURE THAT PEOPLE
DON'T GET PUSHED DOWN BY BAD
FINANCIAL PRODUCTS.
SO CONSUMER PROTECTION IS
EXTREMELY IMPORTANT.
IN TEXAS WE HAVE THE WORST
PROBLEM IN TERMS OF PAYDAY
AND AUTO TITLE LENDING WHICH
STRIPS ASSETS FROM FOLKS.
ABOUT 95 CARS ARE
REPOSSESSED A DAY IN TEXAS.
SO WE'VE GOT A LOT OF WORK
TO DO IN MAKING SURE THAT
PEOPLE DON'T GET PUSHED
DOWN.
>> RIGHT.
>> BY LAX FINANCIAL
REGULATION.
>> AND YOU BRING UP AN
IMPORTANT POINT.
WHEN TIMES ARE TOUGH THEY'RE
TOUGH FOR EVERYONE.
WHEN WE SEE THAT THE STOCK
MARKET IS GOING SOUTH IT'S
GOING SOUTH TOO FOR ALL THE
INVESTMENTS OF NONPROFITS,
SO IT'S A REALLY IMPORTANT
POINT.
AND ONE THAT WE NEED TO BE
MINDFUL OF.
WE TOUCHED ON IT A BIT SO
FAR, BUT LET'S TALK MORE
ABOUT THE ROLES OF LOCAL AND
STATE GOVERNMENTS AS WELL AS
SERVICE PROVIDERS.
SO WHAT CAN WE EXPECT AS FAR
AS THE ROLES OF LOCAL AND
STATE GOVERNMENTS?
>> WELL, I THINK YOU KNOW
THAT POVERTY IS SOMETHING
THAT WE CAN MAKE A
DIFFERENCE IN.
IT'S A DEVASTATING AS A
ONE-TIME NATURAL DISASTER,
BUT IT'S ONGOING AND THAT'S
THE POWER OF IT.
BUT WE CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE
IF WE MAKE THE RIGHT CHOICES
AND WE'VE SEEN THAT.
WE ACTUALLY HAVE PROOF OF
THIS WITH OUR SENIORS.
SO WE MADE A DECISION BACK
IN THE 60'S WHERE WE SAID WE
DO NOT WANT AMERICANS WHO
ARE OVER 65 TO LIVE IN
POVERTY.
AND AT THE TIME IT WAS
35 PERCENT OF SENIORS LIVED
IN POVERTY AND WE SAID WE'RE
GOING TO START SOCIAL
SECURITY, WHICH CAN HELP PAY
FOR BASIC EXPENSES, COVER
RENT, COVER FOOD, THAT KIND
OF THING.
AND WE'RE ALSO GOING TO MAKE
SURE THAT THEY HAVE ACCESS
TO QUALITY HEALTH CARE AND
WAIT TO PAY FOR IT AND WE
PUT IN PLACE MEDICARE.
AND BY DOING THAT OVER THE
COURSE OF THE DECADES IT'S
NOW AROUND 10% FOR THE
NATION, ABOUT 11% FOR TEXAS
FOR POVERTY RATE FOR PEOPLE
LIVING OVER 65.
SO WE'VE GOT PROOF THAT WHEN
WE SET OUR MINDS TO IT, WHEN
WE MAKE THE RIGHT CHOICE,
POSITIVE CHOICES ABOUT
MOVING PEOPLE OUT OF POVERTY
WE CAN DO IT, WE JUST
HAVEN'T MADE THAT DECISION
FOR FAMILIES AND CHILDREN
YES.
>> AND YOU BRING UP SOME
IMPORTANT PROGRAMS.
YOU BROUGHT UP SOCIAL
SECURITY AND MEDICARE.
MR. JAMES, I KNOW HOW
IMPORTANT MEDICAID WAS TO
YOUR FAMILY AND WHAT A LIFE
LINE IT WAS.
CAN YOU SPEAK ABOUT THAT
EXPERIENCE AND WHAT ACCESS
TO MEDICAID WAS LIKE FOR YOU
AND YOUR FAMILY?
>> ABSOLUTELY.
SO LIKE I SAID BEFORE, WE
DIDN'T THINK THAT WE WERE
GOING TO NEED MEDICAID.
WE THOUGHT WE WOULD BE ABLE
TO GET OUR OWN INSURANCE,
BUT MEDICAID WAS THE ONLY
OPTION WE HAD.
MEDICAID, THAT COVERED OUR
SON'S EXPENSES.
THE COST OF HIS HEALTH CARE
WAS ASTRONOMICAL.
THERE'S NO WAY THAT SOMEONE
WELL ABOVE THE POVERTY LINE
COULD HAVE AFFORDED IT.
IT WAS GOING TO BE IN THE
MILLIONS.
AND MEDICAID REALLY GAVE OUR
SON A CHANCE, A CHANCE AT
LIFE, CHANCE AT GOOD HEALTH
CARE.
>> AND THIS IS THE TYPE OF
SITUATION THAT NO ONE CAN
FORESEE.
AS YOU SAID, WOULD BANKRUPT
MOST FAMILIES, THE TYPES OF
MEDICAL BILLS THAT YOU WOULD
FACE.
AND WITHOUT HAVING MEDICAID,
WHAT IS A FAMILY TO DO?
IT'S VERY IMPORTANT, I KNOW,
AND IF PROVIDERS LIKE THE
FOUNDATIONS COMMUNITIES AND
PHILANTHROPIC PROGRAMS
ACROSS TEXAS, YOU'VE TALKED
ABOUT SOME OF THE WORK THAT
YOU HAVE DONE, BUT CAN YOU
COVER EVERYTHING?
>> WE CAN'T.
[LAUGHTER]
YOU KNOW, WE PROVIDE CASE
MANAGEMENT FOR FAMILIES THAT
ARE IN CRISIS SITUATIONS AND
REALLY WORK WITH THAT FAMILY
TO DEVELOP A PLAN ON
EMPLOYMENT, CHILD CARE,
EDUCATION, HOUSING, LOOKING
AT THEIR HEALTH ISSUES,
TRYING TO TAKE -- GET PEOPLE
ENROLLED IN THE PROGRAMS,
WHERE THEY'RE ELIGIBLE TO
GET THAT SUPPORT.
WE HAVE TO TAKE A HOLISTIC
APPROACH.
YOU MADE THE POINT EARLIER,
DON, THAT TEXANS WORK HARD
AND THAT CAME THROUGH IN THE
VIDEO TOO, THE PERSEVERANCE
THAT THE FAMILIES HAD.
>> ABSOLUTELY.
>> AND THE PRIDE.
>> THEY WANT TO SUPPORT
THEIR FAMILIES.
>> THE BEST WE CAN DO AS AN
ORGANIZATION IS TRY TO
SUPPORT THOSE FAMILIES, HELP
THEM ACCESS THE RESOURCES
THAT MAY BE OUT THERE, HELP
THEM MAKE GOOD DECISIONS
ABOUT HOW THEY MANAGE THEIR
FAMILY, WORK THROUGH HEALTH
ISSUES, MENTAL HEALTH
ISSUES.
I APPRECIATED THE HONESTY OF
THE ONE GENTLEMAN IN THE
VIDEO WHO STRUGGLED WITH
ALCOHOL TO DEAL WITH THAT
ISSUE.
>> AND IT'S CERTAINLY AN
ISSUE THAT WE KNOW IS VERY
PREVALENT IN OUR SOCIETY.
ACROSS ALL LEVELS OF
SOCIETY.
SO WE DO NEED THESE
PROGRAMS.
AND I THINK VERY OFTEN
PEOPLE ASK WELL, WHY SHOULD
THIS BE IMPORTANT TO ME?
