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Show MEETING BASIC Htw..AN NEEDS Is everyone who is eligible for food stamps receiving them? Wher~ do the homt:less spend the night? How much rt:;d tape is involved in obtaining emerge:ncy assistance? \..'here could you turu for assistr..nce if faced with sudden unemployment, large medical bills and uo health insurance? These are just a few of the many questions posed by the League's Meeting Basic Human Needs (MBHN) study. The League is not a newcomer to these issues. In 1971 the national League adopted its current position on income C4Ssistance, \.:hich over ~he years has been the basis of advocacy efforts on a wide range of critj_cal issues for low-income people, iucluding federal standards for income assistance programs, child care for low-income familicE, employment and training programs and mtdicaid funding for abortions for poor women. League members can continue to address Social Policy concerr1s te...hile the study is undtrway, using existing LHVUS, state c,r local positions. Delegates to the League's 1986 national convention had the foresight to realize that welfare reform is once again looming large on the nation's domestic policy agenda and adopted the MBHN 8tudy as a means of positioning the League tc address the critical issues that will be raised in the upcoming p0licy debates. The study will focus on meeting four basic human needs in the United States: food, shelter, a basic income level and access to health care. The study will addresB the following: * What skills and resources must individuals have to provj_de for these basic needs? wbo requires assistance? * What resources are currentl} available to them? * What are roles of each levt1 of government and ·che i,rivate sector and what should they be? * What are the merits ancl/or drawbacks of proposals for cha.r..ge? Th~ MBHN study is taking an innovativ~ approach for a national League study. During the first year, stat~ and local Leagues will be developinE, profiles of tht:ir state er community designed to provide Leagues with information about unmet needs. In addition, the profil£s will provide League members with an opportunity to discuss suggestions for improving the delivery of social services with elected officials, progra~ administrators and caseworkers. Th~ material gethered for the completi0n of the profiles will Pe sent to the national League offic~, where it will be analyzed and a report |
