State-Of-Black-Oregon-2015

POLICY ACTIONSStrengthening financial security for Black Oregoniansis dependent on ending student and consumer debt,increasing home ownership and access to business capitaland mandating affordable childcare and retirement security.POLICY PRIORITIES:1Ensure affordable childcare for allOregonians. Resources invested• Down payment assistance andhomeownership support targeted toin employment, housing and adultpriority households and communitieseducation should reach all families in• Targeted business developmentevery community.services and resources2Invest in public and private sectorinitiatives that encourage Blackcommunity financial literacy, savingsand investments, and provide a range4• Expanded and fully-enforced publicbenefits agreementsUpdate poverty measurement toconsider housing, utilities, childcare,of public options to enable saving andtransportation, healthcare, householdretirement security, including:goods, emergency and retirement• Children’s Savings Accountssavings, student debt, public assistance• Individual Development Accountsand taxes(IDAs)• Consumer-oriented credit-buildingtools5Remove barriers to financialadvancement, including asset limits for• Employment match programspublic programs and “benefit cliffs” that• Modernized retirement savings vehiclespenalize increased income3Do more to encourage Black wealthcreation—from homeownership tobusiness development—through socialenterprise and collaborative businessendeavors, by providing:128