Urban Institute: Poverty and Safety Net

Expanding the EITC to Help More Low-Wage Workers

paffairs@urban.org ( Harry Holzer, Additional Authors ) — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 00:00:00 EST

The case for expanding the EITC for workers without qualifying children is compelling, as the current EITC provides little help to this group. We argue that the EITC for these workers should: - provide these workers with a strong incentive to increase work effort; - provide a significant subsidy to low-earning workers working near a full-time work level; - begin phasing out only after an individual is working at a level at least equivalent to full-time minimum wage work; - apply to both prime-age and younger workers; and - be effectively coordinated with the Making Work Pay Credit.

Regarding H.R. 3073, Homelessness Prevention Program : Hearing before the Committee on Veterans' Affairs United States House of Representatives

paffairs@urban.org ( Mary K. Cunningham ) — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 00:00:00 EST

Testimony from Mary Cunningham on H.R. 3073 for the United States House of Representatives, the Committee on Veterans Affairs. H.R. 3073 would create a homelessness prevention program for low-income veterans.

Risk and Recovery: Understanding the Changing Risks to Family Incomes

paffairs@urban.org ( Gregory Acs, Pamela J. Loprest, Austin Nichols ) — Mon, 12 Oct 2009 00:00:00 EST

This paper examines the characteristics and circumstances of families vulnerable to sharp income drops and those most likely to recover financially. More than 13 percent of nonelderly adults in families with children will see their incomes fall by half at some point over the course of a year, and about 40 percent fully recover within a year. Those who lose jobs or have an adult leave the family are more likely to have a substantial drop in income and are less likely to recover.This study uses data from the Survey of Income and Program Participation, which collects data every four months and can provide information on short-term income loss.

Are Families Prepared for Financial Emergencies?

paffairs@urban.org ( Caroline Ratcliffe, Katie Vinopal ) — Thu, 17 Sep 2009 00:00:00 EST

Data from the 2007 Survey of Consumer Finances show a disturbing reality. Even prior to the current recession, many families did not have enough assets to see them through a modest spell of unemployment or another financial emergency. In 2007, nearly one in three U.S. families were liquid asset poor. Low-income, young, and nonemployed families are more vulnerable to economic emergencies. For example, two-thirds (68 percent) of bottom income quintile families and 47 percent of second income quintile families are liquid asset poor, while such shortfalls affect only 1 percent of top income quintile families.

Testimony on Income and Poverty in the United States: 2008 : Before the Joint Economic Committee of the United States Congress

paffairs@urban.org ( Harry Holzer ) — Thu, 10 Sep 2009 00:00:00 EST

Between 2007 and 2008, real incomes fell and poverty rose in the United States, Institute Fellow Harry Holzer testified before the Joint Economic Committee of Congress. Even if the recession ends this year, rising unemployment will mean that real income keeps falling while poverty increases for a few more years and almost certainly by much more than occurred between 2007 and 2008. It will likely take several years beyond 2010 before real income and poverty fully recover from the effects of the downturn.

Transitioning In and Out of Poverty

Thu, 10 Sep 2009 00:00:00 EST

Slightly more than half of the U.S. population experiences poverty at some time before age 65. Roughly half of those who get out of poverty will become poor again within five years. Who is more likely to enter poverty? How long are people poor? And what events are associated with falling into and climbing out of poverty? This fact sheet summarizes key findings from the poverty dynamics literature to describe how, why, and when people move in and out of poverty.

Poverty in the United States, 2008

paffairs@urban.org ( Gregory Acs ) — Thu, 10 Sep 2009 00:00:00 EST

Today, the U.S. Census Bureau announced that the U.S. poverty rate reached 13.2 percent in 2008. Even this significant increase from the 12.5 percent rate in 2007 surely understates the share of Americans struggling to make ends meet today in September 2009.