WHY IS THIS IMPORTANT TO THE
STATE OF TEXAS THAT WE HAVE
PROGRAMS THAT DEAL WITH
SUBSTANCE ABUSE OR THAT WE
HAVE CHILD CARE THAT IS
AVAILABLE?
WHY IS THIS IMPORTANT?
>> WELL, THERE'S AN OLD
SAYING, I THINK, THAT IF YOU
DON'T SHARE THE RICHES WITH
THE POOR, THEY WILL SHARE
THEIR POVERTY WITH YOU.
AND SO I THINK THAT WE LIVE
IN A SOCIETY WHERE, YOU
KNOW, WE'RE ALL
INTERCONNECTED AND I THINK
THE 21st CENTURY REALLY
REFLECTS THAT.
AND I THINK THAT -- SO I
THINK THAT WE NEED TO BE
THINKING IN MUCH MORE
BROADER WAYS OBVIOUSLY ABOUT
OUR SENSE OF WHAT MOVES
COMMUNITIES AHEAD.
SO I THINK THAT, YOU KNOW,
TO THE DEGREE THAT
INDIVIDUALS AND COMMUNITIES
GET LEFT BEHIND, WE'LL ALL
GET LEFT BEHIND AT THE END
OF THE DAY.
>> WELL, CERTAINLY WE CAN
SEE THAT WE HAVE A GROWING
AND EXPANDING STATE, BUT WE
KNOW THAT A LOT OF THAT
GROWTH IS, OF COURSE, FROM
CHILDREN.
AND THESE CHILDREN, THEY
NEED SERVICES, THEY NEED
EDUCATION, THEY NEED HEALTH
CARE, MEDICAID, BUT THEY'RE
NOT AT THIS POINT IN THEIR
LIVES ABLE TO PAY THE TAXES,
RIGHT?
WE WANT THEM TO BE ABLE TO
DO THAT IN THE FUTURE, AS WE
SAID.
THEY ARE THE FUTURE OF OUR
STATE.
THEY WILL BE THE WORKFORCE.
WHAT ARE SOME OF THE
PROGRAMS THAT WE CAN POINT
TO RIGHT NOW IN OUR STATE
THAT ARE -- THAT ARE
WORKING, THAT ARE TRULY AN
INVESTMENT AND WHERE WE CAN
SEE A SITUATION WHERE PEOPLE
ARE WORKING THEIR WAY UP AND
OUT OF POVERTY AND OUT OF
THESE DIFFICULT SITUATIONS?
>> WELL, I THINK ONE THAT
WAS MENTIONED IN THE
"FIGHTING CHANCE" VIDEO WAS
THE FAMILY SELF-SUFFICIENCY
PROGRAM, WHICH IS A PROGRAM
THAT WORKS THROUGH THE
FEDERAL HOUSING NETWORK TO
HELP FAMILIES BUILD ASSETS
WHILE THEIR RENTERS.
SO YOU REALLY SAW THAT
MOVEMENT FROM AN INDIVIDUAL
HAVING REALLY NO SAVINGS, NO
ASSETS TO MOVING, TO
ACTUALLY HAVING -- TO NET
WORTH.
SO I THINK THAT WHEN WE
THINK ABOUT OTHER TYPES OF
PROGRAMS LIKE INDIVIDUAL
DEVELOPMENT ACCOUNTS AND
OTHER KIND OF INCENTIVES
THAT KIND OF HELP TO -- HELP
FAMILIES KIND OF STABILIZE
THEMSELVES, NUMBER ONE.
SO I THINK SAFETY NET
PROGRAMS ARE CRITICAL
BECAUSE YOU HAVE TO GET
PEOPLE TO A LEVEL WHERE THEY
CAN MAKE IT.
>> WHERE THEY CAN SURVIVE,
YES.
>> SO THAT IS KIND OF JOB
NUMBER ONE.
JOB TWO IS KIND OF THAT
ASCENDENT PIECE. SO
THINKING ABOUT ALL THOSE
PROGRAMS, WHETHER YOU'RE
TALKING ABOUT SKILL
DEVELOPMENT FUND AT THE
STATE LEVEL WHICH IS IS
UNDER FUNDED, ADULT
EDUCATION, ALL THOSE OTHER
CAREER PATHWAYS PROGRAM THAT
ALLOW PEOPLE TO GAIN
CREDENTIALS AND MOVE AHEAD,
WE JUST -- WE HAVE THOSE, WE
JUST DON'T INVEST ENOUGH.
SO THAT'S REALLY AT THE END
OF THE DAY, I THINK TEXANS
ARE DOING INNOVATIVE THINGS
AROUND THE STATE.
AUSTIN, SAN ANTONIO,
AMARILLO, ALL OVER, THERE'S
JUST A LACK OF INVESTMENT
THAT IS REALLY KIND OF
ALLOWING US NOT TO REALLY
MOVE AS FAST AS WE NEED TO
MOVE.
>> FANTASTIC PRE-K PROGRAMS
WHERE THE INVESTMENT IS SIX,
SEVEN TIMES THE DOLLARS THAT
ARE PUT IN.
WE RUN AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAMS
FOR ABOUT 800 KIDS.
OUR STAFF WILL GO PICK THEM
UP AT SCHOOL, GET THE
TEACHERS' HOMEWORK
ASSIGNMENTS, THEY COME BACK
AND DO TUTORING.
LAST GRADE PERIOD OUR 800
KIDS, ALL LOW INCOME, HAD A
B PLUS AVERAGE.
OUR CLOSEST NEIGHBORHOOD
SCHOOLS NOW EXEMPLARY RATED.
WE'RE TAKING ADVANTAGE OF
THAT TIME OUT OF SCHOOL THAT
ENHANCE THE READING
CURRICULUM, DO PHYSICAL
FITNESS PROGRAMS.
>> REDUCE THE DROPOUT RATE
IN THE FUTURE, YES.
>> WE KNOW THE KINDS OF
PROGRAMS THAT REALLY WORK.
WE INVEST IN THEM WITH
CHARITABLE SUPPORT AND
VOLUNTEERS AND THE BEST WAYS
THAT WE CAN.
WE WANT TO DO MORE.
>> AND YOU -- IT'S WONDERFUL
THAT YOU ARE ABLE TO PROVIDE
THIS FOR 800 CHILDREN, BUT I
WONDER HOW MANY MORE
CHILDREN ARE OUT THERE
BEYOND THAT 800 WHO NEED
THESE SERVICES WHO IF WE HAD
THE SMALL INVESTMENT NOW, IT
WILL REALLY PAY OFF LATER,
THAT MULTIPLIER AFFECT, MUCH
BETTER TO MAKE A SMALL
INVESTMENT NOW THAN HAVE TO
SPEND MUCH, MUCH MORE ON THE
SERVICES THAT THESE CHILDREN
MAY NEED LATER.
>> AND I THINK INVESTMENT IS
THE KEY WORD THERE.
AND I THINK THAT WHEN WE
THINK ABOUT AS A STATE AND
WHAT WE'RE COMMITTED TO THAT
WE THINK ABOUT THE
RESPONSIBILITY OF THE STATE
BUDGET.
AND THE BUDGET IS A
REFLECTION OF WHAT OUR
PRIORITIES ARE.
AND RIGHT NOW OUR PRIORITIES
ARE NOT TO INVEST.
WE CUT $5.4 BILLION OUT OF
PUBLIC EDUCATION FUND FROM
THE LAST BIENNIUM.
WE HAVE AN UNFUNDED MANDATE
THAT WE HAVE TO GO BACK AND
PAY FOR MEDICAID.
WE'RE MAKING CHOICES RIGHT
NOW WHERE WE'RE NOT REALLY
INVESTING IN OUR HUMAN
CAPITAL.
