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.
Amid Record-High Parent Stress, Early Childhood Home Visiting Programs Can Offer Some Relief Nearly half of parents of minors report their stress is completely overwhelming on most days—a rate double that of adults without children. What interventions can help?The Los Angeles Wildfires Pose Great Health and Housing Risks, Especially for People with Disabilities Disaster recovery efforts often fail to meet the housing and health needs of disabled people, so Los Angeles city officials will need to make a conscious effort to support disabled residents displaced by the wildfires.Including Rental Payment History in Underwriting and Credit Scores Could Expand Access to Credit Using alternative data, such as rental payment history, in credit scoring and mortgage underwriting can help people who lack access to traditional financial services build credit and become homeowners.How the Los Angeles Fires Are Compounding the Risk of Homelessness The devastating effects of the fires in Los Angeles pose larger health risks to people experiencing unsheltered homelessness and could put more people at risk of homelessness.Community Voices Can Help Local Governments Prevent Violence Despite violent crime rates falling since 2021, community violence remains a critical national issue. Three recommendations can help create a future without violence by elevating community insights.It’s Legal for Some Employers to Pay Disabled Workers Less Than the Minimum Wage. Ending This Practice Is Just a First Step Toward Supporting Their Economic Stability The Biden administration’s recent proposal to phase out a program that pays disabled people subminimum wages follows decades of state and local actions to end the practice in favor of more inclusive, equitable employment strategies.