Statewide Day of Action for Oregon Refugees and Racial Equity
Monday February 20th, 2012

Restore Proposed 48% Cut to TANF Refugee Services

• Restore the $450,000 (48%) cut to TANF Refugee Services in the proposed in the state budget rebalance plan.
• Refugee Services including job training help our economy and increase self-sufficiency.  TANF Refugee Services have successful programs that reduce long-term TANF costs and transition newcomers to early employment.  
• Fund TANF Refugee Services to increase opportunity and advance racial equity.  TANF Refugee Services help newcomers overcome language and cultural barriers to employment.  They have a successful track record with 21% of newcomers placed in unsubsidized jobs within 12 months, and 58% within 24 months.

Call-in Day this Monday February 20th
Help us generate 100 calls to the Ways & Means Co-Chairs to tell them to please Restore the Cuts to TANF Refugee Services for Employment

Rep. Dennis Richardson 503-986-1404
Sen. Alan Bates 503-986-1703
Rep. Peter Buckley 503-986-1405
AND sign our online petition anytime through Monday February 20th.

The Oregon State Budget Rebalance Plan proposes a 48% cut ($450,000) to TANF Refugee Services including employment training.  These cuts will hurt our economy, driving more people into unemployment and poverty.  The proposed cuts will eliminate services for hundreds of refugees from job training programs in the next year, impacting newcomers to our community who strive for economic self-sufficiency.

The TANF Refugee Services improve racial equity for all Oregonians by providing culturally competent job training for refugee communities of color who face serious inequities in employment.  These services are an integrated model for achieving early employment for newcomers who are resettling and facing significant language and cultural barriers.

Oregon has a long history of providing cost-efficient services for refugee families through an nationally recognized program established in 1984.  Over the past 28 years, this innovative public-private partnership has reduced the cost of refugee resettlement, put newly arrived refugees rapidly to work, and transitioned clients to self-sufficiency.  This increases Oregon’s state income tax through employed workers, and reduces TANF enrollment and government costs.

TANF Refugee Services provide linguistically and culturally appropriate services that help refugee TANF recipients obtain employment or participate in workforce development activities.  Those who meet the income and categorical requirements of Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) are provided with employment training and placement, and English language training in order to achieve economic self-sufficiency.

Restore the $450,000 (48%) cut to TANF Refugee Services in the proposed in the state budget rebalance plan.