Editor’s Note: In addition to the following piece from CHN’s Executive Director Deborah Weinstein, please see CHN’s resource page on what works – and what doesn’t – to reduce poverty and expand opportunity. The page contains information about CHN’s upcoming event on this topic, as well as CHN’s statement and statements and…
Archives: Voices
Head Smacker: Rental Assistance to Families with Children Falls as Need Rises
Earlier this week, we discussed a new report showing that affordable housing is out of reach for millions of renters across the US. And higher rents, especially when combined with flat wages and an economic recovery that hasn’t reached low-income families, means an increased need for rental assistance. Unfortunately, however,…
Fact of the Week: Three Quarters of Extremely Low Income Families Pay More than Half of their Income on Housing
According to the new edition of Out of Reach, an annual report produced by the National Low Income Housing Coalition (NLIHC), affordable housing is truly out of reach for millions of Americans — especially Extremely Low Income (ELI) renters earning less than 30 percent of the Area Median Income. In…
Human Needs Hero Reception: July 19, 2016
The Coalition on Human Needs invites you to the 13th Annual Human Needs Hero Reception Honoring: Ruth Flower and Wade Henderson Tuesday, July 19th, 5:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m. AFL-CIO, 815 16th St. NW, Washington, DC Please join us in honoring these amazing progressive leaders: Ruth Flower: Former Associate Executive…
SNAP, TANF and a Better Path
“The nation’s core economic security programs are highly effective: they cut poverty almost in half, improve nutrition and health care for millions of people, and promote work.” This is how Olivia Golden, executive director of the Center for Law and Social Policy (CLASP), began her testimony to the House Ways…
Fact of the Week: 1 in 3 Moms Struggle to Pay for Diapers
Everyone knows babies go through a lot of diapers. But for low-income families, the cost of diapers often forces them to go without another necessity, like food or heat. For many, it can force them to leave babies in soiled diapers longer than they’d like. This can lead to physical…
Great News on Overtime Rules
Great news! The Department of Labor today announced major changes to federal overtime regulations that will benefit millions of low- and middle-income workers. Currently, salaried workers who earn as little as $455 a week or $23,660 a year can be excluded from receiving overtime pay when working more than 40 hours…
A hug from Paul Ryan
Hugs are nice. But hunger advocates such as Tianna Gaines-Turner want policy-makers and members of Congress to know that as nice as a hug is, it does not put food on the table, workers in good-paying jobs, or families in affordable, secure housing. On Monday, Gaines-Turner, who lives in Philadelphia…
Human Needs Report: Appropriations and Budgets, Emergency Funding for Zika, Flint and Opioids
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 budget and appropriations action in Congress and funding to combat the Zika virus, the opioid epidemic and the lead contamination crisis. See below for the full analysis…
Truth in Payday Lending: Ana Maria’s Story
Editor’s Note: This post was originally published on the National Council of La Raza’s blog on May 6 as part of their blog series, “Truth in Payday Lending: Stories from Latino Borrowers.” NCLR also has a new post on Google’s announcement yesterday that it will ban ads featuring payday lenders. We all run into…
Resources from Around the Coalition: School Meals, Pentagon Spending, Reducing Barriers and More
Protecting school anti-hunger efforts. Calling out excessive Pentagon spending. Reducing barriers for people with criminal records. CHN’s coalition members are producing great work on very important issues. This week, we continue our Resources from around the Coalition blog series, highlighting important resources you should be aware of. A new report from the Food…
What Moms Really Need for Mother’s Day
Flowers are purchased, cards are mailed and brunch reservations are made. Mother’s Day is here again. But what many moms really need for this holiday is something much different – and much more substantial. Just in time for Mother’s Day, the Department of Labor held an event yesterday to discuss…