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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Program fights poverty in New York with cash inducements
An antipoverty program in New York is paying families up to $5,000 a year for attending school, undergoing regular checkups, and staying employed. The program, which is experimental, is continuing for a third year, and seems to be making student attendance more consistent and improving grades. Over $11 million has been distributed to 2,400 families.
Original story
Labels: antipoverty program, new york
N.Y. jobless rate to reach double digits
New York’s unemployment rate is expected to rise from 7 percent last month to 10 percent by the end of the year. By then, the state will owe the federal government $1.4 billion in unemployment benefit payments. The newly passed federal stimulus package will repay $500 million of that, but the rest will have to be made up by employers. New York has lost 113,000 jobs since August, and a half-million New Yorkers are collecting benefits, the highest number in at least 20 years.
Original story
Labels: debt, federal stimulus package, new york, unemployment
NY landlords trade paying tenants for homeless families
The Bloomberg administration program has turned some apartment buildings in New York into de facto homeless shelters. It works with nonprofits to place homeless families in apartments, a practice known as cluster-site housing. With growing numbers of homeless families, cluster-site has nearly replaced a similar, more expensive program that the administration wanted to eliminate in 2002. Tenants in the buildings complain landlords are pushing them out to make room for homeless residents because the cluster-site program pays much more.
Original story
Labels: apartments, cluster-site, homeless shelters, Mayor Bloomberg, new york
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
New York borrows from federal government to pay jobless benefits
Since the first day of the business year, New York State’s unemployment insurance system has been out of money, and has been borrowing $90 million a week from the federal unemployment trust fund. State officials say that the borrowing will not affect benefits payments. However, the loans could end up costing the state nearly $100 million in interest and may lead to tough new taxes on employers.
Original story
Labels: new york, unemployment insurance
More Central New Yorkers applying for government aid
With the economy faltering and unemployment rising, more Central New Yorkers are seeking government aid. Welfare officials predict an increase in the demand for food stamps, as well as Medicaid and HEAP, which provides assistance with home heating bills. While not every applicant will receive help, the state has made it easier to apply for these programs by accepting applications via the Internet and by telephone. Recent changes have been aimed at helping those who receive aid find jobs.
Original story
Labels: food stamps, HEAP, Medicaid, new york
Longer waiting times for welfare benefits
In Rockland County, near New York City, applicants for state aid are facing longer waits. A growing number of people are applying for cash grants, food stamps and Medicaid. But because of rising demand and staff cuts, applicants for Temporary Assistance for Needy Families, commonly known as welfare, wait an average four weeks to be interviewed for admission to the program. Demand for cash assistance, food stamps, and Medicaid is up, with 200 applicants waiting for face-to-face interviews, while 24 employees have been lost to early retirement.
Original story
Labels: cash assistance, food stamps, new york, Rockland County, state aid, Temporary Assistance for Needy Families, wait times, welfare Medicaid
Cities’ unemployment forecast grim for 2009
Urban joblessness is expected to soar, with as many as 70 cities likely to have unemployment rates top 10 percent by the end of the year, according to a report commissioned by the U.S. Conference of Mayors. Greater Miami will lose 85,000 jobs and have an unemployment rate of more than 8 percent, while Chicago is expected to lose 80,000 jobs as well. New York will take the biggest hit as Wall Street firms continue to cut payrolls. More than 181,000 New Yorkers could be out work within the year.
Original story
Labels: Chicago, Miami, new york, unemployment, urban unemployment, Wall Street
Health care and education cuts meet opposition
New York Gov. David Paterson expects to request deep cuts in money for schools and Medicaid, and might even try to renegotiate labor contracts, but those affected plan to put up a fight. The United Federation of Teachers warned against cutting financing midyear, and hospitals likewise plan to resist further cuts. Plugging the expected $1.5 billion deficit will be nearly impossible without support from teachers unions and hospital groups.
Original story
Labels: David Paterson, new york, school budget cuts
Cuts in N.Y. Medicaid and education face opposition
New York Gov. David A. Paterson plans to cut Medicaid by billions of dollars due to the declining fiscal condition of the state. Paterson says that he will have to make cuts to programs that he supported as a legislator, among them aid to schools. However, the Medicaid and school aid cuts will be opposed by unions representing teachers and hospital workers, which wield substantial power in Albany. Leaders of the Republican Senate majority also promised to block education cuts.
Original story
Labels: education cuts, Medicaid, new york, Paterson
New York mayor unveils new poverty gauge
New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg says that he and his aides have found a newer, more accurate method of measuring poverty. Calling the current federal poverty measure outdated, Bloomberg hopes his gauge will become the new national standard. The current federal measure shows New York City with a poverty rate of 18.9 percent. But Bloomberg’s method shows a rate of 23 percent.
Original story
Labels: Mayor Bloomberg, new york, poverty gauge
New visions for public school system
The new president of the American Federation of Teachers wants to redefine the role of public schools. Instead of focusing on standardized testing, New Yorker Randi Weingarten would like to see public schools act as community centers that help poor students succeed by offering everything from educational to medical services.
Original story
Labels: education, new york, no child left behind, poor, public schools, randi weingarten, standardized testing
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