A campaign begins to remove sales taxes on food stamps. SALT argues that it is counter-productive for the Federal Government to give help to poor people and then have the state take it back into the general revenue coffers. Meetings are held in Richmond with legislators. Lessons are learned about the legislative process. But no significant progress is made toward repealing the taxes.

Efforts to increase levels of welfare also fall on deaf ears until SALT testifies at “NOVA Off to Richmond Hearing. Delegate Dorothy McDiarmid, Appropriations Committee Chair says she heard SALT Testimony & reports possible unexpected budget surplus. She wants surplus for welfare families increase. What she wants, she gets—a15% increase; the first in 15 years.

SALT learns that it needs to get more strategic, limit its agenda, and focus its energies.

*This is the second big “win” for SALT.

SALT holds the first “Richmond Wrap-Up” to bring advocates together with legislators and to shine a light on State inaction on sales tax removal issue; the need for SALT to turn to Federal level to achieve success; & to determine what needs to be done next.

A State Senator suggests that perhaps SALT could get involved to help expand a pilot program for the homeless called the “Homeless Intervention Project” (HIP). The Senator says that it’s a good program, but there hasn’t been much public support. He says that if SALT can generate a show of support, he will sponsor legislation to increase funding.

In 1988, SALT develops campaign and generates 2,200 “Home for the Holidays” greeting cards from hundreds of individuals to legislators to highlight concern about the plight of homeless people. The green holiday cards, solicited at congregations, become a signature program funded at $5.3 million annually. Over time, dozens of congregations join the effort resulting in thousands of cards being sent every year. They are received prior to Holidays; just before the legislative session. They are important both as a tool for outreach to new churches, and as a way to show legislators that support for SALT’s proposals is broad and deep.

SALT develops a partnership with the Virginia Coalition to End Homelessness and begins work on expanding HIP.

* From 1990 to 1998, gradual increases in appropriations are made, until the program is finally statewide.

SALT adopts the “Advocacy in 60-Seconds” short briefing format.;

*Fall meetings are initiated (held annually ever since) to announce the legislative agenda for the following year. Like the Spring Richmond Wrap-Up meetings, legislators are invited to attend, are thanked, are asked to comment on the proposed agenda, and generally, are treated as honored guests.

Welfare reform passes at the Federal level. “Temporary Aid for Needy Families” (TANF) replaces the prior welfare program “Aid to Families with Dependent Children” (AFDC). TANF is more flexible but SALT realizes that the support levels are far too low to help people climb out of poverty. SALT makes increases in TANF support one of its key programs.

SALT joins efforts to pass a “Virginia Earned Income Tax Credit” (VEITC) to parallel the federal program.

* After 8 years of lobbying Virginia adopts an EITC. SALT joins with others to celebrate after eight years of effort. The VA General Assembly passes the Virginia Earned Income Tax Credit (VEITC) which boosts the income of 190,000 low-income family workers.

* The General Assembly increases support for TANF recipients by 10%; the first increase since 1985.; SALT campaigns to change the rules for non-custodial parent support so that 100% of the money goes to the family (pass-through); no longer split-up to the state & federal governments.

* The lifetime-ban prohibiting families of ex-felons, for possession only, from receiving food stamps is lifted., but not for TANF.

SALT expands active operations into Loudoun and Prince William Counties;

* SALT learns that $174 million iv Virginia Federal EITC funds are unclaimed by working Virginia low-income families. SALT, gets the General Assembly, in one year, to fund a VEITC Mini-Grant program that directs the Virginia Community Action Program (VCAP) to support and expand the number of statewide coalitions to do EITC outreach. Funds received for volunteer support campaigns are very effective in helping poor people file to get benefits under federal & state EITC and to provide financial literacy classes for EITC recipients and training and support for volunteers. The number of Coalitions expand & VEITC & Federal EITC dollars claimed skyrocket under “You Earned it; So why not claim it!” & “Work Pays” initiatives.

SALT becomes an advocate for raising the State minimum wage. It joins with many other organizations calling for a “Fair Wage,” including the Virginia Organizing Project (VOP) and the Virginia Coalition to End Homelessness (VCEH). Despite strong support, the effort falls short in the General Assembly.

Federal action to raise the minimum wage is passed, over-riding the state level effort. Federal action is encouraged by advocacy in Virginia and action in many other states.

SALT wins $5 million in TANF Stimulus funding for emergency assistance to 2500 Fairfax County families during economic recession; 2005-2022 The campaign continues to get the state to change the rules (seek to lift the federal life-time ban) to increase more help for families of ex-offenders & to provide TANF increase.

SALT proposes prevails in obtaining a Work Sharing: An Employer Tool that Helps Save Jobs and Diminishes Poverty in Communities – SALT is in support of Virginia utilizing compensated work-sharing, a form of unemployment insurance--already adopted by many states--that enables businesses to avoid layoffs and keep workers on the job;

*Lobbies for & obtains a Ban on VA Prisons Shackling of Pregnant Women – SALT wins prohibition of shackling pregnant inmates in Virginia’s prisons through the regulatory process., Passed by regulations issued unanimously by the Prison Policy Board;

*Ends School Shaming meal policies/School Lunch Shaming Bill—for families that cannot afford to pay; Governor signs HB 50 passed unanimously by House & Senate;

SALT bill passes--does not allow Video Visitation to replace in-person prison family visits; Family visits must continue to be available;

Secures, in partnership with Solitary Confinement Coalition, the Data Collection and Reporting of specific information by DOC regarding use of Solitary Confinement--;

Expands TANF eligibility to include persons who are between ages 18 and 19 years of age and full-time student;

*After more than twelve years, Lifts the lifetime federal ban on Food Stamps & TANF—includes universal coverage; no matter the charge.

*Lifts the TANF Family Cap denying TANF to pregnant persons.

SALT proposes and GA passes Prison Family Video Visitation Program Budget Amendment @$250,000 lifting fees for virtual calls to family members. Because VDOC has limited visits to those incarcerated, it is critical for the incarcerated to have the capability to easily communicate with their family members and loved ones; Such programs show improved re-entry success stories.

*A Boost to Working Families via a Refundable State EITC;

*Virginia Initiative for Education and Work; exemption for post-secondary students--amended and passed as a Work Study Group;

*Correctional facilities; prohibits use of isolated confinement--amended and passed as a Work Study Group;

*Correctional facilities, state & local, fees --amended and passed as a Study Group;

*SALT achieves, with the Virginia Poverty Law Center (VPLC), another 5% TANF Benefit Increase—the seventh since 2016.