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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Greater number of homeless students pose challenge to schools
As the economy struggles, an increasing number of students are sleeping in spare bedrooms, motels, homeless shelters and cars. In response, some schools are offering extra tutoring for students, and others are giving out backpacks and clothes and helping to network families with community services. One school system even pays cab fares to enable some students to commute to school. The federal government is said to spend $64 million a year aiding homeless students. Some members of Congress want an additional $70 million appropriated.Original story
Labels: community services, homeless aid, homeless students
Texas program credited with helping homeless men recover from alcoholism
Project Recovery, a voluntary six-month program for alcohol-dependent men, is helping homeless men in the Austin area sober up, find housing, and be more productive. The $650,000-a-year program is funded by the City of Austin and Travis County and since 2006 has helped 92 men, some of them with mental or physical disabilities. The program is focused on males because the facility is not large enough to house both men and women, and because more men are arrested for public intoxication.
Original story
Labels: alcoholism, homeless, Project Recovery
Federal funding cuts force D.C. area jobless to wait for benefits
Thousands of people in the Washington, D.C., area and across the country are waiting longer for unemployment benefits because of staff reductions brought about by reduced federal funding. As a result D.C., Maryland and Virginia are failing to meet federal guidelines that require timely processing of unemployment claims, appeals and benefit payments. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics released figures showing that the situation will only get worse with rising unemployment.
Original story
Labels: jobless, new unemployment claims, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, unemployment, Washingon D.C.
Being poor is not enough to qualify for Medicaid
Although most people think of Medicaid as the federal health plan for low-income Americans, in reality, being poor generally is not enough to be eligible. In most states, people qualify for Medicaid only if they have children. The proposed $825 billion economic stimulus package would create a new category of people who would be eligible, people who lost their jobs due to the economic downturn.
Original story
Labels: aid eligibility, Medicaid
Welfare outlays decline in Rhode Island although economy worsens
Rhode Island’s economy continues to decline and unemployment is at its highest level in three years, yet welfare rolls have plunged by double digits. Since late 2007, the number of people receiving cash assistance has dropped by more than 16 percent. Factors causing the decline include tighter eligibility, a delay before people impacted by the faltering economy seek benefits, and ignorance among newcomers about where to find help. Still, many worry that Rhode Island families are not receiving the assistance they need.
http://www.projo.com/news/content/econ_update_02-09-09_IKD8L2S_v18.5a0407.html#
Labels: aid eligibility, cash assistance, Rhode Island, unemployment, welfare rolls
Though effective, N.Y. in-home health care faces cuts
Despite the potential to save millions in Medicaid dollars, the transfer of patients from hospitals and nursing homes into less expensive, more effective home care faces possible budget cuts in New York. The number of people in home care remains steady, but costs are increasing as patients get more hours of treatment. Proponents of home care worry that Gov. David Paterson’s proposed cuts may cause some programs to be shut.
Original story
Labels: Gov. David Paterson, home care, Medicaid, new york
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