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.
Many Young Adults Have Taken on Debt. It Could Jeopardize Their Financial Futures. Taking on debt can allow young adults to navigate new careers and educational opportunities, but high debt burdens risk limiting young people’s current and future financial prospects.America Needs a Comprehensive National Housing Strategy on Everything from Homelessness to Homeownership Creating a comprehensive national housing plan must include policies that address homelessness, rental insecurity, housing affordability, and supply shortages while considering sustainability, equity, and future needs.Nontraditional Jobs Come with Some Benefits but Also Significant Drawbacks for Black Women Black women have been pushed into a disproportionate share of “vulnerable” jobs—even when they qualify for something better—and these often come with low pay, few benefits, and unreliable hours. Additional protections can help improve their well-being—no matter what kind of work they do.Factory-Built Housing Offers an Overlooked Tool for City Officials Cities currently struggling with a housing supply crisis can look to a decades-old New York City initiative to build more housing.Five Facts That Debunk Myths about the Opioid Crisis As the opioid epidemic persists and misinformation about its causes and solutions abound, accurate information and effective interventions are urgently needed to shift narratives and save lives.Coal Communities Need Deeper Investments in Capacity Building to Capitalize on Energy Transition Funding With billions in Inflation Reduction Act funding earmarked for communities transitioning away from the coal industry, policymakers can look to the Coal Communities Commitment Program for lessons on how to best support these places.