This blog is a place for journalists to discuss their experiences covering poverty. It works in tandem with onpoverty.org, a site run by Washington and Lee University's American Poverty Journalism Center.
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G.M. and Chrysler eliminate jobs banks for loans
General Motors and Chrysler are closing their jobs banks, a program where laid-off factory workers are able to collect nearly their full salaries. To win support for bridge loans, leaders of the United Automobile Workers union is allowing the factories to eliminate their job banks as one of several terminated programs. About 16,000 of workers currently employed by G.M. will be laid off, and will be collecting 72 percent of their full-time pay through state unemployment benefits and additional benefits provided by G.M.
Original story
Labels: Chrysler, G.M., General Motors, jobs banks, United Automobile Workers union
Mexico City soup kitchens to feed thousands
With the number of people getting jobless benefits in Mexico City expected to double this year, the city’s first of 300 planned soup kitchens opened this month and was quickly packed. With food prices rising, the city plans to eventually spend about $14 million to give out 65,000 free or inexpensive meals a day. Most of the beneficiaries were elderly people or single mothers with children.
Original story
Labels: jobless benefits, Mexico City, soup kitchen
Job cuts widen to hit more sectors of economy
Home building and mortgage lenders began cutting jobs early in this recession, and now, a year into this recession, companies across the board in manufacturing, retailing and information technology are resorting to mass layoffs. Home Depot, Caterpillar, Sprint Nextel and at least eight other companies say they are cutting more than 75,000 jobs in the United States and abroad. The Bureau of Labor Statistics says the U.S. economy has lost 2.55 million jobs since the recession began.
Original story
Labels: Caterpillar, Home Depot, information technology, job cuts, layoffs, manufacturing, recession, retailing, Sprint Nextel
Idaho mental health facility closes when funding cut off
The Franklin House mental health facility in Boise, which logged 600 admissions annually, has closed after the state health department decided to stop paying Saint Alphonsus Regional Medical Center $325,000 a year to run it. Seventeen full- and part-time Saint Alphonsus employees lost their jobs. Former patients will likely end up in hospital emergency rooms or be treated at home. One in 10 of the facility’s ex-patients was homeless.
Original story
Labels: Boise, job loss, mental health facility, Saint Alphonsus Regional Medical Center, The Franklin House
Jobless benefits applicants in Indiana continue to wait
Indiana state offices are processing more unemployment benefit applications than ever, resulting in delays and inconsistencies in handling the workload. Governor Mitch Daniels plans to hire 100 new workers to investigate the problems. Extending hours at the busiest offices in the state has not been enough to avert extensive waits for some applicants. Some blame the problem on the switchover from vouchers to debit cards.
Original story
Labels: benefit applications, Governor Mitch Daniels, Indiana, unemployment
Homeless population in Aspen strains shelter capacity
Like many other cities, the economic downturn has left Aspen with a growing homeless population. Many of the homeless turned up in Aspen after losing their jobs elsewhere, while some are locals who failed to keep up with the city’s economic dynamics. Local churches offer night shelters, granting access only to those who pass Breathalyzer test, while The Right Door, a substance abuse counseling program, offers a day shelter, as well as counseling and help with food stamp and job applications.
Original story
Labels: Aspen, homeless, homeless shelters, The Right Door
Homeless population in Aspen strains shelter capacity
Like many other cities, the economic downturn has left Aspen with a growing homeless population. Many of the homeless turned up in Aspen after losing their jobs elsewhere, while some are locals who failed to keep up with the city’s economic dynamics. Local churches offer night shelters, granting access only to those who pass Breathalyzer test, while The Right Door, a substance abuse counseling program, offers a day shelter, as well as counseling and help with food stamp and job applications.
Original story
Labels: Aspen, homeless, homeless shelters, The Right Door
NYC could receive $3.4 billion in stimulus package
New York City could get $3.4 billion as part of a stimulus bill being considered by Congress and Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg. The aid would come from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Plan, which could include $1.8 billion in Medicaid savings and $1.6 billion in education aid. The stimulus package will help city and state officials avoid some difficult budget decisions.
Original story
Labels: American Recovery and Reinvestment Plan, Mayor Bloomberg, New York City, stimulus bill
Coloradans waiting for more food stamps
Colorado’s food stamp caseload grew by 8,000 from October to December to a total of 126,000, which is 19 percent higher than a year earlier. In October and November, about 14,600 people lost their jobs; December job losses are predicted to be another 14,000. Applications for food stamps should be processed within 30 days, but the increase in applicants has created a backlog. The most desperate applicants are put through an expedited process. Such applicants were up 40 percent in December, to 934.
Original story
Labels: Colorado, food stamps, job losses
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