Economic Security

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

Posted on by Mariah Craven

Credit-cardsIn today’s rundown: A study finds that more Latino families depend on credit cards.  |  More Americans are depending on government aid to keep from slipping into poverty.  |  The First-Time Homebuyer Tax Credit ends next week.

— A recent study has found that a rising number of Latinos are depending on credit cards to make ends meet.  The National Council of La Raza encourages using credit cards to build good credit, but cautions against using them for daily purchases.  Click here for details of the study.

— Without government aid, economists say many formerly middle-class Americans are at risk of slipping into poverty, even as economic conditions improve.  Click here for more.

— The Virginia General Assembly has accepted proposals from the governor to restrict state funding for abortions, expand spending on economic development and raise fines for speeders, but lawmakers resisted some cuts the governor had sought for social services.  Click for details.

— The extended First-Time Homebuyer Credit ends on April 30th.  Click here for more on the deadline and the application process.

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

Posted on by Mariah Craven

In today’s rundown: Dorothy I. Height, a leader in the gender and civil rights movements, has died.  |  Today is Equal Pay Day.  |  The League of Women Voters withdraws its support from a bill that would give the District a vote in Congress.  |  Alexandria officials are worried the city is losing its racial and economic diversity.

— Dorothy I. Height, a founding member of the civil rights movement who fought for racial and gender equality, has died at the age of 98.  As a civil rights activist, Ms. Height began participating in protests in the 1930s.  She also worked to overcome gender bias at a time that predated the women’s rights movement.  She was invited to the White House in 1963 to watch President John F. Kennedy sign the Equal Pay Act.  To read more about Dorothy Height and her work, please click here.

— Today is Equal Pay Day, a day that reminds us that the more than 60 million women who work in this country are suffering economically because equal pay is not a reality.  Click here to read about the continuing pay gap and why shortchanging women shortchanges all of us.

— The League of Women Voters has announced that it will not support a bill pending in Congress that would give the District a vote in Congress but would also weaken the city’s gun laws.  According to a statement: “asking citizens to sacrifice their safety in order to have representation in Congress is unacceptable.”  Click here for more.

— Officials in Alexandria are concerned that the city has become whiter, wealthier and more expensive during the past decade.  Local officials say they’re worried that the city will lose its racial and economic diversity.  Click here for details.

You can get more information and news from The Women’s Foundation here:
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The Daily Rundown — The Latest News Affecting Women & Girls in Our Region

Posted on by Mariah Craven

In today’s rundown: Fairfax County plans to invest $17 million into affordable housing projects.  |  Low-income Virginians will pay higher state income taxes.  |  President Obama has signed a bill that will extend unemployment benefits to jobless Americans.

–According to the Washington Examiner, “Fairfax County is poised to inject more than $17 million into affordable housing projects in coming years….  The county plans to devote $4 million next budget year to more than 360 families requesting housing….”  Click here to read more.

—  Low-income wage earners in Virginia will be paying more state income taxes because of a change to the state budget, according to an advocacy group for low-and moderate-income residents.  The change means that the state’s earned income credit is decoupled from the federal earned income tax credit.  Click here for details.

— President Obama has signed a bill that will keep unemployment checks going to jobless Americans.  The legislation will restore aid to thousands of people who had run out of benefits or whose eligibility was expiring.  Click here to read more.

Weekly Round-Up: News and Analysis on Women and Poverty (Week ending April 2, 2010)

Posted on by The Spotlight and Opportunity Team

Pregnant Woman_WSJThe latest news, analysis and opinion on the state of low-income women and their families from Spotlight on Poverty and Opportunity.  This week: Why extreme poverty can lead to pregnancy problems…. Plus, cuts could be made to a monthly stipend that former Florida foster children depend on.