AND PLANNING FOR THE FUTURE.
AND I THINK THOSE ARE THE
KIND OF HARD CHOICES THAT
WE'RE GOING TO NEED TO MAKE,
THE POSITIVE CHOICES THAT
WE'RE GOING TO NEED TO MAKE
TO MOVE FORWARD AND TO HELP
FAMILIES BE ABLE TO START
MOVING UP THAT ECONOMIC
LADDER.
>> AND PEOPLE ALWAYS ASK
WHAT ARE REALLY THE IMPACT
OF THE RECENT STATE BUDGET
CUTS.
AND I THINK THAT WE HAVE
SOME REALLY INTERESTING
PRELIMINARY EVIDENCE THAT
SHOWS THAT THE CUTS TO STATE
FINANCIAL AID GRANTS HAVE
BASICALLY LEVELED OFF
COLLEGE ENROLLMENT.
THAT BASICALLY IT CAME TOO
LATE, TOO SHORT, AND
FAMILIES WERE NOT ABLE TO
PLAN.
AND WE BASICALLY AFTER YEARS
OF BEING ON THE INCLINE, WE
ARE NOW KIND OF LEVELED OFF
EVEN WITH THE RAPIDLY
GROWING STATE.
I THINK THAT WHEN WE ASK
ABOUT THE PATHWAYS OF
PROSPERITY, IT IS REALLY
THIS INVESTMENT IN HUMAN AND
FINANCIAL CAPITAL FOR
WORKING FAMILIES.
>> AND SO WHAT I'M HEARING,
I THINK WHAT WE SAW IN THIS
WONDERFUL DOCUMENTARY, WAS
THAT FOR SO MANY FAMILIES IT
JUST TAKES A LITTLE BIT.
A VERY SMALL STEP TO HELP
THEM TO BE ABLE TO BE
SELF-SUFFICIENT.
WHETHER IT IS MEDICAID,
WHETHER IT IS THE CHILD CARE
PROGRAM.
OR WHEN WE TALK ABOUT
HOUSING I WONDER FOR HOW
MANY OF THESE FAMILIES IT'S
A SITUATION WHERE THEY CAN'T
GET TOGETHER THE MONEY FOR A
DOWN PAYMENT.
YOU HAVE TO MAKE A -- YOU
HAVE TO PUT IN A DEPOSIT
BEFORE SOMEONE WILL RENT YOU
AN APARTMENT.
AND IS IT JUST THE FIRST
MONTH OR IS IT THE LAST
MONTH TOO?
AND THEN OF COURSE THERE'S
THE UTILITIES.
IS THIS A SITUATION WHERE
SOMEONE JUST NEEDS A LITTLE
BIT TO BE ABLE TO PUT A ROOF
OVER THEIR FAMILIES' HEADS?
>> SOMETIMES IT'S A LITTLE
BIT, SOMETIMES IT'S A LOT
MORE.
BUT WE REALLY BELIEVE IN
STABLE HOUSING, THAT CREATES
THE FOUNDATION FOR FOLKS.
BUT WE HAVE TO ADDRESS OTHER
ROOT ISSUES AROUND HEALTH OR
MENTAL HEALTH.
STABILITY WITH THE KIDS.
IT IS AN INVESTMENT CHOICE.
THIS YEAR WE HAVE ABOUT 100
APARTMENTS FOR FAMILIES THAT
HAVE BEEN HOMELESS OR IN
VERY HIGH RISK SITUATIONS.
THOSE 100 FAMILIES, WE HAVE
ABOUT 217 KIDS THIS YEAR
THAT ARE NO LONGER HOMELESS.
THEY'RE NOT MOVING FROM
SCHOOL TO SCHOOL.
THEY NOW HAVE ONE SCHOOL TO
GO TO.
THEY CAN SLEEP IN THEIR OWN
BED.
THEY CAN MAKE NEW FRIENDS.
THE INVESTMENT IN THOSE
KIDS -- I COULDN'T TELL YOU
EXACTLY WHAT THE RETURN ON
INVESTMENT IS.
IT'S MEASURED OVER THERE.
>> THIS IS SOMETHING I'VE
BEEN HEARING ABOUT FOR
AWHILE FROM SCHOOL DISTRICTS
IS THIS SITUATION WHERE
BECAUSE A FAMILY IS HOMELESS
OR NEARLY HOMELESS, HAVING
TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THAT
TEASER RATE ON THE RENT AND
THEN THAT RUNS OUT AND MOVE
TO ANOTHER APARTMENT
COMPLEX, THAT YOU HAVE
CHILDREN WHO ARE IN, I DON'T
KNOW, FIVE, SIX SCHOOLS
DURING THE YEAR.
WHAT DOES THIS DO TO THE
ABILITY OF THE CHILD TO
LEARN AND TO STAY ON GRADE?
>> IT REALLY DOES IMPACT
THEIR ABILITY TO BE ABLE TO
PERFORM IN SCHOOLS.
EVEN THOUGH WE HAVE A STATE
STANDARD CURRICULUM, EACH
SCHOOL CREATES THEIR OWN
ENVIRONMENT IN THE
CLASSROOM.
AND SO A CHILD MAY COME IN
AND THE TEACHER MAY BE
COVERING SOMETHING THEY'VE
ALREADY COVERED OR THEY MAY
BE COVERING SOMETHING THAT
THEIR FORMER TEACHER WOULD
HAVE COVERED TWO WEEKS DOWN
THE ROAD AND THEY'RE BEHIND.
WHAT YOU SEE IS MOST OF THE
TIME FOR CHILDREN WHO ARE
LIVING AND MOVING FROM
APARTMENT TO APARTMENT THOSE
ARE THOSE CHILDREN LIVING IN
POVERTY AND WE KNOW FROM
RESEARCH THAT THEY ARE MUCH
MORE LIKELY TO NOT PASS
THEIR STATE EXAMS, WHICH ARE
PRETTY HIGH RISK THESE DAYS,
AND YOU MAY GET HELD BACK IF
YOU DON'T PASS.
>> WE'VE BEEN HEARING ABOUT
THAT.
>> AND THEN THAT INCREASES
THE LIKELIHOOD OF YOU
DROPPING OUT, WHICH
INCREASES THE LIKELIHOOD OF
YOU NOT BEING ABLE TO GET A
GOOD PAYING JOB.
SO THEN YOU JUST KIND OF
FALL INTO THAT PATH PRETTY
EASILY.
>> AND LOOKING AT THE
SITUATION WE SAW IN THE
DOCUMENTARY THERE ARE SO
MANY DIFFERENT ISSUES, ANY
ONE OF WHICH CAN CAUSE THIS
SITUATION WHERE FAMILIES,
YOU SAY, FALLS OFF THE PATH.
IS THERE ONE THAT SEEMS TO
BE MORE PREVALENT?
>> WELL, I DON'T KNOW ABOUT
THAT, BUT I THINK WE DO HAVE
TO KIND OF RETURN TO THE
IMPORTANCE OF NOT ONLY A
GOOD EDUCATIONAL FOUNDATION,
BUT ALSO THE IMPORTANCE OF A
GOOD PAYING JOB.
SO THIS ISSUE OF WHAT HA R.
HAS ALSO HAPPENED WITH THE
GREAT RECESSION IS PEOPLE
HAD GREAT PAYING JOBS AND
THEY LOST THEM.
SO THERE'S THE ISSUE OF
THAT, BUT AT THE END OF THE
DAY IN TEXAS WE NEED TO NOT
ONLY THINK ABOUT JOBS NOT
JUST IN TERMS OF QUANTITY,
BUT JOBS IN TERMS OF
QUALITY.
