2016 is finally here, which means the presidential election is now only 305 days away. Reducing poverty and expanding opportunity for all Americans should be a key issue during the campaign season. So you can bet we’ll be watching with interest this Saturday, January 9th, when at least seven Republican…
Archives: Voices
#StopGunViolence
A few weeks ago, my significant other and I were watching the HBO series Real Sports with Bryant Gumbel. One of the segments was on kids and guns. As you can see in this brief video, a 13-year-old actor (being driven around by his mom, since he’s not old enough…
Fact of the Week: Child Care Costs as Much as 85 Percent of Income for a Family at the Poverty Level
We all know raising a child isn’t cheap. But for families living at the poverty level, the rising cost of child care is even more difficult to afford. The cost of center-based child care for an infant ranges from 24 percent of income for a family of three living at…
$2 a Day: The Cost of a Fractured Community
Later today, it will be my honor to moderate a webinar to discuss an important book, $2 a Day: Living on Almost Nothing in America. The authors, Kathryn Edin and Luke Shaefer, will talk about their powerful book, which portrays the lives of a number of families who have struggled…
Human Needs Report: What’s in the Omnibus, Tax Credits Made Permanent, the ACA, and Other Items Congress Did and Didn’t Do Before Heading Home
CHN just released our latest edition of the Human Needs Report, our regular newsletter on national policy issues affecting low-income and vulnerable populations. This edition includes articles on the omnibus spending package, low-income tax credits, the Affordable Care Act and other items Congress did – and didn’t do – before heading home for…
Good News in the FY 2016 Omnibus and Tax Cut Bills
There is important good news for low-income people in the FY 2016 omnibus appropriations bill and tax cut package heading for votes in Congress in the next few days. Perhaps most important, improvements that allow tax credits for working families and college students to reach more poor and near-poor people were…
Webinar: $2 a Day – Living on Almost Nothing in America
Join us for a free webinar with the authors of the book $2 a Day: Living on Almost Nothing in America, in conversation with people who have been so deeply poor. Tuesday, December 22, 2015, 4:00 – 5:00 p.m. ET This special webinar will feature authors Kathryn Edin and Luke Shaefer, whose book $2…
U.S. Jobs Growing, But Most Will Pay $15 or Less
This post was originally published by the San Francisco Chronicle on December 13, 2015. The federal government issued new projections last week about the kinds of jobs that will be created over the next decade — and the news is not good for many of us. Sadly, the picture threw…
Fact of the Week: SNAP Kids Are Nearly 20 Percent More Likely to Graduate High School
Economists Recognize SNAP’s Importance for Economic Success A new report released this week by the White House Council of Economic Advisers shows that the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP, formerly known as food stamps) is highly effective in reducing food insecurity and is critical for low-income families. The good outcomes…
Rider-ing Their Way to Reelection
https://www.facebook.com/144519585571873/photos/a.385759741447855.99027.144519585571873/1059747964049026/?type=3&permPage=1 By the end of the week Congress needs to pass a funding bill to avoid a government shutdown. Even if a one-week funding bill is needed to buy more time for final negotiations, the proposed solution for the rest of the fiscal year is an omnibus package that will represent…
Attacking Protections for American Workers
American workers are the backbone of our economy; they keep our country and our society running. Yet some members of Congress want to chip away at federal rules that protect hard-working Americans. If you saw our posts from last week, you likely noticed we’re focusing a lot lately on the…
Consumer Protections in Danger during the Season of Consumerism
During this holiday season, business will be booming. Companies, both on the street and online, will be catering to millions of customers spending billions of dollars. And it’s not just traditional retailers who will be getting in on the act. Banks will supply loans to help you get end-of-year deals…