Poverty Action fights to ensure everyone in Washington State is able to meet basic needs and has the opportunity to prosper.

Description:
Poverty Action is a statewide network of individuals and organizations pushing for innovative policy solutions aimed at eliminating the root causes of poverty. Through involvement of people with lower incomes, Poverty Actions dispels myths, holds government accountable and promotes media coverage to forward real solutions.

History:
Poverty Action was established in 1996. In response to the federal government’s passage of “welfare reform”, 10 leaders from communities of color came together to form the Washington Welfare Reform Coalition. In November of 1996 almost 300 community leaders and organizations across the state came together to begin organizing a unified response.

In 2001, the Washington Welfare Reform Coalition officially changed its name to the Statewide Poverty Action Network to represent our expanded focus to poverty issues of statewide significance. Poverty Action uses its position as the most diverse anti-poverty coalition in the state to continue to work on state public policy—including Welfare/WorkFirst—but also connects the debate on specific policy to the larger message of economic security and equality, as well as promote policies that move families out of poverty.

In 2003, Fair Budget, a low-income advocacy organization, merged into Poverty Action bringing their rich history to our legislative and media advocacy work. Poverty Action is our state’s largest, most diverse network of people working together to end poverty.

Contact person: Marcy Bowers, Membership And Field Coordinator, (phone), (email)

Address:

1501 N 45th St Seattle, WA 98103 This location is handicap accessible (See a map)

Web Site: http://www.povertyaction.org

Directions:

Nearest Bus Stop: 44, 16, 1 minute walk

Miscellaneous Information

Liability
	Yes
Does your organization welcome court-ordered community service volunteers?
	Yes
Does your organization have volunteer positions for youth 12-18?
	Yes