AND SO WE REALLY NEED TO
THINK ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE
OF HOW WELL THESE JOBS PAY
AND TO THE DEGREE THAT THEY
ACTUALLY ALLOW FAMILIES TO
MAKE IT IN TEXAS.
>> AND FOR FAMILY OF THE
FAMILIES IN THE VIDEO I
THINK WE SAW NOT EVERY
FAMILY, BUT FOR MANY OF THE
FAMILIES, MANY OF THEIR
PROBLEMS COULD HAVE BEEN
REALLY EASED, SIGNIFICANTLY
EASED FROM GETTING A GOOD
PAYING JOB, FROM BEING ABLE
TO SECURE THAT GOOD PAYING
JOB.
AND IT WAS JUST THE LACK OF
GOOD PAYING JOBS THAT WERE
OUT THERE OR THE LACK OF
EDUCATION THEY HAD OR THE
ACCESS TO EDUCATION TO GET
THAT JOB AND THOSE ARE BIG
PUBLIC POLICY DECISIONS THAT
WE CAN MAKE.
>> AND FOR YOUR FAMILY, YOU
I KNOW YOU AND YOUR WIFE
WERE BOTH PURSUING HIGHER
EDUCATION.
YOU WERE IN COLLEGE.
AND YOU HAD THIS HEALTH
SITUATION WITH YOUR SON.
THAT DISRUPTED YOUR COLLEGE,
RIGHT?
BUT THEN YOU WERE ABLE TO
FIND A JOB.
HOW DID ALL OF THIS FIT
TOGETHER FOR YOU?
>> SO IT WAS -- IT WAS A
VERY COMPLICATED AND WE MADE
A LOT OF TOUGH CHOICES.
>> RIGHT.
>> I DID START TAKING SOME
ONLINE CLASSES AND THEN I
DID APPLY AT AN EMPLOYER IN
SAN ANTONIO, A VERY GOOD
JOB.
I HAD SOME MILITARY
BACKGROUND, SO I THINK THAT
HELPED ME GET IN THE DOOR.
IT WAS STILL A VERY HARD
DECISION TO MAKE BECAUSE OUR
SON WAS STILL AT A POINT
WHERE HE WAS DAY-TO-DAY,
WEEK TO WEEK.
AND WITHOUT A JOB, I MEAN,
IT WAS -- WE DIDN'T HAVE A
PLACE TO STAY.
>> RIGHT.
>> SO IT WAS -- IT WAS JUST
TOUGH OVERALL.
THE JOB, IT REALLY DID HELP
OUR SITUATION A LOT.
IT DID EASE OUR SITUATION
QUITE SIGNIFICANTLY.
BUT AT THE SAME TIME THE
EMOTIONAL TOLL THAT IT TOOK
ON MYSELF AND MY FAMILY WAS
PRETTY STEEP AS WELL, JUST
THE TIME AWAY FROM THE
HOSPITAL AND --
>> CERTAINLY.
SO YOU HAD A SITUATION HERE
WHERE YOU'RE TRYING TO
BALANCE.
YOU WANT TO PURSUE YOUR
EDUCATION.
THE NEED -- YOU NEED A JOB.
YOU HAVE TO PROVIDE A HOME
FOR YOUR FAMILY.
AND THEN YOU HAD THE ISSUES
WITH MEDICAID.
I KNOW YOU HAD SOME CONCERNS
ABOUT THAT.
HOW DID THAT ALL WORK OUT
FOR YOU?
>> OUR CONCERNS WITH
MEDICAID, YOU HAVE TO -- YOU
HAVE TO MAKE VERY LITTLE
WITH MEDICAID.
JUST THE WHOLE QUALIFICATION
PROCESS FOR MEDICAID, THEY
WANT TO KNOW YOUR SAVINGS,
YOUR CHECKING ACCOUNT.
THEY WANT TO KNOW EXACTLY
HOW MUCH -- WHAT ASSETS YOU
HAVE.
AND SO IT PUT US IN A
SITUATION WHERE WE WERE
REALLY AFRAID TO MAKE MONEY.
WE WERE AFRAID TO EARN A
STEADY INCOME BECAUSE OF THE
POSSIBILITY OF LOSING THAT
MEDICAID.
IT DID WORK OUT THAT WE WERE
ABLE TO GET HEALTH CARE, AND
OUR SON DID QUALIFY FOR
SOCIAL SECURITY AT THAT
TIME.
SO THAT ALLOWED HIM TO KEEP
THE MEDICAID WHENEVER WE DID
GET REGULAR INSURANCE.
BUT IT WAS STILL LEADING UP
TO THAT POINT, I MEAN, IT
WAS -- IT WAS A DECISION
THAT WE WERE MAKING.
I CAN BE MAKING X AMOUNT OF
MONEY A YEAR, BUT WE'LL HAVE
TO PAY X AMOUNT IN MEDICAL
COSTS.
AND IT WAS JUST LIKE I HAD
MENTIONED BEFORE, THE COST
OF OUR SON'S CARE AT THAT
TIME, IT WAS -- IT WAS
SIGNIFICANT.
>> YEAH.
AND I THINK WHAT YOU BRING
UP IS A REALLY, REALLY
IMPORTANT POINT BECAUSE A
LOT OF TIMES WHEN WE GET IN
THESE DISCUSSION PEOPLE
START TALKING ABOUT PERSONAL
RESPONSIBILITY AND NOTHING
WAS MORE APPARENT IN THESE
STORIES THAT EVERYBODY HAD
IMMENSE AMOUNTS OF PERSONAL
RESPONSIBILITY.
THAT THEY WERE TRYING TO
MOVE FORWARD.
AND WHAT'S INTERESTING IS WE
DON'T SPEND A LOT OF TIME
TALKING ABOUT THAT SHARED
RESPONSIBILITY AS A
COMMUNITY, AND THAT REALLY
APPLIES TO A LOT OF PROGRAMS
THAT WE HAVE.
AND THE THINGS THAT WE DO TO
SUPPORT THEM.
IN THAT A LOT OF TIMES WHEN
WE'RE TALKING ABOUT WHO IS
ELIGIBLE, WHO IS NOT
ELIGIBLE WE MAKE THESE
CUTOFFS THAT ARE TO SOME
DEGREE ARBITRARY.
AND IF YOU ARE EVEN ONE
QUARTER OF YOUR PAYCHECK IS
OVER WHAT THAT ARBITRARY
CUTOFF IS, YOU GET ON THIS
CLIFF AND THEN YOU FALL OFF
AND YOU'RE NOT ELIGIBLE FOR
BENEFITS ANYMORE.
SO IT DOESN'T ENCOURAGE THAT
ECONOMIC LADDER.
IT DOESN'T ENCOURAGE
FAMILIES TO BE ABLE TO MOVE
UP BECAUSE THEY'RE WORRIED
THAT IF THEY GET A SMALL
RAISE, THEY'LL ACTUALLY BE
WORSE OFF BECAUSE THEY'LL
LOSE THEIR BENEFITS.
>> THIS IS EXTREMELY
STRESSFUL.
>> AND THIS IDEA OF YOU TALK
ABOUT SAVINGS AS KIND OF A
DISQUALIFIER FOR APPLYING
FOR -- IT'S ALMOST LIKE IF
YOU HAVE A BACHELOR'S
DEGREE, CAN YOU GET PUBLIC
ASSISTANCE?
BECAUSE THAT'S AN ASSET.
SO YOU KIND OF REALLY WONDER
WHAT IS REALLY KIND OF THE
POINT IN KIND OF
DISCOURAGING KIND OF GOOD
FINANCIAL OR EDUCATIONAL
BEHAVIOR.
