Most Americans working in low-wage jobs do not have access to the investment opportunities that help them move out of poverty and towards financial security. Homeownership, the largest investment most of us will ever make, is out of reach to many poorer families due to high down payments and strict credit requirements. A college education and job training are increasingly necessary in the region’s high-skill economy, but these are frequently priced out of reach of the working poor — despite the recent attempts to make it more affordable.

For a variety of reasons, many immigrants do not use conventional financial institutions.  They may lack a social security number, be unfamiliar with institutions, or face language barriers.  There are immediate and quantifiable costs to being “unbanked”:  unbanked individuals pay more for basic financial transactions such as cashing a check and paying bills.

Nearly every community in Metro Boston is served by a Council on Aging.  The mission of these volunteer, municipally appointed agencies is to link seniors with resources through service delivery or coordination, and community education and advocacy.  Each council focuses on a specific municipality and, most offer information and referral, transportation, outreach, meals (congregate and home delivered), health screening, and fitness and recreation programs.  

Foreign-born immigrants who study and then remain in the United States drive innovation, create jobs, and help keep the economy strong.  Highly educated immigrants are likely to be trained in high-demand fields such as computer science, mathematics, architecture, engineering and life and physical sciences. Although qualified, many immigrants cannot attain the credentials they need to practice their occupations in the United States because of outmoded regulations.

Working-age immigrants with limited English skills account for 6% of the state’s workforce, and a third of Massachusetts adults have been found to be below the lowest literacy skill level.  Adult Basic Education (ABE) includes basic literacy services for adults, General Educational Development (GED), and English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL).  Most such programs are administered by the Massachusetts Department of Education.  According to the Department, in May of 2008, there were nearly 19,000 people on the waitlist for ABE classes.

The Criminal Offender Record Information (CORI) system was initially launched as a way to more easily collect and disseminate criminal justice-related information for use within the criminal justice system, while protecting the privacy of those with criminal records.  However, its use has now expanded to employers, who use CORI information to screen potential employees.  Unfortunately a lack of clarity and understanding of the CORI system stands as an impediment for many ex-offenders seeking work.  Consequently, CORI reports “can have the effect of creating a class of u

Mixed use zoning and zoning that encourages the production of a variety of housing types are crucial elements to ensure Metro Boston’s elders have housing options in their communities that meet their changing needs, allow independence, and encourage integration and participation within the community.  Building housing strategically in urban areas or village and town centers allows older adults to walk to shopping, medical, and recreational facilities.  Creating an environment that accommodates older adults includes encouraging walkable sidewalks and accessible building and p

All too often, state, regional, and local governments, as well as nonprofit service providers, provide care and services to elders that duplicate or overlap with the work of other organizations.  This lack of coordination is particularly visible in areas of transportation, where different agencies and organizations each have their own vehicles and systems for transporting older adults (and other populations in need of special transportation assistance).  This leads to inefficiencies that drive up the costs of elder services and reduce their effectiveness. 

Providing services to older adults can pose a number of problems, not least that many older people lack the access to information to easily find out what services are available to them.  As well as allowing many individuals in need of support to fall through the cracks, the lack of centralized data also increases the likelihood of duplication of services.  More robust tracking of which of the region’s residents are receiving – or in need of – which services will both increase the quality of service the Commonwealth and municipalities provide and increase the comp

Public health and prevention initiatives and health education and literacy programs should be targeted to populations that are most at-risk for health problems, particularly among minority communities.  These approaches must be culturally sensitive to the populations being targeted and accessible in diverse locations. 

28.a    The Department of Public Health should develop uniform standards for the use and reimbursement of interpreter services