In the 23rd episode of “Travels With Charlie — Vermont Politics in Real Life,” host Charlie Papillo discusses the benefit cliffs and safety-net programs with former legislator Oliver Olsen and John Badgewick as they build a bird house.
The federal unemployment insurance emergency payments of an additional $600 per week to those laid off because of COVID-19 restrictions discourages work and slows down economic recovery, several reports indicate. Several congressmen have introduced proposals to address the issue.
As an emerging body of evidence shows, homelessness in America’s West Coast cities — particularly unsheltered homelessness — is not driven primarily by high housing costs, but rather by three interrelated phenomena: addiction, mental illness and permissive public policies.
Fewer regulations and related expenses for businesses will improve incomes, decrease housing expenses, encourage investment and instill hope. This will reduce suicides, domestic violence and illicit drug use.
New Hampshire is set to receive $7.7 million in federal funding from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), as part of its Housing Continuums of Care Grant.
The Supreme Court Monday allowed the Trump administration to enforce a new rule that will deny green cards to foreign nationals who use taxpayer-funded social services, lifting lower court injunctions that blocked the change.
Most people don’t begrudge government assistance for the sick and disabled, the elderly, or single parents with kids. But most people who work expect that able-bodied adults, not disabled or elderly, need to quit loafing and start working.
Under the rule, some able-bodied adults without dependents who have received aid for more than three months would be required to take a job; if a job is not immediately available, recipients would be required to undertake training, perform community service work or at least look for a job.
The rule eliminates food stamp eligibility loopholes that allowed states to exempt large portions of their population from the work requirement and standardizes broad-based categorical eligibility guidelines. The change is anticipated to cut 3.1 million recipients from the program.
Under the proposed change, the number of families eligible for SNAP benefits would be reduced, cutting their children out of the school lunch program, or requiring their families to complete an application process to keep their children enrolled.
New York Democratic Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez rolled out legislation in September aimed at combating economic inequality, which includes giving illegal aliens the ability to enroll in government welfare programs.
“With the proposed rule, USDA is on track to correct a problem that has allowed individuals with significant assets – including millionaires – to collect food stamps. The rule would close the loophole that has allowed this, ensuring food stamp resources only go to those who actually qualify and are truly in need.”