Throughout June, Urban Institute scholars  will offer evidence-based ideas for reducing poverty and increasing opportunity.

Persistent poverty and limited economic opportunity remain a challenge for far too many Americans. More than 48 million Americans, including one in six children, live in poverty, and that’s after accounting for programs like the earned income tax credit, housing subsidies, and food assistance. Only a third of people born near the bottom of the income ladder ever reach the middle rung.

How can we do better? Under Speaker Paul Ryan’s leadership, House Republicans just released a blueprint for “reforming our welfare, workforce, and education programs” to “empower Americans to achieve the American Dream.” President Obama’s final budget emphasized “opportunity for all,” including efforts to improve education and training and increase the focus on employment in welfare programs. And many observers have been inspired by the 20th anniversary of 1996’s landmark welfare reform to reconsider how best to help people with low incomes.

Urban Institute scholars have examined these issues for decades, offering solutions to help people move up from poverty. From tackling persistent poverty in distressed urban areas to harnessing data to strengthen Head Start to supporting the child care and training needs of families striving to move from welfare to work, our scholars have worked to identify what works and what does not.

Throughout June, our scholars will build on that history by offering concrete solutions and strategies for reducing poverty and increasing opportunity. Each Urban Wire post will offer evidence-based ideas for how our nation can effectively tackle specific challenges, from improving the social safety net to building skills to giving kids a good start in life. We’ll draw upon our research and upon promising practices around the country.

We hope this series offers meaningful ideas for policies and efforts that can put more Americans on the path to economic security.

More posts in this series:

• A “better way” to end poverty: Look at the evidence
• Help families in poverty by speeding delivery of SNAP benefits
• Tax credits could reduce poverty even more—by including workers without children at home
• How to expand opportunity through a better TANF program
• School choice as an antipoverty strategy
• Expanding opportunity through career pathways and training for middle-skill jobs
• Reduce poverty by improving housing stability
• Can you tackle poverty without taking on place?
• A “better way” for nonprofits and government to partner to address poverty
• Making early care and education strategies really work for families
• Four insights on reducing poverty and increasing opportunity