Find the most recent poverty data for your Congressional District
On August 19, the Coalition on Human Needs, along with the Leadership Conference on Civil Rights and Half in Ten, will host a webinar in preparation for the upcoming Census Bureau data release.
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A new National Women’s Law Center poll shows women are particularly concerned about their economic future. 75 percent of the women surveyed feel we still must do more or that we still have a long way to go when it comes to providing families with both current and future economic security. Huge margins favor increasing the minimum wage, expanding the Child Tax Credit and Earned Income Tax Credit, guaranteeing access to quality health care, boosting access to child care and early education programs, and making all workers eligible for the Family and Medical Leave Act.
Read the complete poll results here.
By the Leadership Conference on Civil Rights’ Alexander Botting
With high gas prices and a faltering economy, low-wage American workers are finding it increasingly difficult to meet their every day needs. On July 31, the House Committee on Education and Labor held a hearing to discuss the growing income gap between the American middle class and top income earners, and hear experts’ views on proposed policy solutions.
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By the Center for American Progress’ Eric Alterman and George Zornick
Earlier this week, “CBS Evening News” anchor Katie Couric told viewers that the state of California was planning to cut the jobs and wages of state workers. Of the more than 200,000 workers who were to be fired or see their wages reduced, a grand total of zero appeared or were quoted on Couric’s program. No discussion with those workers who are soon to be fired about their probable descent into poverty. No chat with those facing lower wages about what it will be like to struggle among the working poor. Nada.
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Americans increasingly face financial uncertainty as they struggle to make ends meet during a period of rising food and fuel prices, a continuing mortgage crisis, and an overall economic downturn. Yet even before these latest challenges, a growing number of state and local governments launched comprehensive anti-poverty initiatives. These include special legislative caucuses, poverty reduction targets, and information-sharing summits.
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By the Center for American Progress’ John Podesta and Cynthia G. Brown
The intense competition of the global economy demands that all of America’s young people receive the kind of education they need and deserve. Yet to make that happen, the United States must confront the fact that inequality continues to plague its public schools.
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A new poll from Spotlight on Poverty and Opportunity found that 56 percent of voters believe media has not done enough to cover the issue of domestic poverty.
Read the complete poll results here.
By the Center for American Progress’ Alexandra Cawthorne
Aging Americans, like other age groups, are feeling the effects of the declining real estate and stock markets, as well as soaring fuel and food prices. Seniors’ economic security will only increase in importance as the U.S. population ages. The nation’s health and social services resources will face unprecedented demand as 75 million people in the baby boomer generation reach retirement age—some with eroded savings and retirement accounts.
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On July 23 in Houston, over a hundred people joined former Senator John Edwards and local elected officials for an ACORN-sponsored round-table discussion and press conference focusing on the mortgage and foreclosure crisis and what can be done to help Texas families. Texas has been plagued by extremely high foreclosure rates – with over 50,000 new foreclosure filings this year. ACORN has offered a number of proposals to help staunch the mortgage crisis, including better regulation of mortgage brokers, slowing down the foreclosure process, and increased mediation and counseling prior to the purchase of a home. The event combined policy ideas such as these with personal testimonials, emphasizing the broad impact of foreclosures and the need to take action now.
The results of the Hunger Message Project reveal that over one in four voters worry they, or someone they know, will go hungry. Respondents believe hunger should be a key issue in the coming election, and over 75 percent of them think we can dramatically reduce hunger in the United States if we make it a national priority.
Read the complete poll results here.