Rising Poverty Threatens Neighborhood Vitality

paffairs@urban.org ( Margery Austin Turner ) — Thu, 10 Sep 2009 00:00:00 EST

High poverty rates, especially among African Americans and Latinos, threaten the well-being of neighborhoods as well as families. We can anticipate that the number of neighborhoods with dangerously high poverty rates is higher today than in 2000, representing a tragic reversal of the downward trend between 1990 and 2000. Historically, public policies played a central role in establishing and enforcing patterns of racial segregation, alongside discriminatory practices by the private sector and individuals. But no single causal process explains the persistence of residential segregation in America today. To ensure the well-being and sustainability of all neighborhoods, public policies must intervene to break the cycle.

The Effect of Alternative Savings Approaches on College Aid

paffairs@urban.org ( Elaine Maag ) — Mon, 24 Aug 2009 00:00:00 EST

To pay for college, many low- and moderate-income students and their families rely on financial aid and savings. But how students and families saveand in whose nameaffects both the tax consequences and the impact of savings on financial aid. Not saving in a tax-preferred account can raise the out-of-pocket costs of college by thousands of dollars. Alternately, saving for college can result in tax penalties if families do not use tax-preferred savings for education.

Infants and Toddlers in State and Federal Budgets: Summary Report from Urban Institute Roundtable

paffairs@urban.org ( Rosa Maria Castaneda, Olivia Golden ) — Fri, 21 Aug 2009 00:00:00 EST

This report summarizes the roundtable "Infants and Toddlers in State and Federal Budgets: Yesterday's Choices, Today's Decisions, Tomorrow's Options" conducted by the Urban Institute, with support from the A.L. Mailman Family Foundation, on March 30, 2009. The roundtable's focus grew out of the widely perceived mismatch between sharply limited public investments on infants and toddlers and an accumulated body of research demonstrating the significance of the earliest years of life. We describe the group's diverse perspectives and wide-ranging discussion of strategies to address this mismatch.

Many Low-Income Working Families Turn to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program for Help

paffairs@urban.org ( Sheila R. Zedlewski, Ei Yin Mon ) — Tue, 11 Aug 2009 00:00:00 EST

The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) provides essential help in purchasing food for most low-income Americans. Most families can qualify for benefits if their assets and income fall below minimum levels. SNAP caseloads are at an all-time high due to the recession and to program changes making it easier to receive benefits. The majority of working families that receive assistance are headed by single parents that work part time. SNAP benefits substantially reduce poverty, especially deep poverty, when benefits are added to cash income.

Racial and Ethnic Disparities Among Low-Income Families

paffairs@urban.org ( Margaret Simms, Karina Fortuny, Everett Henderson ) — Tue, 11 Aug 2009 00:00:00 EST

Low-income status in the United States varies significantly by race and ethnicity. Of the more than 13.4 million families with children living on incomes less than 200 percent of the federal poverty level, 30 percent are Hispanic, 22 percent are black or African American, and 6 percent are other nonwhites. This fact sheet provides statistics on racial and ethnic differences in family structure, work effort, nativity or immigration status, earnings, and education.

Academic Perspectives on the Future of Public Housing : Before the U.S. House of Representatives, Committee on Financial Services, Subcommittee on Housing and Community Opportunity

paffairs@urban.org ( Susan J. Popkin ) — Wed, 29 Jul 2009 00:00:00 EST

Many policy makers and scholars regard the HOPE VI Program as one of the nation's most successful urban redevelopment programs (c.f. Katz 2009; Cisneros 2009). But despite its very real accomplishments, the HOPE VI program's record in meeting the needs of the original residents who endured the worst consequences of the failures of public housing is mixed. With its proposed "Choice Neighborhoods" initiative, the Obama administration has the opportunity to build on the experiences of nearly two decades of experience with HOPE VI. Incorporating intensive case management and permanent supportive housing for the most vulnerable into Choice Neighborhoods and any other comprehensive redevelopment efforts is one way to ensure that these initiatives truly meet the needs of all public housing families.

