Articles and analysis on today's issues

Federal cuts to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program could cause some DC-area families to lose an average of $187 in monthly benefits.
What Happens If the Census Doesn’t Count Everyone? Changing the US Census to exclude people without legal status would have real consequences for state budgets and community well-being.Ninety Years after Its Creation, Social Security Must Adapt to a More Unequal Society Ninety years after the Social Security Act was signed into law, the program remains popular but needs modern retooling to continue to support beneficiaries with low incomes and disabled adults.Considerations for Implementing New Credit Scores in Mortgage Lending For borrowers to benefit from new credit scores that incorporate rent payments in mortgage underwriting, the new scores must be implemented with clear guidance, standardization in pricing frameworks, and robust data disclosure practices.New Trump Policies Targeting Homelessness Threaten the Rights of People with Disabilities New federal policies promoting involuntary institutionalization threaten the right to the home- and community-based services for disabled people and older adults that keep them out of institutional care and off the streets.In Most Regions, Metropolitan Planning Boards Overrepresent Homeowners and Drivers The appointed and elected officials who sit on the boards of a large share of regional planning organizations rarely reflect the people they serve.The National Guard Won’t End Homelessness. Housing Resources Can. Despite a nationwide trend toward criminalizing people experiencing homelessness, decades of research show that housing resources and other supports remain the best solution to helping people exit homelessness.