CHN’s COVID-19 Watch: Tracking Hardship February 18, 2022
CHN Staff,
February 18, 2022
The inflation inequality edition. Daily COVID-19 cases in the U.S. continue to drop dramatically, as do hospitalizations. Deaths – finally – are following this trend, down significantly over the past two weeks. Meanwhile, here at home inflation rages at breakneck speed. While inflation is rising everywhere, affecting every income bracket, price hikes are particularly devastating to lower-income households with already tight budgets.
For these WV moms, the expanded Child Tax Credit paid for “bear” necessities
David Elliot,
February 11, 2022
Even in a pandemic, the grounds of the U.S. Capitol tend to attract a lot of human visitors. But bears? Not so much. That changed earlier this month when a group of West Virginia moms, flanked by 500 teddy bears, gathered for a rally to highlight support for continuing the expanded Child Tax Credit that was passed in March 2021 as part of the American Rescue Plan but was allowed to expire in December. It was all a part of the “Unbearable Campaign,” with the message being that allowing millions of American families to slip into poverty without the expanded CTC benefit is, well, unbearable.
More than 350 groups tell Congress: Pass a full-year FY 2022 spending bill to address years of stagnation and cuts in human needs programs
CHN Staff,
February 10, 2022
More than 350 local, state, and national organizations Thursday urged Congress to pass an FY 2022 appropriations bill in order to reverse years of stagnation and even cuts to programs covering a vast array of human needs.
Child Tax Credit/Earned Income Tax Credit Day of Action – at the White House, in the Capitol, and well beyond
David Elliot,
February 9, 2022
Tuesday, February 8 was Child Tax Credit/Earned Income Tax Credit Day of Action, and at the White House, Capitol Hill, and cities across the nation, with service providers and people from all walks of life, all came together to make sure families with low incomes get the money they are due – and in some cases, to call for expanded CTC and EITC payments to continue.
Groups help erase medical debt for 24,000 Arkansans
CHN Staff,
February 4, 2022
Philanthropic groups have collaborated to erase more than $35 million in medical debt for Arkansas residents. Sarah Kinser, chief program officer of Arkansas Community Foundation - one of the groups that raised funds - said medical debt can cause serious financial stress. "People who have to service debt that they can't afford may end up having to choose between feeding their family and repaying that debt," said Kinser. "And especially as we've been in a pandemic and people have had unexpected medical costs. We know that debt burden is especially present on everyone's minds."
