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Linking up the struggles!
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Our MissionWelcome to the NWRU web site! The National Welfare Rights Union is an organization of, by, and for the poor in the United States and beyond. We are building a social movement committed to ending poverty and ensuring a better world for our children and ourselves. We are dedicated to unity among low-income, public assistance recipients, and the unemployed.
NWRU Board Drafts 8 Position Points to Dismantle Poverty in the U.S.August 2008 America’s poor and disenfranchised are languishing in the misery of rising poverty, a circumstance mostly ignored across the country. A nation that does not have a concrete plan for the elimination of poverty is a country that is prepared to tolerate poverty, and is doomed to failure.
The "National Welfare Rights Union's Eight Position Points to Dismantle Poverty in the U.S." were drafted, discussed, and unanimously voted upon at our recent retreat-conference. As the recognized representatives that speak for the victims of poverty, the NWRU respectfully submits them to the Presidential Candidates as the foundation on which to start addressing poverty in the U.S. The National Welfare Rights Union also believes that “8 is enough.” From the Co-President's Desk...by Marian Kramer, Detroit, MI October 2008
"There are many online posts these days about the
relationship between the Association of Community
Organizations for Reform Now (ACORN) and the National Welfare Rights
Organization (NWRO). Many social commentators on the Internet have correctly
identified the former George Wiley as an
instrumental organizer in the origin of both groups. However, ACORN (originally
founded as the Arkansas Community Organizations
for Reform Now) and the NWRO had significant differences in their leadership and
organizing models.
April 2008 In Michigan, Governor Jennifer Granholm recently proposed in her 2008-2009 State Budget a $3.00 per person increase in the FIP (welfare assistance) grant. She also proposed restoring the child school clothing allowance back to $75.00 per child. FIP recipients only receive this clothing allowance once each September. The clothing allowance was reduced last year to $43.00 per child. Both proposals, if passed, are scheduled to go in effect in October 2008. Read more.
What We're DoingWater Affordability in Michigan: Marian Kramer wins Purpose Prize award for her work in implementing a water affordability plan to prevent shut-offs in Detroit.
(click image to view video)
Welfare Reform
Across the country, thousands of poor and low-income people are suffering from
the effects of
reform legislation. The implementation of the 1996 Personal Responsibility
and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act ended the entitlement to welfare
that had in been in place for over 65 years. Residents of the U.S. are no longer
If this country truly wants to respond to the
needs of its impoverished it must listen to the impoverished who currently
suffer under the existing inhumane systems, and who best know
Photos courtesy of Kensington Welfare Rights Union |
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