>> IT DOES SEEM THAT THERE
CAN BE THIS DYSINCENTIVE
BECAUSE YOU ARE SO HAVING TO
CAREFULLY WAY, I WANT A
BETTER JOB, BUT IF I GET
THAT BETTER JOB, WHAT WOULD
THAT MEAN FOR MY MEDICAID?
SITUATIONS WHERE DISABILITY
MAY COME INTO PLAY.
HOW COMMON ARE THESE KINDS
OF SITUATIONS AND THESE
DILEMMAS FOR PEOPLE?
>> VERY, VERY COMMON.
WE DON'T HAVE SPECIFIC
NUMBERS ON HOW MANY PEOPLE
ARE CHOOSING NOT TO TAKE A
RAISE.
THEY DON'T SUPPORT THAT ON
THEIR CENSUS FORM OR
ANYTHING.
>> NO, IT'S NOT A QUESTION.
>> IT'S NOT A QUO THE CENSUS
FORM.
BUT WE DO KNOW ANECDOTALLY
THAT IT HAPPENS QUITE A BIT
AND WE HEARD ABOUT THOSE
CONCERNS LIKE RICHARD HAD
THAT IT HAPPENS WITH
FAMILIES ON A REGULAR BASIS.
AND THESE ARE SMART PEOPLE
WHO ARE WORKING DOWN TO THE
PENNY AND TRYING TO FIGURE
OUT EXACTLY HOW THEY'RE
GOING TO MAKE ENDS MEET.
AND I THINK IT'S SOMETHING
THAT HAPPENS ON A VERY
REGULAR BASIS.
>> I WOULDN'T HELP BUT WATCH
THE DOCUMENTARY AND BE PROUD
THAT THE PRIDE OF THE
FAMILIES COMES THROUGH.
AND SARAH AND MATT THAT ARE
RESIDENTS AT ONE OF OUR
COMMUNITIES AND HOW MUCH
THEY'VE PERCENT SEVERED AND
NOW ARE -- PERSEVERED AND
NOW ARE BEING SUCCESSFUL.
AND COOPER THEIR SON --
>> YES, WE SAW ON
DOCUMENTARY.
>> HE'S WALKING NOW, TAKING
HIS FIRST STEPS.
>> HE IS.
>> THESE ARE PROUD TEXAS
FAMILIES AND WE'RE IN THIS
TOGETHER.
THESE ARE FAMILIES THAT ARE
PLAYING BY THE RULES.
AND WE DESERVE TO NOT JUST
CARE ABOUT THEM, BUT TO JOIN
WITH THEM.
>> AND I THINK WE HEARD THAT
FROM THEM.
THEY ARE PLAYING BY THE
RULES.
THEY WANT TO PLAY BY THE
RULES.
THEY WANT TO KNOW HOW TO
PLAY BY THE RULES.
AND THAT CAN BE I THINK A
REAL DILEMMA FOR SOME OF THE
FAMILIES.
HOW DO I PLAY BY THE RULES?
WHAT ARE THE RULES?
THIS IS NOT EASY TO FIGURE
OUT, IS IT?
>> IT'S PRETTY COMPLEX.
I'VE ACTUALLY TRIED TO JUST
LOOK AT A MEDICAID FORM AND
TRIED TO FILL IT OUT, AND
IT'S MADE ME A LITTLE FAINT
TO TRY TO FIGURE IT OUT.
[LAUGHTER]
>> AND IT'S NOT JUST
MEDICAID.
IT'S IF YOU'RE TRYING TO
QUALIFY FOR DISABILITY OR
YOU HAVE A SITUATION WHERE
SOMEONE IS OLDER, HAS BEEN
IN THE HOSPITAL.
NOW YOU'RE OUT OF THE
HOSPITAL.
IS IT MEDICAID NOW, IS IT
MEDICARE?
IF A NURSING FACILITY COMES
IN, WHO IS PAYING FOR THAT?
IS THERE -- DO WE HAVE
PROGRAMS TO HELP PEOPLE
NAVIGATE THIS?
>> WE HAVE A LOT OF LOCAL
COMMUNITIES LIKE FOUNDATION
COMMUNITIES WHO ACTUALLY
WORK WITH FAMILIES AND TRY
TO HELP THEM NAVIGATE THAT.
BUT THEY TEND TO BE MORE
LOCALLY BASED.
WE DO HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY
TO CALL LIKE 211 IS A
RESOURCE.
>> AND I THINK I WILL GIVE
THE STATE OF TEXAS CREDIT.
LAST SESSION THEY PASSED
LEGISLATION TO CREATE A
COMMUNITY PARTNERS PROGRAM
TO ALLOW, ENABLE AND EMPOWER
NONPROFITS TO REALLY KIND OF
REALLY DIG DEEP TO FIND
PEOPLE THAT ARE ELIGIBLE FOR
PUBLIC BENEFITS.
SO I THINK THAT IS ONE KIND
OF POSITIVE DEVELOPMENT THAT
THERE IS, NOT ONLY A LOT OF
PUBLIC SUPPORT OR INCREASING
PUBLIC SUPPORT FOR
INCREASING UP TAKE OF PUBLIC
BENEFITS, BUT THERE'S ALSO
SUPPORT FROM PHILANTHROPIC,
WITH SUPPORT FROM NONPROFITS
TO MAKE THIS HAPPEN A LITTLE
BIT.
>> DOES THE STATE OF TEXAS
HAVE ANY KIND OF DATABASE OR
ANYTHING ACCESSIBLE WHERE
NONPROFITS CAN LEARN WHAT IS
GOING ON, WHERE THEY CAN
COLLABORATE?
IS THERE ANYTHING LIKE THAT
AVAILABLE?
>> WELL, I THINK THROUGH
THIS PROGRAM, NONPROFITS
WILL ACTUALLY HAVE ACCESS TO
A UNIQUE PORTAL IN WHICH
THEY'LL BE ABLE TO NOT ONLY
HELP FOLKS ENROLL, BUT BE
ABLE TO TRACK THE PROGRESS
OF THIS ENROLLMENT.
SO I THINK THAT THERE'S
GOING TO BE I THINK -- I
THINK IT'S GOING TO BE AS
THIS ROLLS OUT OF THE NEXT
SEVERAL YEAR.
INTERESTING TO SEE HOW THIS
CHANGES THE LANDSCAPE IN
TERMS OF UPTAKE AND ACCESS
TO PUBLIC BENEFITS.
>> IT SOUNDS LIKE THAT COULD
BE VERY HELPFUL.
>> I THINK WE DO HAVE
CHALLENGES ABOUT MAKING THE
APPLICATIONS MORE ACCESSIBLE
AND LESS CONFUSING, AND WE
NEED TO COLLABORATE SOME
MORE AS ORGANIZATIONS, BUT
WE ALREADY COLLABORATE A
LOT.
IT DOESN'T -- WE CAN'T
REPLACE.
THE RESOURCES ARE NOT THERE
FOR THE EDUCATION, HEALTH
AND OTHER PROGRAMS AND
SERVICES.
ALL COLLABORATION IN THE
WORLD --
>> WHAT YOU'RE SAYING IS
THERE'S ONLY SO MUCH MONEY
YOU CAN RAISE AS A
NONPROFIT, RIGHT?
>> AND THE ELIGIBILITY --
THE INCOME ELIGIBILITY AND
THE ASSET LIMIT ELIGIBILITY
IS SO LOW THAT PEOPLE REALLY
CAN'T QUALIFY.
>> YOU MENTIONED THAT.
>> ALL THE OUTREACH IN THE
WORLD --
>> WE'RE REALLY CONCERNED
WITH THE MONEY THAT WE HAD
IN SAVINGS.
