February 23, 2012

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Programs That Help Low Income Families

The Salvation Army

Image by Thomas Hawk via Flickr

No one can deny it, times are tough on everyone. Times are especially tough for families who were already struggling. If you are part of a low income family, you may not be aware there are organizations which can lend a hand in these tough economic times.

The Salvation Army

The Salvation Army operates across the entire United States. Their programs available for low income families include the following.

  • Housing and homeless services to provide emergency housing
  • Food and nutrition programs which provide food for those in need
  • Christmas charity, which provides Christmas dinners, clothing and toys for those families who cannot afford them

Goodwill

Goodwill plays an important role in providing people across America with the skills to better their life, regardless of their socio-economic background. Their programs designed to help low income families to increase employment options include the following.

Medicaid

For low income families in the United States help is available to gain access to health care services. Medicaid is a federal-state run means tested program which supports low income families and their children, as well as people with a disability and the elderly. It also supports pregnant women with a low income. The eligibility requirements differ from state to state, however the primary requirements for Medicaid eligibility include the following.

  • Having limited assets
  • Age
  • Income and resources
  • Residential status
  • Disability
  • Pregnancy
  • Being a child

When times are tough financially, it is good to know what programs are available in case you require some assistance.

 

 

Filed Under: Poverty, Real Estate Tagged With: , ,

The Effect Of Bundling Low-Income Housing

Low Income Housing, Location of Pilot Stoves
Image via Wikipedia

For years low income housing or “the projects” have been built in the inner city and for the most part right next to one another. Prior to the expansion of cities across the United States this was seen as the appropriate way to handle low income housing because it put patrons in the middle of the city with easy access to jobs and schools, however studies are now showing that this type of mentality only perpetuates the need for low income housing.

The understanding was that individuals who needed to live in low income housing could not afford to a car to commute from the suburbs every day or could not budget a bus pass. Also it gave children better access to schools which helped to ensure that those children would be able to make it to school every day. However, instead of providing opportunities for these indivuals or their children, researcher’s now say that this type of plan accomplishes just the opposite.

Instead of creating opportunities the housing projects perpetuate a life of low-income for everyone who lives in the area. Here are just a few aspects of the community that are affected by bundling low income housing projects.

Three Aspects Of The Community Affected By Bundling

1. Parents- Because of the proximity to the downtown area and so many people fighting for jobs in one area, parents find it hard to find good employment and a way to leave the projects.

2. Children- Because the low income is poorer taxes are either cheaper or subsidized by the state and federal government meaning the children have less materials in school and are provided with a less than desireable education than their counterparts in the suburbs.

3. Business Owners- Business owners in the area are affected by the mass of low income shoppers and thus it is harder for them to realize profits and move out of the low income area.

Researcher’s have found that projects breed more projects.

Filed Under: Poverty, Real Estate Tagged With: , ,

Benefits Of The 2009 Recovery Act

NEW YORK - SEPTEMBER 14: U.S. President Barac...
Image by Getty Images via @daylife

Since the collapse of Wall Street in late 2007, different government organizations have been joining together to combat the ever looming fear of poverty. With the loss of millions of jobs and the ability to feed their children many Americans turned to the government to help make up the differences that were lost in the collapse of so many important industries. However, thanks to the Recover Act of 2009, written shortly before the market bottomed out, millions of Americans were protected through various government programs and essentially saved from poverty.

The role of the government was vital in ensuring the millions of American’s would make it through the recession with out falling into poverty and seeing their lives pushed into disarray. Here are just a few of the government programs that aided those in trouble during the last year.

Three Government Aid Programs of Recovery Act

1. Federal Unemployment- Through the expansion of federal unemployment packages 1.3 million individuals were able to apply and receive money from the federal unemployment agency.

2. Child Tax Credits- Because of improvements and funds that bolstered child tax credits 1.5 million American families received aid for the taxes and expenditures related to child rearing.

3. Food Stamps- 700,000 families and individuals were helped through the implementation of more food stamp programs and ebt cards for struggling Americans all over the country.

According to the Census Bureau the Recovery Act of 2009 helped roughly 4.5 million Americans to stay above the poverty line and to continue to feed their families and themselves. Programs such as the Recovery Act are vital if not necessary to ensuring that all families have the same opportunities no matter how bad the economy gets. The people who are provided a better life know the importance of these programs when they look in the faces of their healthy children, every day.

Filed Under: Economy Tagged With: , ,