Economic Security

The Daily Rundown — The Latest News Affecting Women & Girls in Our Region

Posted on by Mariah Craven

In today’s rundown: The basic costs of raising a child.  |  More students are saving money by beginning their college careers in community colleges before transferring to public universities.

— Raising a child is 22 percent more costly today than it was in 1960, according to a USDA study which found that a two-parent, middle-income household will spend $222,360 on raising one child through the age of 17.  The study also found that, on average, low-income households spend more than twice as much of their before-tax income than high-income households do.  Click here for a slide show breaking down the costs of child-rearing.

— A record number of students are using community colleges as a transfer pipeline to public universities in Virginia and Maryland, according to this article in the Washington Post.  A shift in admissions standards guaranteeing acceptance for community college students with good grades is helping families save money and bringing diversity to four-year schools.

The Daily Rundown — The Latest News Affecting Women & Girls in Our Region

Posted on by Mariah Craven

398px-Deepwater_Horizon_oil_spill_skimming_responseIn today’s rundown: A Women’s Foundation Grantee Partner helps oil spill victims.  |  PG County accounts for nearly 30% of Maryland’s foreclosure rate.  |  And even though the recession dragged on last year, more Americans volunteered, giving $169 billion worth of their time.

— Boat People S.O.S., Inc. (BPSOS), a Women’s Foundation Grantee Partner, is providing new services to help Gulf Coast residents affected by the oil spill.  With the oil spill crippling seafood industries — a major source of employment in the area — BPSOS is offering services ranging from help with food stamp benefits to advocacy and legal services.  Click here to find out what they’re doing.

— Despite the recession, last year’s volunteer rate increased in the biggest one-year jump since 2003, according to a new study.  27 percent of all Americans — that’s 63 million people — donated more than 8 billion hours of service, worth an estimated $169 billion, according to the Corporation for National and Community Service.  Click here for more.

— The Maryland home foreclosure rate rose again last month with Prince George’s County accounting for nearly 30 percent of all foreclosures in the state.  The Prince George’s rate was one filing per 138 households — almost triple the state rate.  Nationwide, the foreclosure rate went down in May.  Click here for details.

Photo credit: U. S. Coast Guard photo by Ensign Jason Radcliffe

The Daily Rundown — The Latest News Affecting Women & Girls in Our Region

Posted on by Mariah Craven

MObamaAnacostia_WhiteHousePhotoIn today’s rundown: The first lady addresses Anacostia Senior High School graduates after their school sees dramatic improvement.  |  Questions for local politicians on how they’ll defeat poverty.  |  And why health care reform needs to provide women with more than health insurance.

— First lady Michelle Obama addressed graduating seniors from Anacostia Senior High School this weekend, telling them to work hard and dream big.  The first lady also became emotional while thanking family members for supporting the graduates.  Anacostia has seen a dramatic improvement in its graduation rate.  Last year, about half of the students graduated.  Since a charter school group began managing the school, the graduation rate has risen to 80 percent.  Click here to listen to part of the first lady’s speech.

— In this letter to the editor in the Washington Post, D.C. Appleseed — one of The Women’s Foundation’s Grantee Partners — asks what political candidates plan to do about the unacceptably high rate of poverty in The District.  The piece also mentions Defeat Poverty DC, a coalition of residents and advocacy groups that are fighting to put a spotlight on poverty during the 2010 elections and beyond.

— Will the new federal health care law defend against the impoverishing effects of medical debt?  With women more likely to be sent into poverty by medical bills than men, some experts say the law needs to provide women with comprehensive coverage as well as more insurance.  Click here for details.

Photo credit: Official White House photo by Samantha Appleton

Weekly Round-Up: News and Analysis on Women and Poverty (Week ending June 4, 2010)

Posted on by The Spotlight and Opportunity Team

The latest news, analysis and opinion on the state of low-income women and their families from Spotlight on Poverty and Opportunity. This week: Why the governor of one state vetoed a health insurance program for low-income families.  And how losing a job sent one middle class mother and her children into poverty.

Spotlight on Poverty and Opportunity, a national foundation-led initiative, is excited to collaborate with the Women’s Foundation to bring you the latest news and analysis on women and poverty.

Spotlight is the go-to site for news and ideas about fighting poverty.

Here’s this week’s news:

· The Associated Press reports that Alaska Gov. Sean Parnell will veto expansion of a health insurance program for low-income families because the program pays for abortions.

· The Washington Post profiles Jackelyne Aguilera, one of a half-dozen low-income women, who formerly worked as a domestic servant and is now learning carpentry skills in order to launch a new career.