Rich with Insights on Child Welfare, New Book Maps Out Organizational Change and Children's Policy Reforms

paffairs@urban.org ( The Urban Institute ) — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 00:00:00 EST

As the director of the District of Columbia's Child and Family Services Agency, Olivia Golden led the turnaround of a troubled system. In her new book, Reforming Child Welfare, she draws on her expertise as a senior federal official, local administrator, and an academic to map out strategies for improving and revitalizing the last safety net for vulnerable children and families, the public child welfare system.

A National Commitment to Ending Homelessness among Veterans - Why Affordable Housing Programs Matter : Testimony before the U.S. House Committee on Veterans' Affairs

paffairs@urban.org ( Mary K. Cunningham ) — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 00:00:00 EST

In this testimony, Mary Cunningham discusses different housing-based interventions that policymakers could adopt to end homelessness among veterans. Increasing HUD-VASH vouchers and tightly targeting them to high need veterans, as well as increasing rapid rehousing programs and affordable housing programs for low-income veterans who are homeless primarily for economic reasons are discussed.

Reject proposal to end welfare

paffairs@urban.org ( Olivia Golden, Sheila R. Zedlewski ) — Tue, 16 Jun 2009 00:00:00 EST

In this commentary for The Press-Enterprise (Riverside, Calif.), Olivia Golden and Sheila Zedlewski advise states to grab the federal dollars offered by the economic stimulus package to help pay for recession-driven increases in the demand for welfare.

The Stimulus and Poverty: A Role for Foundations in Seizing the Moment : How Foundations Can Help the Stimulus Reach Low-Income Families

paffairs@urban.org ( Olivia Golden ) — Mon, 15 Jun 2009 00:00:00 EST

In this commentary for SpotlightOnPoverty.org, Institute Fellow Olivia Golden lays out five strategic investments foundations can make to sustain the economic stimulus package's positive outcomes for low-income families.

Disabilities Among TANF Recipients: Evidence from the NHIS

paffairs@urban.org ( Pamela J. Loprest, Elaine Maag ) — Thu, 14 May 2009 00:00:00 EST

This project uses data from the 2005/2006 National Health Interview Survey to provide a profile of the prevalence of different types of disability and employment among TANF recipients. We find that prevalence of disability varies widely depending on the specific measure used. Using narrow and broad composite disability measures, anywhere from 10 to 40 percent of TANF recipients have a disability and almost one-fifth have a family member with a disability. Disability prevalence among Food Stamp recipients is similar to TANF but low-income mothers have lower prevalence on almost all measures. Employment among TANF recipients with disabilities is considerably lower than among recipients without disabilities.

Five Questions For Mary Cunningham

paffairs@urban.org ( Mary K. Cunningham ) — Wed, 22 Apr 2009 00:00:00 EST

Mary Cunningham, author of "Preventing and Ending HomelessnessNext Steps," answers five questions about how to combat homelessness. Evidence-based approaches have cut homelessness among chronically homeless single adults and new strategies are now being adopted to help homeless families. Investing in proven strategies is crucial as the economic crisis puts more people at risk of ending up in shelters and threatens to reverse the progress communities have made toward ending and preventing homelessness.

Assisting Newcomers through Employment and Support Services : An Evaluation of the New Americans Centers Demonstration Project in Arkansas and Iowa

paffairs@urban.org ( Robin Koralek, Joanna Parnes ) — Wed, 15 Apr 2009 00:00:00 EST

The U.S. Department of Labor Employment and Training Administration (ETA) provided a three-year demonstration grant to Arkansas and Iowa to develop New Americans Centers (NACs) in high immigrant population areas. The purposes of the grant are to promote stability and rapid employment with living wages, speed the transition of new immigrants into communities, assist employers, and enhance local economic development opportunities. This paper is the first report in an ongoing Urban Institute evaluation of the NACs. It focuses on the initial implementation phase of the NACs, highlighting start-up and early operation as well as the types of services participants receive.

