Editor’s note: Deborah Weinstein, Executive Director of the Coalition on Human Needs, issued the following statement Wednesday in response to a leaked Trump Administration memo proposing a backward and discriminatory definition of gender. “The New York Times report that the Trump Administration may propose a definition of gender limited to…
Archives: Voices
Standing united with the human needs community
Periodically, CHN embarks on an ambitious endeavor – to get thousands of organizations across the human needs community and across the country to join together to advocate for a stronger America that actively ensures the well-being of all of our people. We call it our SAVE for All Campaign, which…
New study shows expanding Medicaid improves access to care for low-income adults
We know that states that expanded their Medicaid program have far fewer uninsured working-age adults. Now, thanks to a new study from the nonpartisan Government Accountability Office (GAO), we know that such health insurance coverage is leading to better access to care. Data released by the U.S. Census Bureau in…
The Spin Begins: Trump Administration and Senate’s McConnell Blame Basic Needs Programs for Increasing the Deficit
When the 2017 $1.9 trillion in tax cuts were enacted, many of us predicted that the hole in the budget caused by the lost revenue would be used by the Trump Administration and the Republican leadership in Congress to justify cuts in basic needs programs like Medicaid, Medicare, housing, and…
Fact of the Week: Nearly 8,500 Arkansans have been kicked off Medicaid since Sept. 1 due to harsh time limits

More than 4,100 Arkansans lost Medicaid coverage on Oct. 1, adding to the more than 4,350 adults in the state who were kicked off the Medicaid roles on Sept. 1. These nearly 8,500 adults lost their coverage due to the state’s harsh new work reporting requirements, which require beneficiaries to…
Proposed change to Public Charge rule now published; CHN urges that comments be submitted
Editor’s note: Deborah Weinstein, Executive Director of the Coalition on Human Needs, issued the following statement Wednesday in response to the Trump Administration’s proposed Department of Homeland Security rule regarding immigrants. For more information on the rule, see this article from CHN’s October 8 Human Needs Report. “Today the Trump…
‘What the Eyes Don’t See’
Editor’s note: MaKenna Whitworth is the fall intern for the Coalition on Human Needs and is a senior majoring in political science at Brigham Young University By Makenna Whitworth Entering the bright and cool doctor’s office accompanied by her mother, Mikayla clambers up onto the brown, cushioned exam table, allowing…
The Human Needs Report: FY19 begins, anti-immigrant rule proposed, reactions to a SCOTUS confirmation, and more
Editor’s update: The proposed Public Charge rule, discussed in an article below, was officially published on October 10. In a statement, CHN called the rule, “the latest in a series of unconscionable attacks on immigrants and immigrant communities.” Organization are urging advocates to submit comments in opposition to the rule during the…
CHN reaffirms opposition to confirmation of Judge Kavanaugh
Editor’s note: Deborah Weinstein, Executive Director of the Coalition on Human Needs, issued the following statement Friday, Oct. 5 in opposition to the confirmation of Judge Brett Kavanaugh to the U.S. Supreme Court: “On September 7, the Coalition on Human Needs joined with 75 organizations in a letter urging senators…
A citizenship question will hurt us all
On September 30, The New York Times published an opinion piece written by William Frey, a demographer, professor, and fellow at the Brookings Institution, about the Trump Administration’s efforts to include a citizenship question on the 2020 Census. CHN has opposed these efforts from the beginning. We worked with other…
Tax Scam 2.0: Another measure that benefits the wealthy and campaign donors at the expense of working families
Editor’s note: Deborah Weinstein, Executive Director of the Coalition on Human Needs, issued the following statement Friday in response to House passage of a second massive tax cut that mostly benefits the wealthy and will explode the deficit: “The tax scam 2.0 passed today by the House is another measure…
How to Help Rural America: Senate Democrats Hold a Rural Summit
Senators Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) and Jon Tester (D-MT) were interviewing author Sarah Smarsh at a Rural Summit held by Senate Democrats on September 27. Ms. Smarsh was describing the isolation she felt growing up poor in rural Kansas. Her mother was 17 when Sarah was born. There was no Family…