·Eladia Fonseca proudly flaunts her newly renovated home to the Philadelphia Daily News, telling the paper that the low-income housing complex is no longer a haven for drug and gang activity.

·Newsday interviews Rachel Perales about how she and her four children descended from the middle class into poverty after she was laid off in December 2008.

To learn more about Spotlight visit www.spotlightonpoverty.org

To sign up for our weekly updates with the latest news, opinion and research from around the country, click here.

The Spotlight on Poverty and Opportunity team

The Daily Rundown — The Latest News Affecting Women & Girls in Our Region

Posted on by Mariah Craven

In today’s rundown: Major changes to D.C.’s subsidized guardianship laws.  |  Emergency executive orders mean higher taxes, fees and fines in the District.  |  And the youth job market outlook just in time for the end of the school year.

— The Foster & Adoptive Parent Advocacy Center (FAPAC) is applauding members of the D.C. Council for passing the Adoption and Guardianship Subsidy Emergency and Temporary Amendment Acts of 2010.  The legislation expands guardianship and adoption subsidies until youths turn 21 and expands the definition of those eligible to apply to become subsidized guardians.  Before the legislation was passed that opportunity was open only to “kin or godparents.”  Now, foster parents or others who have a significant relationship with a child can become subsidized guardians.  This is particularly important to older youth in the foster care system.  FAPAC is a Women’s Foundation Grantee Partner.

— D.C. Mayor Adrian Fenty has enacted emergency executive orders that increase taxes and fees on everything from business permits to traffic fines.  Fenty says the orders are “emergency” maneuvers to balance the budget and added that the increases would bring the city about $7 million this fiscal year and $21 million in the 2011 fiscal year which begins in October.  Click here for details.

— The job market may be getting better for teens and recent college graduates, but, according to experts, the improvements are coming so slowly that they may not see noticeable change until the fall.  Meanwhile, older workers continue to fill jobs that, traditionally, went to younger people.  Click here for more.

The Daily Rundown — The Latest News Affecting Women & Girls in Our Region

Posted on by Mariah Craven

WeCanDoItPoster[1]In today’s rundown: A training program that helps local women learn the skills they need to earn more money.  |  D.C. is transferring control of a piece of city property to be used for a community college.  |  A new study finds that the percentage of high-poverty schools is on the rise.

— A column in today’s Washington Post takes a look at the benefits of a CASA of Maryland construction training program for women. Women in the program learn skills that can help them get jobs where they can earn higher wages.  CASA is a Grantee Partner of The Women’s Foundation.  The column also mentions a study from the Women’s Economic Security Campaign — a group of four women’s funds, including The Women’s Foundation, that collaborate with the Women’s Funding Network.  Click here to read the column.

— A big change was made in the proposed D.C. budget, but few noticed the new language initially.  It appeared in budget legislation released early Wednesday morning and stated that the Patricia R. Harris Education Center in Ward 8 would be removed from the city’s real estate portfolio and transferred to the University of the District of Columbia.  UDC will use it as a campus for its new community college.  Click here for more details.

— The U.S. Department of Education has released a new report that shows that the percentage of high-poverty schools is on the rise.  The report shows that the percentage of public schools where more than three-quarters of students are eligible for free or reduced price lunch has increased in the past decade.  That figure is a key indicator of poverty and children at these schools are less likely to attend college.  Click here for details.

Strengthening the Safety Net for Jobless Workers in the District

Posted on by Courtney Chappell

There is no question that District workers are struggling during this recession.  With unemployment at historical levels, more families are facing economic hardship and falling into poverty.  Although most jobs that have been lost during this recession have been by men, it is important to note that a significant percentage have also been lost by women.  A recent report by the U.S. Congress’ Joint Economic Committee found that from October 2009 to March 2010, women lost 22,000 jobs while men gained 260,000.  And, in March 2010, the unemployment rate for women with families was 11.3%, the highest rate in the past 25 years.  Women of color, in particular are struggling – 12% of Latino and 12.4% of African American women were unemployed in March 2010, compared to 7.3% of white women (link).

There is some good news: the District of Columbia has taken proactive steps to strengthen a vital safety net for jobless workers.  On Friday, May 14, 2010, Mayor Fenty signed the Unemployment Compensation Reform Act (A18-0401), legislation that will help thousands of D.C. workers cover their basic needs – rent, groceries, utilities – as they continue to search for long-term employment.  By temporarily filling this income gap for individuals, unemployment benefits can stabilize a household and prevent families from slipping into poverty.