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 Wall Street Journal reports that women facing difficult circumstances and stress, including extreme poverty, have a higher risk of problems during pregnancy.
  • The Los Angeles Times interviews several low-income immigrant women who miscarried or gave birth to children with birth defects, problems that they attribute to a nearby polluted dump in rural Kettlemen City.
  • The South Florida Sun-Sentinel profiles 21-year-old student Tamarra Lestage.  Lestage would be homeless if not for a monthly stipend given to former foster children, a program which may be cut due to Florida’s budget crunch.
  • The Portland Press Herald highlights the opening of Florence House, a $7.9 million facility that will house 40 homeless women in apartments or semi-private bedrooms.
  • Seven months after being fired from the Hyatt in Boston, Lucine Williams and almost 60 other mostly female former housekeepers still struggle to find work, according to the Boston Globe.

For daily updates and links to past articles, check out “Women and Poverty.”  It’s a section of the Spotlight on Poverty and Opportunity site with a comprehensive collection of recent news and analysis on women and poverty.  Along with these daily updates, continue to visit Washington Area Women’s Foundation for our weekly rundown of the top news stories on women and poverty every Friday.  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

Photo credit: Stephen Maturen for the Wall Street Journal

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

Posted on by Mariah Craven

U.S. Capitol

In today’s rundown: Help may be on the way for the unemployed whose benefits are running out.  |  Georgetown law students will help low-income D.C. residents.  |  The Washington Post calls a proposal that would restore voting rights to Virginia’s ex-cons a disgrace.

— Despite objections from conservative Republicans, the U.S. Senate has agreed to consider a temporary extension of unemployment benefits. The measure would mean that unemployed Americans who are exhausting their benefits would still receive checks and federal subsidies for health insurance. Click here for more details.

— Georgetown University law students will begin helping low-income residents with legal cases as part of a new program.  The Community Justice Project will take on cases ranging from helping homeless people find housing to obtaining medication for HIV patients.  To listen to a report on this story, click here.

— A northern Virginia woman has been charged with practicing dentistry without a license.  She and a business associate were arrested after a patient developed an infection after a root canal that was performed in a hidden office in a Fairfax County basement.  The patient was told she could get dental work performed there “for a much cheaper price than a regular dentist.”  Click here for more.

— An editorial in today’s Washington Post calls into question the fairness and “decency” of a plan by Virginia’s governor that would allow ex-cons to vote.  Governor Bob McDonnell has proposed that in addition to the current application process former felons must go through in order to vote, they also be required to write a letter explaining what they’ve contributed to society and outline why they should get their voting rights back.  To find out why the Post is calling this proposal a disgrace and tantamount to Jim Crow, click here.

You can get more information and news from The Women’s Foundation here:
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The Daily Rundown — The Latest News Affecting Women & Girls in Our Region

Posted on by Mariah Craven

In today’s rundown: Is welfare working?  It could face an overhaul this year.  |  A man who went from living outside for 40 years to an apartment of his own tells local officials why it’s important to continue to fund programs that help the homeless.  |  Nominations are still being accepted for National Capital Philanthropy Day.

— Is welfare working?  Federal officials are taking a look at the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program, which, in some states, has not seen a significant increase in caseloads despite rising unemployment.  Congress and the Obama administration are considering changes to the welfare program as it comes up for renewal this year.  Click here for more details.

— A northern Virginia man recently stood before the Prince William County Board of Supervisors and told them about the importance of programs that aid the homeless.  J.D. Glass had been a homeless alcoholic for nearly 40 years before he reached out for help.  When he arrived at a Woodbridge shelter doctors thought he only had a couple of days to live.  Still alive and living in his own apartment, J.D. told the Board of Supervisors how critical it was that they not cut funding to programs that help people like him.  Click here to read more of his story.

— There’s still time to nominate a person or organization for a National Capital Philanthropy Day award.  Nominations must be in by April 30th.  Click here for more.

You can get more information and news from The Women’s Foundation here:
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The Daily Rundown — The Latest News Affecting Women & Girls in Our Region

Posted on by Mariah Craven

SS Discovery_NASA TVIn today’s rundown: A historic number of women are in space today.  |  Advocates for low-income D.C. residents are concerned about the current proposed budget, under review by the city council this week.

