The proposed bill, known as the ENOUGH Act, aims to establish the Engaging Neighborhoods, Organizations, Unions, Governments, and Households Fund, which will be administered by the Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities. The bill introduces new definitions, including "community school" and "research-practice partnerships," and outlines the creation of a separate fund to support community-driven strategies aimed at reducing poverty. The fund will be credited with various sources of revenue, including appropriations and private donations, and will not revert to the General Fund at the end of the fiscal year. The funds will be utilized to administer a grant program that supports collaborative efforts to improve outcomes for children and families in distressed neighborhoods, focusing on areas such as education, health, and economic opportunity.
Additionally, the bill establishes an advisory committee to assist in the management and operation of the fund. This committee will consist of various state secretaries and appointed members with expertise in issues affecting poverty. The grant program will require eligible entities to form partnerships in defined geographic areas and will provide funding through different tracks, including partnership development and implementation grants. The Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities will be responsible for developing a transparent grant application process and will report annually on the fund's activities, including funding sources, expenditures, and performance data.