The Stimulus Package (HR1) and Low-Income Families

paffairs@urban.org ( Margaret Simms ) — Wed, 08 Apr 2009 00:00:00 EST

This speech, given at the University of Chicago's School of Social Service Administration, discusses how the stimulus package addresses the policy needs of low-income working families. It focuses on three questions: how it might reduce poverty in the short term; how it might help position service providers for addressing poverty in the long term; and what researchers can do to inform future policies in this area. Efforts are compared to the following goals: increasing wages, promoting job stability and upward mobility, and providing income supports when needed.

A New Minimum Benefit for Low Lifetime Earners

paffairs@urban.org ( Melissa Favreault ) — Tue, 24 Mar 2009 00:00:00 EST

Despite working hard and playing by the rules over long periods, many workers end up poor in retirement. We propose an enhanced minimum benefit for Social Security that targets long-career workers with low lifetime earnings along with a modest credit that compensates workers for up to three years out of the labor market due to caregiving, unemployment, or poor health. By combining these elements, the proposal provides work incentives, yet recognizes realities facing low-wage workers, many of whom have had intermittent work careers. We show that these proposed enhancements would allow more adults to retire with a secure financial foothold.

Financial Hardship before and after Social Security's Eligibility Age

paffairs@urban.org ( Richard W. Johnson, Gordon Mermin ) — Tue, 24 Mar 2009 00:00:00 EST

Although poverty rates for Americans age 65 and older have plunged over the past half century, many people continue to fall into poverty as they approach 62, Social Security's early eligibility age. Among those who did not complete high school, hardship rates increase from 23 percent at age 52 to 54 to 31 percent at age 60 to 61, a relative increase of 36 percent. Hardship rates decline after age 62, when most people qualify for Social Security. These findings highlight the fragility of the income support system for Americans in their fifties and early sixties.

The Minnesota Integrated Services Project : Final Report on an Initiative to Improve Outcomes for Hard-to-Employ Welfare Recipients

Fri, 20 Mar 2009 00:00:00 EST

The Minnesota Integrated Services Projects focus on improving the delivery of employment, health, and social services to families who receive cash assistance and have serious or multiple barriers to employment. Operating in eight sites, the project seeks to provide comprehensive assessments of participants' barriers, improve access to more complete services that address multiple needs, and coordinate services provided by multiple service systems. This is the final report in an evaluation of the project and describes the changes in the economic outcomes and family-related outcomes of ISP participants over a two-year period, provides estimates of the relationship between ISP participation and participants' employment and MFIP outcomes, and provides conclusions and policy recommendations.

A Safety Net For the Least Fortunate

paffairs@urban.org ( Peter Edelman, Mark Greenberg, Harry Holzer ) — Tue, 17 Feb 2009 00:00:00 EST

In this Washington Post commentary, Institute Fellow Harry Holzer suggests ways to help those most adversely affected by the economic downturnlow-income single mothers, disadvantaged adults, youths, and their families.

The Economic Recovery Package Will Help Poor Older Adults, but More Could Be Done

paffairs@urban.org ( Sheila R. Zedlewski ) — Thu, 12 Feb 2009 00:00:00 EST

Older adults often are left out of policy conversations on poverty because many believe that relatively few of them experience economic hardship. Yet an updated measure of poverty indicates that the rate for adults ages 65 and older matches the rate for children. The Economic Recovery package under consideration includes some provisions that would benefit older adults, but more could be done. One-time payments for those receiving welfare and increases in food assistance benefits especially would help some poor older adults. Investments in the job skills of those who want to work should also be considered.

Preventing and Ending Homelessness-Next Steps

paffairs@urban.org ( Mary K. Cunningham ) — Fri, 06 Feb 2009 00:00:00 EST

Across the country, communities are working to end homelessness by investing in Housing First approaches that help families and single adults get back into permanent housing. Until recently, many of these communities were reducing homelessness. Today, the housing crisis and economic recession threatens progress and puts millions of Americans at risk of homelessness. Many expect the homeless numbers to swell-and some communities are already reporting sharp increases, particularly among families. This brief examines the current state of homelessness, how community responses are changing, what is working, and, most important, what policymakers should be doing to move forward, not backward.

