While many of us look forward to going home for the holiday season, some families have no place to call home. Homelessness is a serious problem that impacts thousands of families and children in the United States. According to data reported to the U.S. Department of Education, during the 2016-2017 school year an estimated 32,133 […]
Category: Policy Briefs
To Eat or to Heat – Proposed Change Reduces Food Benefits for Families
Over the past year, the Trump administration has proposed a series of changes to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) that would systematically prevent millions of Americans from receiving needed benefits. The most recent adjustment would alter the way utilities costs are calculated in order to determine eligibility. The change could mean that nearly one […]
Protecting Children’s Rights: The Detriments of Detaining Children
Violence in the Northern Triangle region of Central America (Guatemala, El Salvador, and Honduras) has prompted thousands of individuals, families and unaccompanied minors to seek protection and asylum in the United States – many arriving by way of the U.S./Mexican border. As of July 22, 2019, approximately 10,000 Unaccompanied Alien Children (UACs) were in care […]
Credit Where Credit’s Due: Establishing an Earned Income Tax Credit for Missouri’s Working Families in Need
The Missouri government is considering legislation that would create a state-level Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC). The EITC is a refundable tax credit that benefits low- to moderate-income working individuals and couples, particularly those with children. The EITC has a proven track record of effectiveness in lifting low-income families out of poverty and improving educational […]
Credit Where It’s Due: Establishing an Earned Income Tax Credit for Missouri’s Working Families in Need
The Missouri government is considering legislation that would create a state-level Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC). The EITC is a refundable tax credit that benefits low- to moderate-income working individuals and couples, particularly those with children. The EITC has a proven track record of effectiveness in lifting low-income families out of poverty and improving educational […]
Bouncing Between Homes: Hypermobility and Its Impact on Children’s Education and Communities at Large
Unstable housing conditions marked by overcrowding, disrepair, and lack of affordability and safety force many low-income families to move often. There is strong evidence of a correlation between frequent residential displacement and poor educational outcomes such as grade retention, lower high school graduation rates, and lower knowledge acquisition over time. Equally troubling are the health […]