Category: Safety Net
St. Jude hoards billions while patient families drain their savings
St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital promises not to bill families. But the cost of having a child at the hospital for cancer care leaves some families so strapped for money that parents share tips on spending…
In contrast to Republican leaders AOC helps raise $1 million in direct relief for Texans in crisis
“AOC helped raise $1 million for Texas relief as Ted Cruz made his way back home from Cancún.” by Jake Johnson, staff writer Friday, February 19, 2021 As Sen. Ted Cruz rushed back to Texas on…
As demand surges, advocates worry food stamps miss eligible families
EDS: An earlier version of this story misstated, in the second graf, the number of SNAP-eligible people who actually received the benefit in 2017. The Census Bureau said one in six who were eligible did not…
Susan Collins, supporter of $1.5 trillion in tax cuts for the rich, claims $1,400 survival checks not ‘targeted’ enough
“Susan Collins didn’t care so much about the ‘rich people getting more than they need’ issue when it was massive upper income tax cuts on the table.” by Jake Johnson, staff writer Monday, January 25, 2021…
Abysmal jobs report puts new pressure on McConnell for Covid relief
‘One Person Standing in the Way’ “Instead of passing a relief bill, Senate Republicans have been confirming judge after judge—filling the federal bench while Americans fill hospitals across the country.” by Jake Johnson, staff writer Friday,…
Starving Seniors: how America fails to feed its aging
Millions of seniors across the country quietly go hungry as the safety net designed to catch them frays. Nearly 8% of Americans 60 and older were “food insecure” in 2017. Laura Ungar and Trudy Lieberman September…
The Elders call for surge in global cooperation to combat ‘current disarray’ set off by Covid-19, climate crisis
“Covid-19 has placed unprecedented strain on the multilateral system and cruelly exposed its failings. A fresh approach is urgently needed in 2021 with an unrelenting focus on justice and equality.” by Julia Conley, staff writer Thursday,…
Social Security’s Cost of Living Adjustment is inadequate.
Democrats Have a Plan to Fix That. After lifetimes of work, Americans have earned their Social Security. It is well past time they get a raise. by Nancy J. Altman Social Security is the primary income…
Mnuchin uses debunked GOP talking point to justify slashing $600 unemployment boost
The Millionaire Treasury Secretary is “Inflicting suffering on tens of millions of Americans by cutting unemployment benefits because of an anecdotal ‘some cases’ argument that has been refuted again and again is a stupid way to make…
Economic recovery sputters as benefits expire, GOP takes heat
“Enhanced unemployment insurance benefits expire tomorrow because congressional Republicans failed to extend them. ‘Malpractice’ is far too weak a word for this epic, cruel failure.” by Jake Johnson, staff writer On May 11, Senate Majority Leader…
New coronavirus hot spots emerge across South and in California, as Northeast slows, cases up in Arizona
By the end on June 9th Arizona Cases totaled 28,296 an increase of 4,000 cases in 3 days. by Martha Bebinger, WBUR and Blake Farmer, Nashville Public Radio and Jackie Fortiér, KPCC June 10, 2020 Mass…
Nearly 60% of Americans support extending boosted unemployment benefits as Trump and McConnell say let them expire
“The across-the-board $600 increase in weekly unemployment benefits should be extended well past its expiration at the end of July—until unemployment is falling rapidly and is at a manageable level.” by Jake Johnson, staff writer Monday,…
What the coronavirus crisis reveals about vulnerable populations behind bars and on the streets
by Stephanie Hartwell, Wayne State University; Ijeoma Nnodim Opara, Wayne State University, and Sheryl Kubiak, Wayne State University The notion that COVID-19 is an equal opportunity killer has crumbled. The health and economic fallout from…
Democrats urged to end delay, fight like hell for Covid-19 relief that puts people first
“If these are truly legislative priorities for members of Congress, as they should be, they need to start fighting for them.” by Jake Johnson, staff writer Progressive frustration with the Democratic leadership is boiling over following…
Coronavirus put her out of work, then debt collectors Froze her savings account
Kim Boatswain’s tax refund could have helped her get through the coronavirus slowdown. But debt collectors seized it. There are few options for Texans like Boatswain whose money was taken just before the state temporarily banned…
Real life, real tragedies in the pandemic
Pearl River Trump is in trouble, and it’s getting worse. Reportedly, top Republicans and their political strategists are trying to tell him that his daily press meanderings are hurting him, and that he needs to step…
Navajo and Hopi grassroots group bringing food and water as coronavirus spreads
“I know these are difficult times. But let’s remember we are never alone,” said Cassandra Begay, Communications Lead with the Navajo & Hopi Families COVID-19 Relief Fund, “Let’s remember the important relationships we have that are…
Hospitals have left many COVID-19 patients who don’t speak English alone, confused and without proper care
One medical worker told us: “It takes 10 minutes of sitting on the phone to get an interpreter, and that’s valuable time when you’re inundated. So this utilitarian calculus kicks in. And the patients that are…
With bills due April 1, more than 400,000 demand Congress freeze all rent, mortgage, and utility payments
“Millions are wondering how they’ll pay their rent or mortgage by tomorrow. We need additional emergency action suspending rent, mortgage and utility payments for the duration of this crisis.” by Jake Johnson, staff writer More than…
Job guarantees, basic income can save us from COVID-19 depression
A universal basic income and a job guarantee are critical ways to help us weather the economic storm of the coronavirus pandemic. (Shutterstock) by D.T. Cochrane, York University, Canada COVID-19 is both a public health crisis…
GOP Senate Trio threatens to delay stimulus bill because unemployment benefits amid pandemic are too generous
“Senate Republicans are just so inhumane they can’t imagine policymakers intentionally providing working people with enough money to temporarily live on in the event they’re laid off.” by Jake Johnson, staff writer This is a developing…
Virus exposes gig economy for predatory business model it promoted
By Wade Rathke New Orleans A lot of Silicon Valley are self-isolating in what should be shame as their app-based, platform capitalism, or whatever they wanted to call it, is exposed as little more than…
Flagstaff Family Food Center updates request for help
The national and local response to COVID-19 is rapidly changing and the Flagstaff Family Food Center is being responsive to these changes. Here is our most recent update: To comply with CDC guidelines of avoiding gathering…
America’s poorest children won’t get nutritious meals with school cafeterias closed due to the coronavirus
Thurston Domina, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Schools aren’t only places where kids learn. They are also places where kids eat. Thanks to the National School Lunch Program, 30 million U.S. children – some…
