INDIANAPOLIS – The Indiana Community Action Poverty Institute has the pleasure of announcing a new partnership with Glick Philanthropies to uplift Hoosiers across the state through the advancement of consumer protections. Glick Philanthropies—a family of charitable initiatives dedicated to building community and creating opportunity that empowers every person to reach their full potential—recently announced more than $2.55 million in grants to 44 nonprofit organizations, including the Institute. This investment will support the Institute’s research and advocacy related to medical debt, predatory lending, and housing.
“This partnership with Glick Philanthropies reflects a shared commitment to the vision of economic prosperity within our state–one that begins with ensuring families are able to make the most of their paychecks instead of having money drained from them,” said Erin Macey, Director at the Indiana Community Action Poverty Institute. “This investment could not be more timely, especially given the legislature’s interest in addressing medical debt, the incredible community need for housing supports, and the ongoing industry efforts to create new financial products that trap Hoosiers in debt. We will continue to work to educate policymakers and seek solutions so that Hoosiers can be financially secure.”
Previous Institute research on this area highlights consumer protections, health care access, and housing as a core triangle. Eviction notices and medical bills can drive Hoosiers to predatory financial products, leading to further economic hardship for hardworking families. For example, in a Listening to Hoosiers report on payday lending one participant described their experience as “…A vicious cycle. When you live paycheck to paycheck.” Solutions that make health care and housing affordable – not deeper and more damaging debt – are the real pathway to financial security.
Glick Philanthropies has focused their work on bolstering organizations, such as the Institute, that fill in the gaps left by funding cuts. “Millions of people across the United States are housed, fed, educated, connected, and inspired because of the work of non-profits,” said Marianne Glick, chair of the Glick Family Foundation. “As a result of state and federal government funding cuts and policy changes, more community members will look to non-profits to help them fill critical gaps. As non-profits continue to step up to meet the growing needs of the community, philanthropy must step up to support those non-profits through funding, beyond-the-check support, and advocacy.”
For more information about the Indiana Community Action Poverty Institute’s work, please visit institute.incap.org, or sign up for updates on this project and more at institute.incap.org/what-you-can-do-today2. For more information about Glick Philanthropies, visit glickphilanthropies.org.