YOU KNOW, WE HAD A VEHICLE
THAT WE HAD TO GIVEAWAY TO A
FAMILY MEMBER.
>> MY GOODNESS.
>> JUST TO MAKE SURE THAT WE
COULD QUALIFY.
WE DID HAVE A SOCIAL WORKER
HELP US FILL OUT THE
MEDICAID FORM THE SECOND
TIME.
THE FIRST TIME WE GOT REALLY
FLUSTERED.
WE DIDN'T KNOW WHAT WE WERE
GETTING INTO.
>> OF COURSE.
>> BUT WE DID HAVE A SOCIAL
WORKER AT THE HOSPITAL THAT
KIND OF WALKED US THROUGH IT
AND EXPLAINED A LITTLE MORE
ABOUT THE PROGRAM TO US.
SO THAT HELPED A LOT.
AND ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I
NOTICED ABOUT MEDICAID IS
THAT IT DOESN'T NECESSARILY
LOOK AT YOUR SITUATION THAT
YOU'RE IN.
IT'S MORE JUST WHAT ARE YOUR
ASSETS AND WHAT DO YOU
HAVE --
>> JUST LOOKING AT NUMBERS
AND NOT AT PEOPLE, IS THAT
WHAT YOU'RE SAYING, NOT AT
YOUR UNIQUE SITUATION.
>> EXACTLY.
>> THAT IS VERY DIFFICULT
BECAUSE THE SITUATIONS ARE
SO DIFFERENT.
AND IT'S HARD TO SAY YOU CAN
JUST PUT NUMBERS INTO A
COMPUTER AND COME UP WITH
THE RIGHT ANSWER.
>> AND ONE OF THE THINGS
THAT WE KNOW IS THAT WE
ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO HAVE
SOME EMERGENCY OR RAINY DAY
SAVINGS.
AND SO WHEN THINGS GET BAD,
WE DON'T NECESSARILY WANT
PEOPLE TO SPIN THAT DOWN SO
THEY CAN GET SOME
ASSISTANCE, RIGHT?
AND SO THESE ARE THE -- WE
TALK ABOUT THE TOUGH CHOICES
THAT PEOPLE ARE MAKING
SELLING VEHICLES SO THAT YOU
CAN QUALIFY FOR MEDICAL.
THESE ARE THE TOUGH CHOICES
THAT I DON'T THINK WE REALLY
WANT FAMILIES TO BE MAKING.
>> NO, YOU'RE RIGHT.
THIS IS A REAL DILEMMA
BECAUSE WE TALK ABOUT WE
WANT PEOPLE TO BE
RESPONSIBLE.
PART OF BEING RESPONSIBLE IS
TO SAVE, TO HAVE MONEY THAT
YOU HAVE SET ASIDE, TO HAVE
ASSETS, BUT THEN TO BE ABLE
IN SITUATION WHERE WE'RE
SAYING, WELL, YOU HAVE TO
MAKE A CHOICE BETWEEN
MEDICAL CARE FOR A CHILD OR
HAVING SOME SAVINGS, IS THAT
THE MESSAGE THAT WE REALLY
WANT?
THAT IS QUITE A DILEMMA.
AND WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT
ASSET BUILDING AND
INVESTMENT, CERTAINLY WE
WANT PEOPLE TO BE LOOKING
TOWARDS THE FUTURE.
WHEN YOU WERE SAYING PEOPLE
CAN'T AFFORD TO SEND THEIR
KIDS TO COLLEGE, WELL, IF
WE'RE TELLING THEM START
SAVING FOR COLLEGE THE
MINUTE YOUR CHILD IS BORN,
BUT NOW THERE'S A MEDICAL
PROBLEM, SO YOU NEED TO GET
RID OF YOUR SAVINGS IN ORDER
TO ACCESS HEALTH CARE, NOW
WE'RE NOT GOING TO HAVE THE
MONEY THAT WE NEED TO PUT
AWAY FOR COLLEGE.
IT'S A HUGE DILEMMA.
>> YOU KNOW, DON BROUGHT UP
A CRITICAL ISSUE WITH
PREDATORY PAYDAY LENDING
TYPE PRACTICES.
THIS IS ANOTHER AREA WHERE
WE AS A CHARITY AND THE
CHURCHES AROUND TEXAS, WE
DON'T HAVE ENOUGH MONEY TO
PAY OFF THE PAYDAY LOAN FOR
THE FOLKS THAT WHEN THEY ARE
IN A FINANCIAL CRISIS IT'S
JUST VERY CONVENIENT.
THERE'S I THINK MORE PAYDAY
LENDING SHOPS THAN FAST FOOD
SHOPS NOW IN TEXAS.
>> IT'S TRUE.
>> DON'T HAVE THEM IN
ARKANSAS, DON'T HAVE THEM IN
OTHER STATES.
>> I'D LIKE TO EXPAND THE
CONVERSATION IN THIS AREA TO
LOOK AT WHAT CAN PEOPLE DO
TO GET NOT ONLY JUST TO GET
BY, BUT ACTUALLY GET AHEAD.
WE'VE TALKED ABOUT THAT
SOME, BUT LET'S BE MORE
SPECIFIC.
WHAT CAN YOU DO TO ACTUALLY
GET AHEAD?
>> WELL, YOU KNOW,
OBVIOUSLY, I DON'T THINK
THAT WE CAN GET AWAY FROM
THE PUBLIC POLICY DEBATE
BECAUSE I THINK THAT ONE OF
THE THINGS THAT WE KIND OF
KEEP SAYING OVER AND OVER
AGAIN IS THAT TEXANS ARE
WORKING AS HARD AS THEY
POSSIBLY CAN.
SO THE QUESTION IS WHAT ARE
THE OPPORTUNITIES AVAILABLE
FOR THEM TO EARN MORE,
RIGHT, SO THEY CAN AT LEAST
MAKE IT AND BEGIN TO GET
AHEAD.
AND SO I DON'T THINK THAT WE
NEED TO -- IT IS REALLY KIND
OF A SOCIETAL AND KIND OF
GLOBAL PROBLEM THAT WE NEED
TO TALK ABOUT IN TERMS OF
ENABLING THOSE OPPORTUNITIES
FOR PEOPLE TO MAKE IT AND
GET AHEAD BECAUSE I THINK
PEOPLE ARE MAKING IT AS HARD
AS -- AS HARD AS THEY CAN.
>> ALL THROW SOME NUMBERS
BEHIND THAT.
WE KNOW THAT FOR FAMILIES
THAT ARE LIVING IN LOW
INCOME FAMILIES, 80%, NEARLY
80% OF THOSE FAMILIES ARE
WORKING FULL TIME AND
YEAR-ROUND.
>> AND HOW MANY ARE WORKING
TWO JOBS?
DO YOU HAVE STATISTICS ON
THAT?
>> DON'T HAVE STATISTICS ON
THAT, NO, BUT WE DO KNOW
THAT THEY ARE WORKING AT
LEAST ALMOST 40 WEEKS OF THE
YEAR AT MINIMUM AND THAT
THEY'RE WORKING FULL TIME.
AND I THINK THAT DISPELS A
LOT OF THE ASSUMPTIONS THAT
PEOPLE LIVING IN A LOW
INCOME FAMILY AREN'T WORK
AND THAT REINFORCES WHAT DON
WAS SAYING THAT TEXANS ARE
HARD WORKERS AND WE HAVE THE
HIGHEST RATES OF WORK IN THE
COUNTRY.
>> SO FOR THOSE FAMILIES --
LET'S FOCUS ON THAT.
FOR THOSE FAMILIES WHO ARE
WORKING, BUT ARE NOT GETTING
AHEAD IS THE WAY THAT I
WOULD PUT IT, WHAT ARE
POLICIES THAT YOU WOULD LIKE
TO SEE PUT IN PLACE BY THE
STATE OF TEXAS?
