RC Blog

News from the Poorhouse

posted by Niko Simonson on Tuesday, March 16 at 3:49pm

In a recent article in the Seattle Times light was shed on the lack of effectiveness of Washington’s Child Welfare system. A new study found that half the families in the system had problems securing housing and two-thirds were on food stamps. Steps are being taken to try and reform the Child Welfare system and the study – conducted by Partners for Our Children – was the first step in attempts at reformation.

Today obesity is more highly linked with poverty than being underweight. A new study, reported in the New York Times, has revealed that Bronx, New York, has the most severe hunger related problems of any place in the U.S.. 37% of people living in the Bronx lacked money to get necessary food, this is nearly double the nation’s average. The study also showed that people living in the Bronx were 85% more likely to be obese than people living in Manhattan.

It is hard being a veteran, and it’s getting harder. Reported by the Associated Press, The Labor Department recently released data showing that last year 21.1% of veterans from Iraq and Afghanistan were unemployed. This is far above the national average of 16.6% for people in the same age range (18-24).

While things are bad all over the country, Baltimore looks like one of the hardest hit areas. In a recent poll that was taken it was found that Baltimore County’s homeless population jumped 25% last year and evictions are up by 21%. Experts say they do not see this trend radically reversing any time soon.

In Portland city leaders have been debating whether or not to legalize “homelessness camps” in city parks and on certain church properties. The proposal to legalize these camps is to be on the city council’s desk by the end of March. The move is hailed by homeless advocates as being a step in the right direction.

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