Unemployment Insurance: Current Situation and Potential Reforms

paffairs@urban.org ( Wayne Vroman ) — Wed, 04 Feb 2009 00:00:00 EST

This short paper summarizes the current situation of state unemployment insurance (UI) programs in the United States. It describes benefit recipiency, UI trust fund balances and administrative financing. Policies are recommended to increase solvency of the trust funds, raise recipiency rates and to improve the adequacy of administrative funding.

Tailoring Assistance : How Antipoverty Policy Can Address Diverse Needs within the Poverty Population

paffairs@urban.org ( Margaret Simms ) — Mon, 19 Jan 2009 00:00:00 EST

Commentary to Spotlight on Poverty and Opportunity

It has been said that we are entering a new era of government policy. If so, it could be an opportune time to belatedly heed the call of Dr. Martin Luther King and revamp our policies toward the poor. Over the past decade we have moved from a set of policies that provided cash assistance (mostly inadequate) to people who were in need (by standards set by the government) to one in which those who can work are expected to do so. In the process, we have ignored the fact that the poor are not a homogenous group of people, all of whom can and will work if they have no other means of support. They are, in fact, quite diverse. Recognizing this diversity is a necessary prerequisite for developing effective antipoverty policies.

Read the full commentary on the Spotlight on Poverty and Opportunity web site.

Unemployment and Income in a Recession : Recession and Recovery, No. 1

paffairs@urban.org ( Gregory Acs ) — Mon, 22 Dec 2008 00:00:00 EST

This brief, part of the Urban Institute's "Recession and Recover" series, assesses how unemployment and household income changes as the economy moves through a recession and into recovery.

Unemployment Insurance during a Recession : Recession and Recovery, No. 2

paffairs@urban.org ( Margaret Simms, Daniel Kuehn ) — Mon, 22 Dec 2008 00:00:00 EST

This brief, part of the Urban Institute's "Recession and Recover" series, examines how the Unemployment Insurance program responds during a recession and how that response may differ in the current recession from its response in the past.

The Role of Welfare during a Recession : Recession and Recovery, No. 3

paffairs@urban.org ( Sheila R. Zedlewski ) — Mon, 22 Dec 2008 00:00:00 EST

This brief, part of the Urban Institute's "Recession and Recover" series, examines how the TANF program (formerly AFDC) responds during a recession and how that response may differ in the current recession from its response in the past.

SNAP and the Recession : Recession and Recovery, No. 4

paffairs@urban.org ( Kenneth Finegold ) — Mon, 22 Dec 2008 00:00:00 EST

This brief, part of the Urban Institute's "Recession and Recover" series, examines how the SNAP program (formerly food stamps) responds during a recession and how that response may differ in the current recession from its response in the past.

The Recession and the Earned Income Tax Credit : Recession and Recovery, No. 5

paffairs@urban.org ( Roberton Williams, Elaine Maag ) — Mon, 22 Dec 2008 00:00:00 EST

This brief, part of the Urban Institute's "Recession and Recover" series, assesses the extent to which the Earned Income Tax Credit can help families hit by job losses and falling incomes during a recession.

Health Coverage in a Recession : Recession and Recovery, No. 6

paffairs@urban.org ( Stan Dorn ) — Mon, 22 Dec 2008 00:00:00 EST

This brief, part of the Urban Institute's "Recession and Recover" series, examines how the Medicaid and SCHIP programs respond during a recession and how that response may differ in the current recession from their responses in the past. It also assesses the extent to which health insurance coverage may decline as unemployment rises.

Recession and Recovery: Facts and Forecasts

paffairs@urban.org ( The Urban Institute ) — Mon, 22 Dec 2008 00:00:00 EST

Six new briefs from the nonpartisan Urban Institute show how Americans have fared during and after downturns since the 1970s, what might be ahead, and how government programs aid those in distress.

