Cato’s Project on Poverty and Inequality in California
The Cato Institute’s Project on Poverty and Inequality published a new report that explores the ways in which California could reform its policies to help lift people out of poverty and to empower them to fully participate in the state’s economy. The report offers 24 specific proposals for reform, addressing issues such as housing and homelessness, education and workforce, the criminal justice system, welfare and the existing social safety net, and barriers to economic participation. These reforms call for a broad reexamination of the state’s approach to fighting poverty and creating a more inclusive economy. Some recommendations include reversing efforts to criminalize homelessness; increasing emphasis on vocational and technical education; upgrading rehabilitation programs within the prison system; and expanding welfare diversion programs.