The Act will do 5 things: (1) provide an additional $15/week to those with children or dependents; (2) extend unemployment insurance to those enrolled in a qualified training program; (3) expand eligibility to those who leave their jobs because of domestic violence against themselves or members of their immediate family, to relocate with a spouse or domestic partner, or because they must care for an ill or disabled family member; (4) extend the deadline to appeal a denial of benefits from 10 to 15 days; and (5) include a good cause exception for those who miss the deadline.

These changes will help all workers, but particularly women workers – and single women with children – whose choice to leave a job is often one of necessity and beyond their control.  In fact, women workers account for 70% of employees who leave their jobs for domestic reasons.  As one of our clients noted during her testimony before the D.C. Council, “I am the primary caregiver of a three year old and of my 91 year old mother-in-law, and have had to leave a job in the past to care for them.  This new law will no longer penalize me for making this necessary decision.”

With this new legislation, the District will now be qualified to receive $18 million in federal stimulus money under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.  D.C. was only required to enact two reforms in order to receive the federal funding.  By going above these minimum requirements, the District is able to maximize the impact of the stimulus funding and spread much needed relief to more struggling workers and families.

These new provisions will go into effect in the summer.

Courtney Chappell is the director of advocacy at D.C. Employment Justice Center.

The Daily Rundown — The Latest News Affecting Women & Girls in Our Region

Posted on by Mariah Craven

In today’s rundown: A post-Mother’s Day wish for better education, training and jobs.  |  A new report on how working moms are handling the recession.  |  A look at who benefits most from pre-K.  |  Affordable housing renovations in the District.

— With the economy continuing to take a toll on low-income, women-headed families in particular, The Women’s Foundation’s Jennifer Lockwood-Shabat outlines the ways we can remove barriers to education, training and jobs for those who need it most in this WAMU commentary.

— How are working mothers handling the recession?  This report takes an updated look at the employment situations of working women with children under the age of 18. Among the findings: one in three working mothers was the only job holder in her family and single mothers struggled with high unemployment.  The report includes unpublished data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

— A new study in Montgomery County found that boys and African Americans of both genders benefit more from full-day pre-kindergarten.  According to this Washington Post article, Maryland schools are among the most generous in the nation when it comes to spending on early childhood.

— Starting next week, renovations will begin on the District’s oldest garden-style apartment complex.  Webster Gardens will be renovated into affordable housing using federal money earmarked to help local agencies fund projects stalled during the recession.  Click here for details.

The Daily Rundown — The Latest News Affecting Women & Girls in Our Region

Posted on by Mariah Craven

Foreclosure SignIn today’s rundown: The foreclosure rate in Maryland is on the way down.  |  The need to prepare local workers for better jobs.  |  How to participate in the District’s new bank account program.

— Although Maryland has been experiencing a second wave of foreclosures the situation appears to be improving, according to the state Department of Housing and Community Development.  Both Prince George’s and Montgomery Counties saw about a 25 percent decrease in the number of foreclosures between the end of 2009 and the first quarter of 2010.  Click here for details.

— Kwame Brown, a Democratic at-large member of the D.C. Council, writes in the Washington Post about the need to better prepare local residents for future job opportunities in the region.  Brown says all workers must be provided “with an opportunity to achieve self-sufficiency.”  Click here to read more.

— The District has kicked off its Bank on DC program, which encourages residents to open bank or credit union accounts instead of using check cashing services.  The goal of the program is to open 10,000 new accounts by the end of the year.  Click here for more on how the program works and who can participate.

The Daily Rundown — The Latest News Affecting Women & Girls in Our Region

Posted on by Mariah Craven

In today’s rundown: A new program in D.C. will open 10,000 new bank accounts.  |  President Obama eulogizes Dorothy Height.  |  What the homeless will gain under the new health care reform law.

— A new program in D.C. will help 10,000 residents open new bank accounts.  About 12 percent of D.C. households do not have bank accounts.  Many cash their checks at stores or gas stations that charge high interest rates.  According to WAMU, this results in about $800 a year in fees.  Click here to learn more about the program.

— President Barack Obama eulogized civil rights leader Dorothy Height earlier today, saying that she lived a righteous life and changed the country for the better.  Click here to watch his eulogy and other videos from today’s service.

— Under the new health care reform legislation homeless Americans will have increased access to health care due to an expansion to Medicaid and increased spending on community health centers.  Click here to read more about how health care reform will impact the homeless.