WHAT ARE SOME PUBLIC
POLICIES THAT YOU THINK
WOULD HELP, SOME AREAS IN
THE BUDGET THAT YOU THINK
WOULD HELP?
>> WELL, I THINK THAT WE
NEED TO GET SERIOUS ABOUT A
COUPLE OF THINGS.
I THINK CERTAINLY ONE OF THE
THINGS THAT PEOPLE TALK A
LOT ABOUT IS THIS
EDUCATIONAL PIPELINE.
SO FROM PRE-K ALL THE WAY IN
TO POST-SECONDARY, PEOPLE
CALL IT A VERY LEAKY
PIPELINE.
AND WE'RE NOT ALONE IN THAT
RESPECT, RIGHT?
AND SO WITHOUT GETTING INTO
A LOT OF GRANULAR WONKY
DETAIL ABOUT WHAT NEEDS TO
HAPPEN, I THINK AT THE END
OF THE DAY I THINK TEXAS HAS
BEEN GOOD IN SOME RESPECTS
ABOUT SETTING CLEAR GOALS
ABOUT WHAT WE WANT TO SEE
AROUND NOT ONLY ACCESS, BUT
ALSO SUCCESS.
>> TEXAS HAS AN EDUCATION.
>> SO I THINK WE'VE BEEN
OKAY ABOUT GETTING PEOPLE
IN.
I THINK OUR BIG CHALLENGE
HAS BEEN GETTING PEOPLE
THROUGH NOT ONLY THROUGH,
BUT THROUGH QUICKER.
SO I THINK THAT THERE ARE A
RANGE OF THINGS.
AND A LOT OF THIS HAS TO DO,
I THINK, WITH THE FINANCIAL
SITUATIONS THAT STUDENTS,
PARTICULARLY ADULT STUDENTS,
AND I WOULD SAY ALL
STUDENTS, FIND THEMSELVES IN
TERMS OF THE BURDEN OF
PAYING FOR POST-SECONDARY.
SO I WOULD SAY SPECIFICALLY
FINANCIAL GRANT AID, RIGHT,
IS A VERY IMPORTANT
COMPONENT OF HELPING PEOPLE
MOVE UP THE ECONOMIC LADDER.
BECAUSE WHAT WE SEE TINSLEY
IS THIS INCREASED RELIANCE
ON STUDENT LOANS.
SO AS A STATE WE NEED TO BE
REALLY SERIOUS ABOUT
REDUCING STUDENT LOAN
DEPENDENCE AND DEFAULTS
BECAUSE IF THIS TREND LINE
CONTINUES, WE'RE NOT GOING
TO SEE THIS GREAT RETURN ON
INVESTMENT FOR
POST-SECONDARY EDUCATION
THAT WE ALL BELIEVE IS
THERE.
>> BECAUSE THEY'RE SO
INDEBTED AND WE'VE SEEN AND
READ A LOT LATELY ABOUT THIS
RATHER ALARMING INCREASE IN
STUDENT DEBT AS FAR AS GOING
TO COLLEGE.
AND ALSO YOU MENTIONED THE
AMOUNT OF TIME IT TAKES TO
GRADUATE.
YOU KNOW, I THINK THIS IDEA
THAT PEOPLE JUST START
COLLEGE AND FOUR YEARS LATER
THEY MAGICALLY EXIT, IF YOU
LOOK AT THE STATE OF TEXAS
AND YOU LOOK AT PERFORMANCE
MEASURES, ONE OF THE
MEASURES THAT'S LOOKED AT IN
THE BUDGET IS NOT HOW LONG
IT TAKES TO -- HOW MANY ARE
GETTING THEIR BA'S IN FOUR
YEARS, BUT IN SIX YEARS.
AND I ASSUME THAT REFLECTS
HOW MANY ARE WORKING.
>> AND WE HAVE A MUCH --
THIS IS NOT 1983 ANYMORE.
SO WE HAVE A MUCH DIFFERENT
STUDENT POPULATION THAN WE
DID 30 YEARS AGO.
SO THEY'RE MUCH MORE LIKELY
TO BE WORKING PART TIME,
EVEN FULL TIME, MUCH MORE
LIKELY TO BE ADULTS.
MUCH MORE LIKELY TO HAVE
KIDS, RIGHT?
AND SO THEY NEED A WHOLE
ROSTER OF SERVICES,
INCLUDING ACCELERATED
ACADEMIC SERVICES TO MAKE IT
THROUGH IN A DECENT PERIOD
OF TIME TO BE ABLE TO
ACTUALLY MAINTAIN?
BECAUSE WHAT WE SEE IS THE
FINANCIAL ISSUES, NOT THE
AMBITION, NOT THE ASPIRATION
KEEPS PEOPLE FROM
COMPLETING.
THOSE ARE -- THAT'S THE DATA
THAT REALLY KIND OF COMES
OUT.
>> AND I'VE SEEN SOME DATA
TOO WITH COMMUNITY COLLEGES
THAT DO SO MUCH TO HELP
STUDENTS, BUT THAT THERE ARE
SO MANY STUDENTS WHO START
AT A COMMUNITY COLLEGE AND
WILL TAKE A COURSE AND STOP
AND START, AND NEVER GET
THAT ASSOCIATE'S DEGREE.
CAN YOU TELL US SOME ABOUT
WHAT'S GOING ON THERE?
>> WELL, ONCE AGAIN, THERE
ARE THESE FINANCIAL ISSUES.
LIFE HAPPENS, RIGHT?
AND SO WHAT SUCCESSFUL
COMMUNITY COLLEGES AROUND
THE COUNTRY HAVE DONE, AND I
THINK THERE'S SEVERAL IN
TEXAS THAT HAVE DONE THE
SAME THING, IS REALIZE THAT
THEY NEED TO TAKE THE SAME
TYPE OF APPROACH, RIGOROUS
APPROACH TO ACADEMIC
PREPARATION THAT THEY DO FOR
FINANCIAL STABILITY.
AND SO WHAT YOU'RE STARTING
TO SEE IS AN INCREASED
ATTENTION PAID TO KIND OF
THE NON-ACADEMIC ISSUES THAT
KEEP STUDENTS FROM
COMPLETING OR SUCCEEDING.
>> AND I BELIEVE THAT YOU
AND YOUR WIFE HAVE NOW
RETURNED TO YOUR COLLEGE
STUDIES.
IS THAT TRUE?
AND TELL US HOW DIFFICULT IS
THAT FOR YOU?
WHAT IS THE PATH?
>> WELL, I STARTED -- MY
WIFE IS -- SHE'S GOING TO BE
GOING TO SCHOOL IN THE
COMING SPRING.
SO THE SITUATION THAT WE
WERE IN, LOOKING AHEAD, SHE
WASN'T GOING TO BE ABLE TO
GO TO COLLEGE OR FINISH
COLLEGE.
SHE'S ABOUT 30 CREDIT HOURS
AWAY FROM HER BACHELOR'S.
>> SO SHE REALLY DOESN'T
HAVE THAT MUCH TO GO.
>> EXACTLY.
>> I STARTED SOME ONLINE
COURSES JUST HOPING THAT
THROUGH THIS SITUATION THAT
WE WOULD BE ABLE TO GET
AHEAD WITH A BACHELOR'S
DEGREE.
LUCKILY THE GI BILL WAS VERY
HELPFUL AS FAR AS FUNDING
THAT AND ALLOWING ME TO TAKE
SOME ONLINE COURSES.
IT'S BEEN A CHALLENGE GOING
TO SCHOOL WITH ALL OF THE
THINGS THAT HAVE BEEN GOING
ON IN OUR LIFE OVER THE PAST
YEAR.
