Poverty Proposal

I propose to establish a database of qualified volunteers to staff a daycare at an

appropriate donated site. This would require qualified individuals willing to donate their

childcare services and an 501(c)(3) organization willing to donate an appropriate daycare site.

Qualifying participants would benefit by having a low-cost daycare option. This benefit would

possible allow them to enhance their job search and interview skills, to save money, to attend

school and to attain better employment.

While there are many organizations in the greater Des Moines area and the state of Iowa

devoted to helping low-income families, the problem of poverty is so sizable that more help is

always welcome. What is the definition of poverty? Poverty is defined as the state or condition

of being poor. What causes poverty? The Child Poverty Action Group states that poverty is a

complex phenomenon. It is caused by a range of factors working together and resulting in

inadequate resources such as joblessness due health or disability problems, lack of attainable

employment, low paid work and lack of benefits (Poverty). Poor education and poor language

skills also play part in perpetuating the cycle of poverty. What is the scope of poverty in Iowa?

In 2016, approximately 110,000 children in Iowa lived in poverty, up 44% since 2000 (Petroski).

For 2017 in Iowa, the federal poverty income line is less than $25,000 annually for a family of

four (Kelley). That amount doesnt go very far when the money needed to provide a family of

four with food, shelter, education, healthcare and many other necessities.

Volunteers would be limited to those with appropriate childcare training and

qualifications and background checks already in place. Space would be donated by a local non-

profit with a suitable area for daycare. Along with nominal fees charged to the program
participants, the host organization would be qualified to solicit donations that would be tax-

deductible. The number of participants in the program would be limited both the number of

volunteers coming forward, the number of hours that said volunteers would be able to donate and

the success of the host organization in soliciting monetary and in-kind donations from the

general public.

Potential participants would be limited to those with income below the HHS (U.S.

Department of Health and Human Services) poverty guidelines for 2017. Participants would be

charged a nominal hourly fee per child for daycare services. The hourly rate would allow for

participants to leave children as they went to job training, job interviews and part-time

employment and to not pay for the entire day. The participants would not be charged the full

cost of the program, since the host organization, as discussed above, would solicit tax-deductible

donations.

Establishing a qualified volunteer daycare worker database, along with an appropriate

donated daycare site, would make a difference to low income families in the Des Moines area. It

would provide an inexpensive daycare option that free their time and money to better be used for

their own benefit, as well as their childrens benefit. This one program certainly would not solve

all the problems faced by low-income individuals and families, but it would be another option for

a group of people sorely in need of help. This option would reduce the stress on low-income

families and allow these families to stay together.

 Works Cited

Kelley, Matt. Iowa Moves Up A Spot to 3 in Kids Count Report. Radio Iowa. N.p., 21 June
rd

2016. Web. 08 May 2017.

Petroski, William. Report: 110,000 Iowa Children in Poverty. Des Moines Register. N.p., 21
Jan 2016. Web. 08 May 2017.
Poverty. New Opportunities. N.p., June 2013. Web. 8 May 2017.