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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Omaha students sample life in a homeless shelter
Creighton University students gave up their spring breaks to stay at the Siena-Francis House homeless shelter, part of an effort involving nearly 250 undergraduates in 30 cities across the country. These volunteer service and justice trips are meant to teach students a way to learn Jesuit ideals. The students interacted with the mentally ill, domestically abused, and substance addicts. Without their cell phones, the students were able to experience the sounds, sights and smells of a homeless shelter. Still other students remained in Omaha with African refugees or Spanish-speaking immigrants.
Original story
Labels: Creighton University, Omaha, Siena-Francis House homeless shelter, students
Unemployment hits metro areas nationwide
The Labor Department reports that 99.7 percent of the cities it tracks have higher unemployment than a year ago, with some areas in California among the hardest hit. Most economists expect job losses to rise this year despite the Obama administration’s $787 million stimulus package and other governmental efforts. The nationwide unemployment rate, at 8.1 percent in February, could reach 10 percent by the end of this year.
Original story
Labels: job loss, Labor Department, Obama administration, unemployment
With jobs scarce, further education beckons
With the economy worsening, more people are choosing to continue their education. Many students see schooling as a wiser option than looking for work. Students in Oregon are choosing classes to prepare them for occupations on the top 20 list. The list, compiled by the state Department of Employment, is dominated by the medical and technical industries. Included are physicians, medical and clinical laboratory technologists, physical therapists, pharmacists and medical and health service managers, as well as registered nurses, welders and cutters.
Original story
Labels: Department of Employment, Oregon, recession, students
Poll shows Americans worried about the economy
The CNN/Opinion Research Corp. found that 36 percent of people polled believe that unemployment is the most important economic issue today, which is triple the number of people who felt that way last April. Other issues that concerned respondents include inflation, the mortgage crisis, the stock market, and taxes, in order of anxiety. With the unemployment the highest in 25 years, with 4.4 million jobs lost since the beginning of the recession in December 2007, the poll shows the economy the most important issue facing the nation today.
Original story
Labels: CNN/Opinion Research Corp., inflation, mortgage crisis, unemployment
Tennessee governor considers unemployment fund plan
Tennessee state officials are considering a plan that stave off bankruptcy for the state’s unemployment fund, but would raise taxes on businesses. Governor Phil Bredesen is asking legislators to approve a proposal that would raise the taxable wage base and increase tax rates for unemployment insurance. Without these changes, the unemployment fund would be drained of money by early next year. The plan would force businesses to pay an additional $110 a year on average per employee for unemployment premiums.
Original story
Labels: business tax, Gov. Phil Bredesen, Tennessee, unemployment fund, unemployment insurance
Underemployment on the rise too
Nationally, the underemployment rate is nearly double the unemployment rate, with latest figures reaching 15 percent. People are considered underemployed if they previously had high-paying jobs and are now working jobs for which they are overqualified, or if they once had full-time jobs and are now working part-time. The recent surge of over-qualified, over-educated applicants are taking jobs from less qualified applicants who would have been top candidates for the jobs just a few months ago.
Original story
Labels: overqualified, underemployment, unemployment rate
Program helps homeless students in Oklahoma City
Nearly 1,600 Oklahoma City students have been served through the district’s homeless student program, The Link, this year. The Link program provides eligible homeless students free lunch and breakfast, transportation to school and help in purchasing uniforms, among other services. The program’s main goal is to keep students in one school for the entire school year. Oklahoma is ranked 47th for risk of child homelessness with only Texas, Louisiana and Georgia having higher risk.
Original story
Labels: homeless children, homeless students, Oklahoma City, The Link
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