Low-Skill Jobs, Work Hours, and Paid Time Off : Brief No. 2

paffairs@urban.org ( Gregory Acs, Pamela J. Loprest ) — Thu, 04 Dec 2008 00:00:00 EST

This brief uses data from the 2007 Survey of Employers in the Low-Skill Labor Market to examine the scheduling demands employers place on workers recently hired to fill noncollege jobs and to assess the availability of paid time off, sick leave and other benefits that help workers balance their work and family lives.

Job Placement Agencies and the Low-Skill Labor Market : Brief No. 3

paffairs@urban.org ( Gregory Acs, Pamela J. Loprest ) — Thu, 04 Dec 2008 00:00:00 EST

This brief uses data from the 2007 Survey of Employers in the Low-Skill Labor Market to describe the role job placement agencies play in helping employers fill noncollege jobs.

Department of Health and Human Services: Improving Services for Children and Families

paffairs@urban.org ( Olivia Golden, Joan Lombardi ) — Wed, 03 Dec 2008 00:00:00 EST

This chapter was part of an online effort by the Center for American Progress Action Fund and New Democracy Project to offer expert advice to the new administration as part of its Change for America book project (http://www.americanprogressaction.org/issues/2008/changeforamerica/additionalcontributions.html). Washingtons new leadership, its authors say, should build on the Administration for Children and Families assets and focus on the interrelated goals of promoting family economic security and promoting healthy child and youth development. These twin goals can best be achieved through new strategic investments, capacity building and innovative partnerships, coordination across offices and departments, and collaboration with states and the private sector.

Federal Programs for Addressing Low-Income Housing Needs : A Policy Primer

paffairs@urban.org ( Margery Austin Turner, G. Thomas Kingsley ) — Mon, 01 Dec 2008 00:00:00 EST

Housing costs constitute the single biggest expenditure in most family budgets, and many low-income families have difficulty finding housing they can reasonably afford. Although most family-strengthening and community change initiatives recognize the urgency of the housing problems facing low-income families, they often have difficulty figuring out how to constructively address them. Federal housing programs are numerous and confusing, implementation is balkanized, funding falls woefully short of needs, and policy debates often focus on narrow technical issues. This primer demystifies federal rental assistance programs and provides the most current information available on how many (and who) they serve and how their scale is changing. It also summarizes key challenges facing housing policy today and in the coming yearschallenges that may create opportunities for federal, state, and local engagement and innovation.

Policy Primer Demystifies Federal Afforable Housing Programs

paffairs@urban.org ( The Urban Institute ) — Mon, 01 Dec 2008 00:00:00 EST

Although the ongoing foreclosure crisis has focused the nations attention on housing problems and policies, the struggles of renters have largely been overlooked. A new guide demystifies federal rental assistance programs, providing the latest information on who they serve and how their scale has changed, details on funding flows and federal-state-local-private responsibilities, explanations of how participants are selected, and overviews of challenges facing housing policy.

U.S. Intragenerational Economic Mobility From 1984 to 2004 : Trends and Implications

paffairs@urban.org ( Gregory Acs, Seth Zimmerman ) — Mon, 17 Nov 2008 00:00:00 EST

This report explores how Americans have moved up and down the income ladder over the last two decades, and whether it has been more difficult for Americans to get and stay ahead in the last decade. The report focuses on intragenerational mobility: how individuals change economic positions within their own lifetimes.

Three Considerations for Children's Savings Accounts

paffairs@urban.org ( Barbara Butrica ) — Thu, 13 Nov 2008 00:00:00 EST

A primary goal of children's savings accounts (CSAs) is to provide children, especially in low-income families, a strong economic footing. The ability to do that, however, depends on how CSAs are designed and how much families contribute. This study uses projections from the Urban Institute's DYNASIM model to estimate the wealth building impact of CSAs under alternative scenarios that vary the design features. The results highlight three points relevant for any asset-building proposal or program: incentives make a difference, targeting can be difficult, and nontaxability matters for all subsidies.

