Page 30 - Poverty Issues News Today

By Ilana Newman for The Daily Yonder.Broadcast version by Eric Galatas for Colorado News Connection for the Public News Service/Daily Yonder Collaboration Kevin Connor spent a few months living in the Bridge Homeless Shelter transitional housing when he first moved to Cortez, Colorado, after getting out of La Plata County Jail. The Bridge has 12 transitional housing units with most residents paying under $200 a month for housing.  After leaving the Bridge, Connor lived in a hotel for a...

Massachusetts groups will be part of a new federal pilot program to help low-income families ensure they have the diapers they need to keep both babies and parents healthy. Studies show a lack of diapers for their babies as the top predictor of postpartum depression in new mothers, while 60% of American families report missing work or school when they cannot bring diapers to child care. Liz Berube, executive director of the group Citizens for Citizens, one of several Massachusetts agencies sel...

The Kentucky Housing Corporation has received applications for housing funding from the states Rural Housing Trust Fund requesting more than $18 million for rebuilding single family homes in regions of the state still recovering from catastrophic flooding and tornadoes. Wendy Smith, deputy executive director of the Kentucky Housing Corporation, explained very few affected homeowners carry flood insurance, and homeowners policies typically do not cover flooding. She said money from the trust fun...

Advocates for affordable housing in Virginia are holding a forum today for Richmond region candidates to speak with local residents about the states housing crisis. Across Virginia, the median rent has increased 24%. Earlier this year, the City of Richmond declared a housing crisis based on low housing inventory. ...

By Chloe Robertson / Broadcast version by Nadia Ramlagan reporting for the Kent State-Ohio News Connection Collaboration. Out of the 186,484 people who applied for a driver’s license in Ohio in 2018, only 47% were under the age of 18 — meaning only those 47% had definitely enrolled in and finished driver training, which is required for drivers get their licenses at 16 or 17. The state and school districts are now working to help teens access driver’s ed de...

The auto industry has been dealing with challenges lately, such as higher interest rates, but analysts said there are nuances, and they stressed despite some rhetoric, sales of electric vehicles are encouraging. News headlines have surfaced about electric vehicles not moving quickly off dealership lots. For example, industry service group Cox Automotive recently estimated Ford had 113 days worth of inventory for its all-electric Mustang SUV model. ...

In a recent study, researchers at the University of Maryland found personal data remained on many used cellphones purchased through a police auction website. Police departments typically acquire phones through civil asset forfeiture, but are sometimes the destination for items from the airport lost and found. Over a period of months, UMD researchers purchased 228 used phones from PropertyRoom.com, a reseller partnering with thousands of police departments. ...

Growing energy prices have Virginians seeking relief to high utility bills. Earlier this year, Appalachian Power announced its customers will see a $20 increase in their electric bills. As the world moves to a more sustainable climate future, there are programs to help people make their homes more energy efficient, thus reducing energy use. ...

A new program in Washington state will provide homes to people who are most in need in the region. The project, known as Madrona Highlands in south Snohomish County, will be available for homeless or very low income families. Beneficial State Bank has made it part of its mission to support affordable housing and is injecting $6 million in loans. ...

The number of homeless adults in Indiana was at a troubling level even before the pandemic, and today, another demographic is facing the same challenges. There is a new resource for young people who are unhoused in Indianapolis, called "91 Place," which provides transitional housing for people ages 16 to 24. The program is part of Indianapolis Mayor Joe Hogsetts three-year, $150 million violence reduction plan and is funded by federal American Rescue Plan Act dollars. ...