Income Inequality
Philly water rate hike plans draw scrutiny from City Council
The proposed rate hike will cost the average resident $15 more a month over the next three years.
2 years ago
Proposal to update ailing Pa. rent, property tax rebate program would reverse decade of decline
The number of rebates paid out has declined every year since 2009, according to the state Department of Revenue, a drop of almost 27%.
2 years ago
Schools ended universal free lunch. Now meal debt is soaring
A recent survey found school districts had more than $19 million in unpaid meal debt, with the Midwest and Great Plains reporting the highest rates of meal debt.
2 years ago
New Jersey migrant workers demand unemployment benefits and health care during May Day rally
Undocumented immigrants aren’t eligible for unemployment or for most public health care programs, despite paying taxes.
2 years ago
The community center, which empowers and supports low-income communities, is expanding its early childhood education capacity with plans for even more.
2 years ago
Pew report finds that Philly continues to struggle, despite pandemic bounce back
A Pew Charitable Trusts report shows that Philadelphians are re-engaging in city life but concerns regarding public health, housing, and safety still remain.
2 years ago
Supreme Court won’t block $6B student debt relief settlement
The justices' action comes as the high court is weighing what to do with Biden's plan to wipe away $400 billion in student debt held by more than 40 million people.
2 years ago
Philly mayoral candidates target vacant land for affordable housing
Philly already disposes of city-owned land for affordable housing projects. But making this campaign plank a scalable solution presents obstacles for Philly’s next mayor.
2 years ago
Philly landlords have reservations about effort to ban private firms from enforcing evictions
In Philadelphia, many evictions are enforced by a for-profit law firm, known as the landlord-tenant officer. Supporters say it’s cheaper and more efficient.
2 years ago
New rental housing coalition forms in Delaware County
Community leaders and elected officials are convening to discuss how the county can address the affordable housing crisis.
2 years ago
It’s called source of income discrimination. City law makes it illegal, but it’s incredibly common.
2 years ago
Quest to put more pre-K schools in low-income Wilmington neighborhoods takes another step
By this fall the Stubbs Early Childhood Assistance Program will serve more than 300 children at three sites, all in low-income areas of town.
2 years ago
‘Back to one meal a day’: SNAP benefits drop as food prices climb
A lot of people don't think twice about buying milk, says Teresa Calderez. "But there are lots of us out here who can't buy a gallon of milk when we need it."
2 years ago
‘LIHEAPalooza’ teaches Philadelphians how to lower their utility bills
Philadelphians earning below the federal poverty level spend nearly a quarter of their incomes on energy. An event Friday is designed to help.
2 years ago
In nursing homes, impoverished live final days on pennies
A half-century-old bit of American bureaucracy is leaving hundreds of thousands of nursing home residents in an unthinkable bind: Living on as little as $30 a month.
2 years ago