The National Community Action Foundation (NCAF) has developed a national public journal to discuss legislative proposals, political issues and other current events affecting Community Action programs and poverty in America. You can join the converstion at http://ncaf.blogspot.com.
Poverty in America: Economic Research Shows Adverse Impacts on Health Status and Other Social Conditions as well as the Economic Growth Rate
Government Accountability Office (GAO)
http://www.gao.gov/new.items/d07344.pdf
Poverty In America: Consequences for Individuals and the Economy
Government Accountability Office (GAO)
http://www.gao.gov/new.items/d07343t.pdf
The State Of The Economy
WASHINGTON, D.C., Jan. 31, 2007 — America is working, inflation is low, and wages are increasing. 3.1 million more people were employed in December 2006 than at the end of 2005. The unemployment rate has continued its descent over the course of the year to a low 4.5%, and American workers saw real after-tax personal income per person increase over $2,800 since January 2001.
http://www.dol.gov/dol/2007stateofeconomy.pdf
Rural, Low-Income Mothers’ Strategies for Meeting Child Care Needs. This research brief from the Rural Families Speak Project provides data on how low-income mothers in rural areas meet childcare needs while trying to maintain stable employment. Currently, the mothers of 2.7 million children are facing such difficult decisions balancing work and family life in rural areas. Researchers found that 24 percent of women were utilizing publicly funded childcare, whereas 38% of mothers were choosing to stay at home to care for their children. http://peerta.acf.hhs.gov/policies/support.htm#childcare
America's Second Housing Boom
Edward Gramlich
January 30, 2007
Urban Institute
The prime mortgage market largely fueled America's first housing burst after World War II. Low- and moderate-income households, largely excluded from this earlier movement, are getting swept into the second housing boom. This brief details how homeownership has again expanded, this time fueled by the development of the subprime market. Rising interest-payment burdens for many subprime borrowers, however, might mean delinquencies and foreclosures. http://www.urban.org/publications/311418.html
RURAL POPULATION AND MIGRATION
The Rural Population and Migration Briefing Room encapsulates ERS research on population trends in rural America, including a recent slowdown in growth, increasing ethnic diversity, the challenges in serving an aging population, and the benefits accruing to those areas featuring natural amenities. See http://www.ers.usda.gov/Briefing/Population/
Center for American Progress Launches Interactive Map on the Minimum Wage
Click the link below to view interactive minimum wage breakdowns by state, year, and wage levels. http://www.americanprogress.org/issues/2007/01/minwage.html
By Leonard E. Burman, Jason Furman, and Roberton Williams
A new analysis from the Urban-Brookings Tax Policy Center evaluates whether President Bush's health insurance plan can expand coverage and restrain spending. While the plan would improve the market for health insurance, elements could reduce insurance coverage, particularly for low-income families and people in poor health. The paper suggests ways the proposal could be modified to limit undesirable outcomes while improving its likelihood of boosting coverage and trimming costs. http://www.urban.org/publications/411412.html
Visiting fellow Harry Holzer argues that the costs to the United States associated with childhood poverty total about $500 billion per year, or the equivalent of nearly 4 percent of GDP. This suggests that investing significant resources in poverty reduction might be more cost-effective than previously thought. http://www.urban.org/publications/901032.html
The Risk of Negative Child Outcomes in Low-Income Families
This report, utilizing the Annie E. Casey Kids Count Data book, provides an overview of negative child outcomes that are a result of poverty. From 2000 data, it was found that negative child outcomes are highly correlated with lower income levels. Over 25 million children, which is 36 percent, live in families with an annual income of less than $35,000. The findings suggest that programs should utilize conditions other than poverty threshold to determine eligibility for assistance. http://www.aecf.org/kidscount/pubs/risk_neg_out_families_blue.pdf
Promoting Effective Early Learning What will it take to ensure that young low-income children succeed in the early school years? NCCP's newest brief will help policymakers and educators understand two important elements: use of an intentional curriculum and professional development and teacher supports. http://nccp.org/pub_pes07a.html
RURAL EMPLOYMENT AT A GLANCE
Rural Employment At A Glance is a six-page brochure that highlights the most recent indicators of employment and unemployment in rural areas. It documents changes and differences in metro and nonmetro employment growth, unemployment, earnings per job, and occupational mix, as well as differences across nonmetro areas by location and county type. See http://www.ers.usda.gov/Publications/EIB21/
The Changing Spatial Concentration of Americas Rural Poor Population
From the National Poverty Center, researchers in this working paper review the trends surrounding concentrated poverty in rural areas. In the 1990s, the rural (nonmetro) poverty rates decreased faster than metro rates and the percentage of the rural population living in extremely poor counties decreased by over 40 percent. However, it was found that children residing in rural areas, especially minority children, experience poverty rates above the national averages. http://peerta.acf.hhs.gov/policies/poverty.htm#rural
The Social Costs of Concentrated Poverty: Externalities to Neighboring Households and Property Owners and the Dynamics of Decline
This paper, from the National Poverty Center, analyzes current housing policy in relation to decentralizing low income population. Authors seek to investigate if this strategy equates to increased economic efficiency by reviewing data from large metropolitan areas across the country. http://peerta.acf.hhs.gov/policies/poverty.htm#urban
The Condition of Education in 2006: Concentration of Enrollment by Race/Ethnicity and Poverty
The Department of Education published this report on the concentration of enrollment in free school lunch programs by race and ethnicity. Among the findings, researchers found that 41 percent of 4th graders were eligible for the program in 2005, and larger percentages of minority populations were eligible for the program. http://peerta.acf.hhs.gov/policies/support.htm#education