Responding to the COVID-19 Crisis
 Now more than ever, Hoosiers need policies that support financial stability. Throughout this crisis, the Institute for Working Families will continue working with partners to advance policy solutions that prioritize working families' health, basic needs, and financial well-being.
As a member of the Indiana Coalition for Human Services, IIWF was eager to participate in the development of a coordinated, member-driven call for a strong policy response. Read the Indiana Coalition for Human Services policy recommendations and all of the Institute's COVID-19 related policy recommendations.
MARCH 2020 | Read the blog
Download the PDF: ICHS Indiana COVID-19 Policy Recommendations
Related Resources
 Let's Celebrate & Expand Families First Paid Leave
Congress took a historic step forward in passing a paid leave law. Unfortunately, loopholes left out millions of workers and the paid leave standard is temporary. Still, we celebrate this milestone and call on our policymakers to continue moving forward on paid leave.
MAY 2020 | Read the blog
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 The CFPB Complaint Database Can Help Protect Hoosier Consumers
As the economic fallout from COVID-19 mounts, consumer complaints can play an important role in point to areas of economic distress. Between March 15th of 2020 and April 15th of 2020, Hoosiers filed approximately 200 complaints with the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. Narratives suggest that not all creditors and collectors are working with distressed consumers, and credit reporting continues to be a source of headaches for many consumers.
MAY 2020 | Read the blog
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 Use Interim Study to Build a Better Indiana: Our Topic Recommendations
Now more than ever, Hoosiers understand the consequences of financial instability and the need for thoughtful policy approaches that create a sturdier base of support on which to build our economic lives. As our legislators consider interim study topics, we need them to prioritize policymaking that rebuilds Indiana’s foundation stronger and better. To that end, we recommended the following strategies and topics for assignment to interim committees:
APRIL 2020 | Read the blog
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 COVID-19's Impact on Access to Justice
Even before the COVID-19 crisis, legal aid providers struggled to meet the needs of low-income Hoosiers seeking access to justice in areas like consumer and finance, rental housing, and family issues. Without more robust support for legal aid, more Hoosiers will go unrepresented - and likely fare worse - in complex civil matters.
APRIL 2020 | Read the blog |Download a List of Indiana Legal Aid Providers
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 CARES Act Payments Should be Used to Meet Hoosiers' Needs, Not Debt Collectors'
Soon, Hoosiers will begin receiving stimulus payments via direct deposit. Without intervention, there is a risk some Hoosiers could see those payments frozen by debt collectors or other creditors. The Institute has joined partners to urge state-level action to protect stimulus payments and ensure that Hoosiers can use them to meet their basic needs.
APRIL 2020 | Read the blog
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 Child Care is an Essential Business: Indiana Can & Should Invest More
The recent executive order designating certain businesses "essential" draws attention to the fact that child care is the backbone of Indiana's economy. Yet workers receive inadequate pay and benefits while families strain under the burden of cost. A well-functioning early care and education system requires significant investment from the state - now, and for our future.
APRIL 2020 | Read the blog
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 Our Take on TANF COVID Options: Send Cash to Hardest-Hit Families
The Temporary Assistance for Needy Families Program allows for non-recurrent, short-term benefits. Given the challenges facing families who were already financially vulnerable before the COVID crisis, the Institute recommends sending cash payments to all SNAP households with children.
APRIL 2020 | Read the blog
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 The Time for Work Sharing is Long Overdue
The Institute has long advocated for a work sharing program in Indiana, but state lawmakers did not "fix the roof while the sun was shining." Luckily, the CARES Act creates another opportunity to enact a work sharing program to help Hoosier workers, businesses, and the economy weather the current storm.
MARCH 2020 | Read the blog
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 Open Letter: Hoosiers Need Paid Sick Days - Now and For Our Future
The current crisis is drawing our failure to provide basic minimum paid leave requirements into sharp relief.
MARCH 2020 | Read the blog
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