Florida Senate - 2011 (NP) SR 2052
By Senator Hill
1-02605-11 20112052__
1 Senate Resolution
2 A resolution recognizing March 24, 2011, as “Community
3 Action Day” in Florida.
4
5 WHEREAS, community action agencies were created to fight
6 the war on poverty when the Economic Opportunity Act of 1964 was
7 signed into law, and
8 WHEREAS, community action agencies comprise America’s
9 poverty-fighting network and have a 47-year history of promoting
10 economic security and self-sufficiency for low-income families,
11 children, and individuals, and
12 WHEREAS, there are 1,065 community action agencies
13 nationally, with 30 community action agencies supporting 65 of
14 Florida’s 67 counties, and
15 WHEREAS, in December 2010, the American Community Survey of
16 the United States Census Bureau reported that 14.3 percent of
17 all Americans, nearly 44 million people, were living below the
18 poverty level, that 14.9 percent of Florida’s population, about
19 2.8 million people, were living below the poverty level, and
20 that in 2009, Florida ranked 19th in the nation in the
21 percentage of its population living below the poverty level, and
22 WHEREAS, in 2010, the Bureau of Labor Statistics of the
23 United States Department of Labor reported that Florida had a 12
24 percent unemployment rate, which was higher than the national
25 average of 9 percent, and
26 WHEREAS, the Food Research and Action Center SNAP/Food
27 Stamp statistics show that in 2009 more than 1.95 million
28 Floridians received food stamps, and
29 WHEREAS, according to RealtyTrac data released in January
30 2011, Florida currently ranks third-highest in the nation in its
31 foreclosure rate, up from fourth in the nation in 2009, and
32 WHEREAS, in 2009, Florida’s community action agencies
33 provided services to 404,858 individuals and 177,425 families,
34 assisting 445 low-income individuals in completing postsecondary
35 education, assisting 2,685 low-income individuals in obtaining
36 preemployment skills, assisting 2,906 unemployed individuals in
37 obtaining employment, assisting 1,261 employed individuals in
38 increasing their employment income and benefits, and assisting
39 194 low-income persons in purchasing their own homes, and
40 WHEREAS, in 2009, through the efforts of Florida Community
41 Action, 152,652 low-income Floridians gained employment or
42 obtained support to reduce or eliminate barriers to employment;
43 17,101 low-income households in Florida achieved an increase in
44 financial assets or financial skills; child and family
45 development was improved for 167,017 Floridians of all ages;
46 57,473 low-income, vulnerable Floridians were able to maintain
47 secure, independent living situations; 33,539 low-income
48 families in Florida obtained support that reduced or eliminated
49 barriers to family stability; 282,697 low-income individuals and
50 families were provided emergency assistance; 901,821 community
51 opportunities or resources were improved or increased for
52 Florida’s low-income citizens; and communities throughout the
53 state were empowered with the mobilization of 47,513 community
54 members and low-income citizens who engaged in activities that
55 supported and promoted their own well-being and that of their
56 community, and
57 WHEREAS, the Community Services Block Grant, which is the
58 federal investment that creates the infrastructure that enables
59 community action agencies to respond locally to the problems
60 that cause poverty nationwide, faces looming cuts in the
61 proposed 2012 federal budget, yet Florida’s Community Action
62 Network remains committed to providing low-income citizens with
63 opportunities to improve their lives and their living conditions
64 through innovative and cost-efficient programs, thus ensuring
65 that all citizens are able to live in dignity, and
66 WHEREAS, in light of the fact that poverty continues to be
67 a formidable problem in our communities as a result of the
68 national economic recession, it is only fitting that the
69 community action agencies that are at the forefront of this
70 struggle be recognized and commended, NOW, THEREFORE,
71
72 Be It Resolved by the Senate of the State of Florida:
73
74 That, in recognition of the hard work, commitment, and
75 dedication of Florida’s community action agencies and their
76 invaluable contributions to the well-being of the low-income
77 citizens throughout the state, March 24, 2011, is recognized as
78 “Community Action Day” in Florida.