BUT --
>> UNDERSTANDABLY, YES.
>> BUT WE'VE BEEN -- WE'VE
BEEN COMPLETING IT A COURSE
AT A TIME, VERY SLOWLY.
BUT WE'RE TRYING TO GET IT
DONE.
>> AND YOU'RE TRYING TO DO
THIS WHILE YOU'RE WORKING,
RIGHT?
>> YES.
>> SO WHAT DOES A WEEK LOOK
LIKE WHEN YOU TAKE THAT INTO
ACCOUNT WITH THE NUMBER OF
HOURS YOU'RE WORKING PLUS
STUDIES, PLUS YOUR WIFE IS
STARTING THIS SPRING WITH
HER ACADEMICS.
>> WELL, WHAT LIFE WAS
LOOKING LIKE UP UNTIL
OCTOBER, OUR SON DID PASS
AWAY, BUT IT WOULD CONSIST
OF ME GOING TO WORK, GETTING
OFF AT 4:30, GOING TO THE
HOSPITAL, MAYBE COMING HOME
AROUND MIDNIGHT, GETTING AS
MUCH OF MY COURSE WORK IN AS
POSSIBLE, GOING -- AND THEN
JUST REPEATING THE SAME
THING THE NEXT DAY.
YOU KNOW, FOR MY WIFE IT WAS
JUST 24 HOURS AT THE
HOSPITAL FOR THE MOST PART.
AND SO --
>> AND OF COURSE THIS IS A
SITUATION THAT I THINK
PEOPLE JUST DON'T STOP TO
THINK ABOUT.
THAT YOU HAVE TO PUT
EVERYTHING ON HOLD.
YOU WANT TO PURSUE COLLEGE.
YOU WANT TO BE ABLE TO MOVE
AHEAD IN YOUR JOB.
AND THEN YOU HAVE THIS
SITUATION THAT YOU DID NOT
EXPECT.
>> I THINK YOUR ADDITIONAL
QUESTION WAS WHAT CAN
FAMILIES DO THAT ARE
STRUGGLING PAYCHECK TO
PAYCHECK.
>> ABSOLUTELY.
>> AND YOU'RE A ROLE MODEL
AND OTHER FAMILIES IN THE
DOCUMENTARY ARE.
>> CERTAINLY.
>> THEY FIRST OF ALL, THEY
TAPPED INTO THE PERSEVERANCE
RESERVOIR AND CHARACTER AND
IT WAS FOR THEIR KIDS, THERE
WAS A SENSE OF PRIDE.
ALL THE FAMILIES IN THE
DOCUMENTARY WERE HONEST.
THEY SHARED THEIR STORY --
>> AND THEIR STRUGGLES.
>> AND THEIR STRUGGLES.
AND THEY WERE WILLING TO
REACH OUT FOR HELP.
THEY FIGURED OUT IT WAS
EMPLOYMENT, IT WAS
EDUCATION, IT WAS, YOU KNOW,
GETTING ON -- LOOKING
HOLISTICALLY AT THEIR
SITUATION AND THEN
ADDRESSING ISSUES.
I THINK THE REAL QUESTION IS
NOT JUST WHAT CAN THOSE --
WHAT CAN FAMILIES DO IN
THOSE CIRCUMSTANCES, WHAT
ARE WE GOING TO DO AS A
COMMUNITY, AS TEXANS TO
CREATE THE KIND OF PROGRAMS
THAT WILL GIVE PEOPLE A HAND
OUT, NOT JUST A HAND DOWN,
NOT JUST A FOOD PANTRY OR
THE EMERGENCY HELP, THOSE
ARE REALLY IMPORTANT, BUT
MORE HOLISTICALLY.
>> WELL, YES.
AND YOU SPOKE ABOUT THE
HOLIDAYS.
AND IT'S THE WONDERFUL
GIVING SPIRIT OF THE
HOLIDAYS, BUT YOU HAVE TO
KEEP IN MIND THAT PEOPLE
NEED TO EAT EVERYDAY.
SO WHAT ARE THE PROGRAMS
THAT WE'RE LACKING NOW THAT
CAN BE OF ASSISTANCE?
>> WELL, I THINK, YOU KNOW,
RICHARD SAID IT BEAUTIFULLY
IN THE DOCUMENTARY WHERE YOU
SAID WE NEED TO THINK ABOUT
FACT THAT THESE PROGRAMS,
THESE SUPPORTS ARE FOR
PEOPLE AND THEY'RE FOR
FAMILIES.
AND I THINK A LOT OF TIME
IT'S REALLY EASY,
PARTICULARLY WHEN YOU'RE
TALKING ABOUT THERE BEING
4.4 MILLION PEOPLE IN
POVERTY, THE KIDS IN POVERTY
IT BECOMES THE BIG NUMBERS
AND BECOMES OVERWHELMING.
SO WHEN WE'RE STARTING TO
TALK ABOUT FUNDING PROGRAMS,
LIKE MAKING SURE THAT WE
MAINTAIN FOOD CHOICE AND OUR
SNAP BENEFITS, OUR FOOD
STAMP PROGRAM, THAT WE FILL
THE HOLES THAT WE CREATED IN
OUR PUBLIC EDUCATION SYSTEM,
FILL THAT BACK UP AND
REINVEST FOR THE FUTURE EVEN
MORE BEYOND THAT HOLE WE
CREATED.
THAT MAKING SURE THAT WE
REINVEST BACK INTO COMMUNITY
COLLEGES BECAUSE WE
DISINVESTED IN THE COMMUNITY
COLLEGES QUITE A BIT AND
THAT COST IS JUST GOING TO
BE BORNE BY THE STUDENTS,
WHICH THEN CREATES
ADDITIONAL BURDENS FOR THEM
AND BARRIERS, FRANKLY.
AND SO WHAT WE NEED TO THINK
ABOUT AS A SOCIETY IS HOW DO
WE BRING DOWN THOSE BARRIERS
RATHER THAN BUILDING THEM UP
TO HELP FAMILIES MOVE
FORWARD?
CLEARLY EVERY FAMILY WANTS
TO MOVE FORWARD.
>> SO IT SEEMS THAT WE HAVE
COME FULL CIRCLE AND BACK TO
INVESTMENT.
>> IT IS.
>> AND UNFORTUNATELY WE ARE
OUT OF TIME FOR OUR VERY
IMPORTANT DISCUSSION
TONIGHT.
THANK YOU TO OUR GUESTS, OUR
AUDIENCE AND TO THOSE OF YOU
WATCHING.
THIS IS A CONVERSATION THAT
MUST NOT END WITH THIS
BROADCAST.
PLEASE VISIT THE KLRU
WEBSITE AT KLRU.ORG/CIVIC
SUMMIT.
ALSO WATCH THE FILM "A
FIGHTING CHANCE."
SHARE IT AND CONTINUE THE
CONVERSATION WITH FAMILY,
FRIENDS AND NEIGHBORS.
YOU CAN ALSO VISIT
FORABETTERTEXAS.ORG TO
COMMIT TO SHARING THIS
MESSAGE.
TOGETHER WE CAN HELP ALL
TEXANS, NOT JUST SURVIVE,
BUT TO THRIVE.
FOR KLRU, THE CENTER FOR
PUBLIC POLICY PRIORITIES AND
MYSELF, THANK YOU.
[APPLAUSE]
>> THIS PRODUCTION HAS BEEN
MADE POSSIBLE BY CITY
FOUNDATION AS PART OF ITS
SUPPORT OF NEED TO KNOW ON
PBS.
PRODUCED BY WNET IN NEW
YORK.
FIND OUT MORE ONLINE AT
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