What Can We Expect from Children's Savings Accounts?

paffairs@urban.org ( Barbara Butrica ) — Thu, 13 Nov 2008 00:00:00 EST

Children's savings accounts (CSAs) are being promoted to improve financial literacy, increase the number of low- to moderate-income households that are banked, and encourage saving for education, homeownership, or retirement. This study uses projections from the Urban Institute's DYNASIM model to estimate the wealth building impact of CSAs. The results suggest that most CSAs will have small balances after accounting for inflation. Still, such accounts could help get children, particularly those in low-income families, into financial instruments that demonstrate the value of saving and of compound interest.

Understanding the Consequences of Hurricane Katrina for ACF Service Populations : A Feasibility Assessment of Study Approaches

paffairs@urban.org ( Fredrica D. Kramer, Kenneth Finegold, Daniel Kuehn ) — Wed, 05 Nov 2008 00:00:00 EST

This report is an analysis of alternative datasets and research approaches to assess the effects of Hurricane Katrina on populations served by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services/Administration for Children and Families (ACF). The assessment addresses four overarching research questions, with an emphasis on using existing datasets: 1) where did populations of interest go and where are they living since Katrina; what are the effects on income and employment; what are the needs for ACF programs and services; and how did the disaster affect ACF programs themselves? The report includes an extensive annotated bibliography of analyses through January 2007.

Workforce Development as an Antipoverty Strategy : What Do We Know? What Should We Do?

paffairs@urban.org ( Harry Holzer ) — Thu, 30 Oct 2008 00:00:00 EST

In this paper I note the basic paradox of workforce development policy: that, in an era in which skills are more important than ever as determinants of labor market earnings, we spend fewer and fewer public (federal) dollars on workforce development over time. I present trends in funding and in program evolution over time for programs funded by the Department of Labor and others. I then review the cost-effectiveness of programs for adults and youth from the evaluation literature. I consider some other possible reasons for funding declines, and some newer developments in workforce policy, mostly at the state and local levels, before concluding with some policy recommendations.

Impact of Rising Gas Prices on Below-Poverty Commuters

paffairs@urban.org ( Christopher Hayes ) — Thu, 02 Oct 2008 00:00:00 EST

While the increase in gas prices has increased costs for all commuters, workers from households whose income is below the federal poverty level pay a larger proportion of their income for gas. This fact sheet uses data from the 2006 American Community Survey to quantify the relative burden of gas use for commuting.

Workforce Development and the Disadvantaged : New Directions for 2009 and Beyond

paffairs@urban.org ( Harry Holzer ) — Thu, 02 Oct 2008 00:00:00 EST

The Workforce Investment Act (WIA) officially expired in 2003 but has not yet been reauthorized. With a new administration and Congress due in 2009, what should they consider regarding workforce development and the disadvantaged population? This brief reviews the arguments for a workforce development system, examining both the strengths and weaknesses of the current WIA program. Among the proposals are expanded funding, and planning grants which states could use to target industries and sectors with unmet demands for skilled workers. They would then identify potential "pathways" for different groups of disadvantaged workers to meet those demands.

Food Stamps, Federalism, and Working Families

paffairs@urban.org ( Kenneth Finegold ) — Tue, 16 Sep 2008 00:00:00 EST

Food stamp benefits can provide an important supplement to the income of working families (families with children under 18 and earnings), who now make up nearly 40 percent of program participants. States can take advantage of Food Stamp Program policy options that increase eligibility and benefits. Seven policy options are particularly important for working families: more liberal vehicle rules, expanded categorical eligibility, transitional benefits for families leaving cash assistance, outreach, longer certification periods, reduced reporting requirements, and waivers of the required face-to-face interviews at recertification.

Q&A: New Income and Poverty Statistics and the Social Safety Net

Wed, 27 Aug 2008 00:00:00 EST

The Census Bureau released its annual report on income, poverty, and health insurance coverage for the U.S. population on August 26, 2008. According to the report, median household income increased by 1.3 percent in 2007, while the overall poverty rate dipped slightly and the number and percentage of people without health insurance decreased. While the overall numbers were positive, not everyone shared in the economic gains. The number and percentage of children in poverty increased, and households in the lowest 40 percent of the income distribution had no significant income gains.