Page 41 - Poverty Issues News Today

By Katie Fleischer for Ms. Magazine.Broadcast version by Suzanne Potter for Florida News Connection reporting for the Ms. Magazine-Public News Service Collaboration If youve ever waited in line at the DMV or struggled doing your taxes, you know how frustrating unnecessary bureaucracy can be. ...

Rising prices and less consumer spending could have an effect on local government services in Tennessee, according to a new report from the Sycamore Institute. The research showed rural communities are already hurting for bus drivers, sanitation workers and teachers, but when inflation increases the cost of running a town or a city, local budgets cannot keep up. Brian Straessle, director of external affairs for the Sycamore Institute, explained the state gets about two-thirds of its tax revenu...

Farmers of color in Minnesota are expected to see new opportunities to get their products into school lunch programs. Their advocates said a major funding boost from the federal government paves the way for producers who may have struggled to reach customers. This week, the U.S. ...

When it comes to "green jobs," installing solar panels and building wind turbines are often mentioned, and community action agencies in Massachusetts said the field has other career paths, including teams who do key work inside a persons home. Agencies work with low-income households on reducing their energy burden. Mary Knittle, energy director for the Worcester Community Action Council, said it goes beyond helping them secure assistance for monthly bills. ...

Minnesota continues to rank highly for quality-of-life indicators, including health, but long-standing disparities persist. A new round of grants will help community-based social entrepreneurs and nonprofits boost health access for underserved populations. The EmPOWERED to Serve Business Accelerator is led by the American Heart Association and is in its second year of funding Minnesota initiatives. ...

Food insecurity in New Mexico dropped during COVID, but groups working to fight hunger worry the temporary reprieve will reverse itself now that federal pandemic-related monies have dried up. The latest annual study by Feeding America - called "Map the Meal Gap," and based on 2020 data - confirms food insecurity continues in all U.S. counties in all 50 states, including New Mexico. ...

Its hard for almost anyone to find housing in Montana right now, but the barriers are even higher for people with criminal records. Low availability and rising housing prices mean landlords typically have the pick of the litter, and they can relegate people whove been in jail or prison to the bottom of the pile. Katrina Everhart is in Missoula and has experienced the frustration firsthand. ...

With Virginias Rent Relief Program ending, a flood of eviction cases has emerged. Established during the pandemic, the program was designed to help tenants who were having trouble paying their rent, but it stopped accepting applications in mid-May. Prior to the closure, landlords could have informed tenants who were behind on their rent about the program, and could even apply for it on their behalf. ...

More officials from South Dakotas health care community are speaking out in support of Medicaid expansion. Voters will decide this fall whether to expand Medicaid to close insurance gaps around the state. This week, the South Dakota Emergency Medical Services Association and South Dakota Firefighters Association publicly endorsed the campaign. ...

Washingtonians are feeling the squeeze from high housing prices, but a novel concept launching in Spokane could speed up the creation of affordable housing. The Spokane Low Income Housing Consortium (SLIHC) is creating a land bank to acquire land and set it aside for affordable housing. The land bank was launched in part with a $45,000 grant from the GoWest Foundation, which works with credit unions in the West. ...