Commission outlines Latino priorities

Discusses needs of growing Latino population

The Pennsylvania Commission on Latino Affairs is taking its message on the road.

The commission is the oldest of its kind in the nation, originally formed in 1971 to advise the governor on issues that impact Latinos in the state. The current version was appointed by Gov. Josh Shapiro in 2023.

After months of extensive deliberations, the commission unveiled a comprehensive set of recommendations this fall on policies and legislation it believes will help ensure the community it represents will have a voice in state government.

Members of the commission are now traveling across the state sharing those recommendations with community leaders. On Tuesday, the latest stop on their tour was at the Daniel Torres Hispanic Center in Reading.

The recommendations are aimed at enhancing the quality of programs and services relevant to meeting the needs of a growing Latino population. They focus on three key priorities: increasing access to language services, funding affordable child care programs and ensuring fair housing practices.

Olga Negron, executive director of the commission, said these priorities rose to the top of the list when members of the commission began examining the challenges that face the Latino community.

“The commission is focused on intentional work, educating and connecting the Latino community to state agencies,” she said. “Together, we help ensure that all Pennsylvanians have a seat at the table and ensure they see themselves reflected in state government.”

The commission is made up of 30 members representing more than a dozen counties across

the commonwealth. Three of the members — Raquel Capellan, Jonathan Encarnacion and Rick Olmos — call Berks County home.

Michael Toledo, Hispanic Center executive director, said he was pleased the commission had chosen to stop in Reading as part of its tour across the state. He said the work the members are doing is critical to ensuring that all voices are heard.

“Events like this truly underscore the importance of fostering dialogue, collaboration and action to advance the wellbeing and empowerment of the Latino community across the commonwealth,” he said. “We have the opportunity to drive positive change to promote inclusivity and ensure all residents are represented.”

Language access

The commission reported that 18% of Pennsylvania adults lack the English skills they need to work and live in their communities. And that means they are at higher risk for experiencing disparities.

The commission’s recommendations include:

• Increasing language access across agency locations — physically and digitally — by standardizing access to interpretation and translation.

• Making interpretation and translation services more consistent.

• Developing clear and prominent signage in multiple languages in all agency locations.

• Expanding access to certified interpreters.

Affordable child care

The commission reported that the biggest strain on many Latino households is finding affordable slots at high-quality child care programs. The commission acknowledged that child care centers have struggled to balance paying enough to be attractive to potential employees and keeping costs manageable for parents.

Some of the recommendations have been included in the governor’s latest budget proposal.

The proposal includes a nearly $32 million raise in the state reimbursement rate for child care providers to alleviate rising costs, $30 million in pre-K programs to help recruit and retain teachers, and nearly $3 million to bolster the Head Start Supplemental Assistance program.

The spending plan also calls for raising the hourly minimum wage to $15 from $7.25, which would allow more workers the ability to afford child care programs.

Fair housing

The commission reported that deep housing inequalities exist and that access to affordable housing has been growing worse over the past few decades. They said poor housing conditions impact the health and well-being of residents in minority communities disparately.

Some of the recommendations have been included in Shapiro’s proposed budget.

The proposal includes investing $10 million in the Pennsylvania Housing Affordability and Rehabilitation Enhancement Fund, $50 million in the Whole Home Repairs Program and $10 million in the Homeless Assistance Program.

It also includes $5 million to support local governments confronted with emergency housing situations and $5 million for legal representation in eviction proceedings.