Yesterday, Neighborhood Partnerships and Oregon Thrives, in conjunction with the national Corporation for Enterprise Development (CFED) released its 2009 – 2010 Assets & Opportunity Scorecard. The Scorecard gave Oregon a “C,” and highlighted areas for improvement in Oregon. To help more Oregonians, the state could expand the refundable earned income tax credit, remove asset limits for public benefits and help to promote and preserve homeownership.
Neighborhood Partnerships, as the leader of an emerging coalition, was offered the opportunity to release Oregon’s Scorecard for 2009-2010 this year by CFED. We held both a press conference, and a forum for advocates to discuss the results of the report and possible improvements to Oregon policy to improve the lives of hard-working Oregonians.
Oregon is doing well in important business and education matters but lags behind national performance in annual pay, extreme asset poverty and health care for adults, according to a report released today by the Corporation for Enterprise Development (CFED), a national economic nonprofit. The state earned a “C” on the 2009-2010 Assets & Opportunity Scorecard, with Oregon showing room for improvement in important financial assets and income measures, as well as health care.
Advocates at the press conference called for changes to three main policy areas:
• First, an expansion of the refundable earned income credit. The state should increase the value of the Oregon credit to 18% of the federal credit.
• Second, the state should increase access to and ensure access to foreclosure prevention services, as well as safe, affordable mortgage products.
• Third, Oregon should remove asset limits for public benefits.
You can learn more here:
• Download the Press Release 9.21.2009
• Download Oregon’s scorecard for 2009-2010,
• Visit the CFED website for detailed information about each of the issue areas.
Thanks to everyone who attended the forum and the press conference – both were a huge success! We’re excited to move forward building a strong coalition to improve the lives of all Oregonians. Check back soon for more updates, and links to media coverage.