Your investment in community-based anti-poverty strategies will strengthen families and communities, grow strong economies, and make West Virginia a better place to live, work, play and learn.
Other Ways to Take Action
Community Members:
- Help build or repair houses or shelters by checking with your local public housing authority, or finding the nearest chapter of Habitat for Humanity.
- Support local businesses because approximately 90% of businesses in West Virginia have 20 or fewer employees
Elected Officials:
- Encourage tax breaks for businesses moving into the area.
- Tour local housing and homeless shelters to familiarize yourself with the need for more safe, affordable housing in your area.
- Endorse wellness checks; people who see no future have difficulty understanding the point of prevention.
- Participate in open forums with health professionals, the insured and underinsured, and insurance companies to develop strategies to address healthcare needs.
Businesses:
- Work with local workforce development and unemployment offices by giving them the descriptions of the jobs needed and the skills that are required.
- Provide housing counseling and credit repair to employees which will give them more housing options.
- Perform due diligence when looking for health care for employees. If health care costs are cut without improving the overall value of care, businesses eventually pay a price in terms of employee absenteeism and chronic ailments.
- Support access to quality childcare services and create a family-friendly work culture.
Community Service Agencies:
- Work with community colleges and vocational programs to keep their course offerings current for the job market.
- Keep an up to date list of landlords who take care of their properties.
- Educate others as to the scarcity of decent, affordable housing.
- Provide information about Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) and other health care resources that are available for low income families.
- Educate consumers in job search techniques, and be aware of the negative effects of living without work.
- Be aware of the resources in your community that will assist families who are homeless, facing foreclosure or living in substandard housing.
- Encourage clients to get good nutrition, regular exercise and proper rest.