- State worries over WIC program grow, By Jake Grovum, October 10, 2013, Stateline: “By early next week, millions of women could learn whether benefits to help feed them and their young children will end on Nov. 1. As the government shutdown continues, states face the possibility that they’ll run out of funds for the federal nutrition program for Women, Infants and Children, commonly known as WIC. Federal guidelines typically require states to give 15 days’ notice to those enrolled in the program before benefits expire, and Nov. 1 could be the day funding dries up nationwide…”
- Government shutdown: Cuts to social services would affect thousands of vulnerable Oregonians, By Yuxing Zheng, October 10, 2013, The Oregonian: “In a bustling office west of downtown Hillsboro far from the divisive halls of Congress, the federal government shutdown has left some of the most vulnerable Oregonians fretting over how they’ll pay rent, heat their homes or simply eat…”
- Pa. focuses on social services, not federal parks, By Marc Levy (AP), October 10, 2013, Philadelphia Inquirer: “A partial federal government shutdown could eventually force the state to mothball social services programs that serve women and children, top aides to Gov. Tom Corbett said Thursday, dismissing the possibility that Pennsylvania would spend its own money to reopen shuttered national parks like Independence Hall. It was the 10th day of a partial federal government shutdown, with no end in sight. For the Corbett administration, that means putting off payments and guarding cash reserves with the goal of maintaining vital services for children and families who normally receive federal money…”
- Unemployment claims surge, partly due to shutdown, By Annalyn Kurtz, October 10, 2013, CNNMoney: “First-time claims for unemployment benefits suddenly jumped last week, marking the biggest one-week rise since Superstorm Sandy left thousands of people temporarily out of work. The rise was partly due to the government shutdown, as well as other temporary factors, the Department of Labor said…”
Poverty-related issues in the news, from the Institute for Research on Poverty