— The space shuttle Discovery took off from Cape Canaveral this morning to re-stock the International Space Station.  Thanks to the launch of Discovery there are now four women in space — the greatest number at one time.  Three women are on board Discovery and there’s a fourth at the International Space Station.  Click here for more details.

— Advocates for low-income D.C. residents are taking a hard look at Mayor Adrian Fenty’s proposed budget, which the city council is reviewing this week.  Some advocates are concerned that social services like temporary cash assistance for the disabled will be hit too hard.  To take a look at the proposed budget yourself, click here.

Image courtesy NASA TV.

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

Posted on by Mariah Craven

DefeatPovertyDC LogoIn today’s rundown: A rising poverty rate has a negative impact on the entire District.  |  Funding for people with AIDS is held up in Prince George’s County.  |  One blogger feels that TANF doesn’t meet the needs of victims of domestic violence.  |  Was Nancy Pelosi the reason health-care reform was passed?

— A column in today’s Washington Post illustrates the current need for Defeat Poverty DC.  The Women’s Foundation is part of Defeat Poverty DC, a coalition of organizations that will focus the 2010 election season on the damaging effects of poverty in D.C.  Click here for more.

— According to a Washington Post editorial, having a woman Speaker of the House was the reason health-care reform was passed.  Click here to find out why.

— A bureaucratic contract review process is holding up federal funds in Prince George’s County, forcing some medical clinics and nonprofits to delay or cancel services for people with AIDS.  Click here for more info.

— A Change.org blogger points out the weaknesses of TANF (Temporary Assistance for Needy Families) when it comes to supporting victims of domestic violence and calls for better resources to enable women to leave violent situations.  Click here to read more.

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

Posted on by Mariah Craven

Metro_PhotoIn today’s rundown: Another proposed increase in Metro fares could disproportionately affect the riders who earn the least and depend the most on public transportation.  | Virginia lost more jobs in February than any other state.  Maryland was not far behind.

— A proposal to increase fares again on the Metro would disproportionately affect commuters who depend on bus transportation and are least able to pay, according to some riders.  Metro data has found that bus riders earn less than train riders and are more dependent on Metro’s services.  Click here for details on the data.  Riders will be able to voice their opinions at public hearings throughout the metro area.  Click here for the schedule.

— Virginia lost more jobs in February than any other state.  The Bureau of Labor Statistics says the commonwealth lost 32,600 positions last month.  Maryland was fifth, losing 13,800 jobs in February.  Overall, the District continues to have one of the highest unemployment rates in the country — 11.9 percent.  Click here for more details.

Got something to say?  Please leave a comment below or join the conversation at www.Facebook.com/TheWomensFoundation.

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

Posted on by Mariah Craven

Nicky Goren Small headshotIn today’s rundown: The Women’s Foundation names a new president | Startling new statistics highlighted by Defeat Poverty DC | The Women’s Club at the White House

— Washington Area Women’s Foundation has named a new president.  Nicola (Nicky) Goren will lead The Women’s Foundation forward in its efforts to help lift low-income women and girls out of poverty.  Click here for more details.

— In an attempt to highlight the issue of poverty during the November elections, The Women’s Foundation and other organizations have formed Defeat Poverty DC, a coalition that will bring attention to facts like one in five District resident live below the poverty line, and the number of local residents on food stamps increased by 15 percent last year.  Click here to read a Washington Post story on these efforts.  Click here to listen to a WAMU story.

— A dinner with the president has turned into a monthly meeting for some of the White House’s women advisers.  The group first met with President Obama in November, when he wanted to know if he should be worried about the continued perception that his administration was a boys club.  Since then, the women have continued to meet once-a-month without the president.  Click here to find out who’s involved in these meetings, and how they feel about the administration.

Got something to say?  Leave a comment below, or join the conversation at www.Facebook.com/TheWomensFoundation.