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John Hickenlooper on Welfare & Poverty
Democratic Presidential Challenger (withdrew, Aug. 2019); CO Governor
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Make the case that we can deliver an urban agenda
Q: How do you heal the racial divide in America?HICKENLOPER: The core value behind this country is that all people are created equal. We've fallen far away from that. I think the job is to make the case that we can deliver an urban agenda. When I was
Mayor we got universal pre-K for every kid in the city. We did major police reform 10 years before Ferguson--why is it, 5 years after Ferguson, we still don't have anything? You've got to deliver a vision like that for the whole country.
Source: July Democratic Primary debate (first night in Detroit)
, Jul 30, 2019
Double the EITC (Earned Income Tax Credit)
Hickenlooper on Tax Credits: Expand the EITC.FOUR CANDIDATES HAVE SIMILAR VIEWS: Cory Booker; John Delaney; Kamala Harris; Amy Klobuchar.
Harris is calling for a massive expansion of the EITC, including nearly doubling the income
cutoff for eligibility. Hickenlooper and Delaney want to double the EITC. Delaney also wants to make it available to people without children. Booker would increase EITC income eligibility level from $54k to $90k, boost the credit for childless workers.
Source: Politico "2020Dems on the Issues"
, Jul 17, 2019
Use marijuana tax revenue to address chronic homelessness
Almost two thirds of Americans now live in a state that has legalized marijuana in some form. We need to address some of the unintended consequences of legalization. There's no question that marijuana and other drugs--in combination with
mental illness or other disabling conditions--are essential contributors to chronic homelessness. Tax revenue from marijuana sales can and should be used to help those who fall through the cracks, including
hundreds of homeless vets, helping them find stable, supportive housing.We currently spend more than $40,000 per person to perpetuate lives of misery among the chronically homeless.
But for less than a third of that we could invest up front in housing, wraparound supportive services and job training. In every booming economy in the country--like ours--homelessness of all types is a growing concern.
Source: 2017 State of the State address to Colorado Legislature
, Jan 12, 2017
More affordable housing via construction defects legislation
Coloradans are being priced out of housing they can afford. We have a housing crisis, plain and simple. Many families are stuck or held down. Too much of their income goes to rent, and homeownership is too far out of reach.Too many people and
not enough units adds up to unaffordable rents and skyrocketing home prices. I've said it before: we need more affordable housing. Part of the answer is the construction defects legislation we almost passed last year and we WILL pass this year.
Source: 2017 State of the State address to Colorado Legislature
, Jan 12, 2017
Involve businesses and faith org's to address homelessness
[In 2005 we initiated a program on homelessness that] we called "Denver's Road Home." We aligned the self-interests of restaurant, hotel, and other downtown retail operators, long frustrated by panhandlers hurting their businesses, alongside faith-
based and social welfare organizations. Part of this alignment of self-interests was possible because [we] made sure there were clear goals, and metrics to track our success. Sadly, the city had too often treated the indigent like criminals; our
homeless citizens were arrested and imprisoned. That is incredibly expensive and solves nothing. The only way to come close to meaningful and enduring remedies was to provide our city's homeless not only with shelter, but also with wraparound services
such as medical attention, counseling, and, where necessary, medications for addiction, and always job training. These individuals were almost always emotionally fragile, and desperately needed the structure and social support of a consistent workplace.
Source: The Opposite of Woe, by John Hickenlooper, p.258-9
, May 24, 2016
Denver's Road Home: wraparound services for homeless
[In 2005] the U.S. Interagency on Homelessness would control all of the different federal sources of funding being used against homelessness, whether from HUD or the Veterans Administration or Health and Human Services or wherever , and for the
first time integrate them and award funding to cities based on results-based outcomes. What a concept! We were one of the first cities to commit to a ten year plan to end homelessness. We called it "Denver's Road Home."
Source: The Opposite of Woe, by John Hickenlooper, p.258
, May 24, 2016
One Congregation-One Family: churches mentor homeless
One Congregation-One Family: churches mentor homeless
Addressing our most serious challenges requires partnerships with our faith and non-profit communities. One Congregation-One Family is an example of a project with proven success in housing families and seniors who are homeless.
One Congregation-One Family: churches mentor homeless
We continue to work closely with religious and community partners in metro Denver to bring this successful program to Colorado Springs, Grand Junction, Fort Collins and other communities.
Source: 2013 Colorado State of the State address
, Jan 10, 2013
Page last updated: Dec 15, 2019