Cash Support via Tax Credits

Families with low incomes need simple, no-strings-attached cash support. Tax credits are a proven way of providing families with these additional resources: when the Child Tax Credit was temporarily expanded in 2021, child poverty was cut nearly in half.

OUR ASK: Greater investment in poverty alleviation tools like the Child Tax Credit

American Families Act*

Sponsors: Reps. DeLauro, DelBene, and Torres
Coalition: ABC Coalition

• Creates a permanent expansion of the Child Tax Credit (CTC)
• EMPath also supports reinstating CTC eligibility for the 1 million immigrant children with Individual Tax Identification Numbers (ITINs)

* Indicates bill was filed last session and is expected to be re-filed this session

High-Quality, Accessible Child Care

High-quality child care is critical to children’s development, parents’ ability to work, and the economy as a whole. Yet access to child care continues to be a major barrier to families’ financial stability, impacting their ability to build a better life for their children.

OUR ASK: Comprehensive solutions that improve the cost and quality of child care; higher pay and other investments for providers and early educators, nearly half of whom are people of color

Child Care for Every Community Act (S388 / HR953)

Sponsors: Sen. Warren, Rep. Sherrill

Child Care for Working Families Act (S1354 / HR2976)

Sponsors: Sen. Murray, Rep. Scott

Child Care is Infrastructure Act*

Sponsor: Rep. Clark

Coalition: National Women's Law Center

• Allow families making less than 75% of their state median income to access child care at no cost
• Families above that threshold would pay no more than 7% of their incomes
• Increase the critical Child Care and Development Block Grant, which allows states to improve affordability, bolster support for providers, and increase pay for teachers

* Indicates bill was filed last session and is expected to be re-filed this session

Housing Support

Stable housing is critical to moving out of poverty. Yet the U.S. is facing a housing crisis, with rents soaring far above what many can afford and only 36 homes available for every 100 extremely low-income renter households. EMPath urges increased affordable housing and  homelessness resources as well as racially equitable policies

Housing Vouchers and Mentoring

OUR ASK: Creation of new housing vouchers, paired with holistic mentoring services

Family Stability and Opportunity Vouchers Act (S1257 / HR3776)

Sponsors: Sens. Van Hollen and Young
Coalition: National Low Income Housing Coalition

• Creates 250,000 new housing vouchers targeted to low-income families with young children
• These vouchers would be paired with holistic, participant-centered mentoring services – like those that EMPath provides – so that families have support not only to access housing, but to achieve goals across all areas of their life
• At EMPath, we know from years of providing coaching services that families often desire support in leveraging resources and working toward long-term goals

Rental Assistance

OUR ASK: Creation of a permanent federal fund for emergency rental assistance

Eviction Crisis Act*

Sponsors: Sens. Bennet and Portman
Coalition: National Low Income Housing Coalition

• Rental assistance is a critical tool for bridging the housing gap. Yet nationally, only one in four households eligible for rental assistance actually receives it.
• This bill establishes a national housing stabilization fund to help families remain stably housed
• EMPath also supports strong renter protections

* Indicates bill was filed last session and is expected to be re-filed this session