poverty-issues

Rev. Dr. William Barber, co-chair of the Poor People's Campaign, speaks at a briefing on Capitol Hill on Thursday, 9/22/22 (Capital-Star photo by Ariana Figueroa).

Faith leaders urge minimum wage hike, expanded child tax credit as Congress nears recess

BY: - September 23, 2022

'We need Congress to legislate like it loves the people,' Rabbi Michael Pollack of March on Harrisburg, told lawmakers.

COMMENTARY

The federal poverty line doesn’t really capture Americans’ financial struggles | Opinion

BY: - November 11, 2021

Low-wage jobs in the 21st century are not only the lowest rung on a career ladder, they are often the only rung.

COMMENTARY

Poverty in 2021 looks different than in 1964. But the U.S. hasn’t changed how it measures who’s poor since LBJ began his war | Opinion

BY: - July 13, 2021

If the U.S. ever hopes to finally win the war LBJ began in 1964, the poor need to be seen in order for the government to lift them out of poverty.

COMMENTARY

We say America is a ‘Christian nation.’ Here’s what that would look like if we really meant it | Opinion

BY: - December 4, 2020

There is more than enough to provide food, housing, healthcare, education, and so many other essentials for everyone to live with dignity if we are willing to share — and willing to work to create the political will to make it happen.

‘We’ve seen the devastating effects of gentrification’: Lancaster protest focuses on housing equity

BY: - August 6, 2020

The central Pennsylvania city is becoming a hipster maven. But not everyone is sharing in that new prosperity, some are losing their homes.

A family of four in Philly needs to earn $68K just to make ends meet, new report finds

BY: - February 18, 2020

While 11% of white households with two or more workers did not make enough to cover their basic needs, that figure jumped to 29% for people of color.

Philly Council President Darrell Clarke doubles down on pledge to cut city poverty rate within 4 years

BY: - December 28, 2019

The Democrat recently reiterated a pledge to cut the poverty rate from 24.5 percent to 20 percent over the next four years.

Despite a strong economy, poverty grew in one-third of U.S. counties | Analysis

BY: - December 23, 2019

The poverty rate grew in 30 percent of counties between 2016 and 2018. The poverty rate is the percentage of people in households earning less than the poverty threshold.

COMMENTARY

It’s the holiday season, and Philly is the 8th neediest city in the U.S., new report finds | Tuesday Morning Coffee

BY: - December 17, 2019

Hunger, poverty and homelessness affect everyone — especially those in your backyard.

Diaper Need Awareness Week draws attention to a ‘silent crisis’

BY: - September 23, 2019

Every month, the Healthy Steps Diaper Bank in Dauphin County distributes more than 25,000 diapers to nonprofits in Central Pennsylvania. Those diapers then ensure that more than 400 babies and toddlers in four counties are “clean, dry, and healthy,” Executive Director Amanda Barnes said. Those three words — clean, dry, and healthy — are a […]

New United Way report reveals the hidden struggles of working Pennsylvanians

BY: - June 18, 2019

Thousands of Pennsylvanians, maybe your neighbors, are struggling every day to make ends meet.