Millions of Americans are going to be left fearing for their families, worrying about food, healthcare, and safety,  as a result of the Big Ugly Bill. 

As President & CEO of GLIDE, this makes me want to scream! This bill is an assault on poor people and shamelessly un-American. It reinforces my long-held belief that our strength is measured by how we care for those who are most in need.

We won’t stop advocating for those who are most in need– we’ll just need to advocate harder. And to do that, we’ll need your help. Will you sign up to be one of our Social Justice Warriors? You’ll get emails about participating in protests, phone banks, letters, public meetings, and all the other ways GLIDE’s Center for Social Justice works to influence our lawmakers– we’d love to have your help.

Join Our Social Justice Warriors Today 

In case you’re wondering how serious this situation is right now, here are some numbers– which speak for themselves. According to the Budget Lab at Yale, the poor get poorer and the rich get richer because of this ugly bill: 

• Robbing the poor to give to the rich: The bottom 40% of income earners in this country will see their after-tax income fall– while the top 0.1% gain an extra $118,000/year. At GLIDE, clients who have a job make an average of about $17,000/year and the median income across all clients at GLIDE (employed or not) is less than $7,000/year. This means GLIDE clients will disproportionately suffer because of this bill.
• 17 million people are likely to  lose access to their health insurance.
• 3.2 million people face losing their SNAP/food stamp benefits, and all 40 million who use food assistance will likely face some kind of reduction.

This bill highlights the troubling consequences of historical income inequality and an increasingly fragile safety net. As the City and State brace for dramatic cuts to healthcare and food security, at  GLIDE we will feel it right away. These statistics translate into life-threatening consequences for real people, resulting in longer lines for free meals and increased pressure on our already strained rental assistance budget.

A budget is a statement of values. This bill reveals a disturbing set of values that treats poor people as collateral damage for the political gain of the powerful. We will not stand for this at GLIDE. We will get louder in the face of this oppression and we will keep fighting back.

We need you in  this struggle. The time for strength, solidarity, and unconditional love is now!  Will you join us?

Dr. Gina Fromer
President & CEO, GLIDE