A family unpacks groceries at the kitchen table. A young girl holds up a bag of oranges.

Comprehensive data on the number of people eligible for major US safety net programs, how many of those eligible receive the benefits, and the extent to which receiving those benefits reduces poverty.

 Aerial top-down view of a suburban neighborhood with single-family houses, green lawns, driveways, and trees lining a grid of residential streets, with a few cars parked along the road.

In the face of today’s affordable housing crisis, federal policymakers can provide the leadership needed to advance a sustained, comprehensive strategy that drives down costs for all families.

 Image of an empty hallway in a prison

Corrections officers spend a disproportionate amount of time on administrative tasks rather than helping prisoners in ways that improve outcomes. AI is one tool to help, but it must be implemented thoughtfully.

 President Trump gives a speech in front of a sign that says “Lower Prices.”

Addressing the affordability crisis will require a broad set of strategies from every level of government, including policies that tackle housing, health care, income, and more.
State of the Safety Net
Spotlight on Social Safety Net
Family of four eating a meal outside at a table
young woman shops at a grocery store
photo of woman using a laptop computer at home
Woman wearing a mask at a reception desk.

“It felt like research in the beginning, but it felt like family at the end, because we all came together.” — Stan Hamilton, High School Football Coach at Benning Terrace

Read: Making Their Voices Heard: Improving Research through Community Collaboration.

“When investing in communities, it’s important to make sure that in that funding, there are opportunities for the people who are already invested in their communities to be a part of it.” — Courtney Gibbs, Program Director, Sasha Bruce Youthwork

Read: Why Investing in Trusted Community-Based Organizations Is Crucial to Sustainability.

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