The Recession, Poverty, and the Suburbs
The Who and Where of Great Recession Poverty
A couple weeks ago we got some bleak--though not unexpected--news from the U.S. Census Bureau: there are now more poor people in the United States than ever before recorded. The second year of the Great Recession saw an additional 3.7 million people slip into poverty, so that 43.6 million Americans (14.3 percent) were poor in 2009, including one in five children. READ MORE >>
Toward an Accurate Portrayal of American Poverty
There’s been a lot of talk lately on the ins and outs of a new supplemental poverty measure being developed by the U.S. Census Bureau. As named, this new measure will not replace the official measure, but will supplement it by offering more information on people’s economic wellbeing. READ MORE >>
America's Most Effective Anti-Poverty Program
It’s April 15th, and that means one more tax season is coming to a close. (For those mad-dashers out there racing for the midnight deadline, you might want to check out form 4868 or at least fuel up with some free stuff to get you to the finish line.) READ MORE >>
The High Price of Rapid Tax Refunds
The Chicago Tribune recently profiled a Naperville, IL couple struggling, like so many others across the country, to make ends meet. She had to stop working as a nursing assistant because of health problems, and his $8.50-an-hour job isn’t enough to pay all their bills. They’ve fallen behind on rent, even after pawning belongings to help catch up. READ MORE >>
Changes to EITC in Proposed Budget
The president’s proposed budget for FY2011 contains a few key provisions that will mean good news for low-income working families at tax time, even after the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA/stimulus bill) runs its course. It also proposes to terminate an ineffective program for these families, but stops short of advancing a much-needed replacement. Top 10 States and Metro Areas for Increases in EITC Dollars due to ARRA Changes in Eligibility READ MORE >>
Hard Times for Sun Belt Metros
Remember when the Census Bureau released the new 2008 national poverty numbers earlier this month? Not surprisingly, the news wasn’t good, and the best guess was that the outlook would be bleakest in the Sun Belt metro areas hit hardest by the downturn in the housing market and in regions reliant on the auto manufacturing industry. READ MORE >>
Recession Boosts Poverty
The Census Bureau released new numbers today on poverty in the U.S. The new estimates--from 2008--give us our first official glimpse of the recession’s impact on the country’s poor population. Not surprisingly, the news isn’t good. A few points from the report: READ MORE >>
