Topics

Poverty

  • Teach For America program expands to Twin Cities
    A national teaching program that targets low-income school districts announced on Tuesday it will expand its program to the Twin Cities.June 23, 2009
  • A new look at race and poverty
    For decades, academics and social commentators have argued over whether black poverty in America was the result of racism and other external factors, or cultural forces. In a new book, sociologist William Julius Wilson tries to reframe that debate.Midmorning, June 12, 2009
  • Americans and income inequality
    High executive pay and bailouts may have exacerbated class differences lately. But political scientist Larry Jacobs says people still aspire to move up the income ladder and so have a nuanced view of class. And some say they would pay higher taxes to give others a chance to move up.Midmorning, June 9, 2009
  • U of M study: Hungry teens at higher risk of obesity
    A new study finds teens whose families can't always afford to buy food have higher rates of obesity than their peers.May 27, 2009
  • New scam threatens struggling homeowners
    Authorities say scam artists are showing up, promising to save the homes of desperate homeowners. Instead, they can leave their victims in even worse shape.March 18, 2009
  • New Islamic mortgages now available in Minnesota
    Advocates say Islamic mortgages will help expand home ownership among Muslims.March 1, 2009
  • Heating assistance requests up ten percent
    A record numnber of Minnesota families need help with their heating bills this winter. So far, about ten percent more families have been served by the state's low income energy assistance program.February 26, 2009
  • Study: Many minorities cut out of prime loan market
    African Americans and other minorities seeking mortgages in the Twin Cities have some of the highest home loan rejection rates in the country, according to a new study by the Institute on Race and Poverty at the University of Minnesota.February 12, 2009
  • Indian tribes could get almost $3B in stimulus
    The money includes hundreds of millions of dollars for schools, health clinics, roads, law enforcement and water projects on reservation lands throughout the country.January 28, 2009
  • House GOP: Minnesota is a 'welfare magnet'
    House Republicans say Minnesota has become a "welfare magnet," and they're calling on fellow lawmakers to change the system.January 21, 2009
  • Nami Mun revisits being homeless
    Writer Nami Mun's new novel "Miles from Nowhere," tells the heart rending tale of Joon, a Korean girl who runs away from her family to live on the streets of New York.January 15, 2009
  • In Minn., more turn to cash-starved state for help
    Ifeoma Obi turned to a state-funded program after leaving an abusive relationship and ending up in a homeless shelter. Now she can't imagine such help might not be there for others.December 29, 2008
  • Food banks struggling with fewer donations, more mouths to feed
    Food shelves are struggling to provide food to growing ranks of hungry people across the nation. At the same time rising food prices and economic pressure are dwindling supplies at the food banks. Food rescue is one of the innovative methods food banks are using to feed the hungry.Midmorning, December 24, 2008
  • Foreclosures push rents higher, squeezing low income families
    Foreclosuses are forcing more people to rent, driving up the cost of rental housing and putting an additional squeeze on low income families.September 21, 2008
  • Census: Data shows Minnesota poverty stable
    New data from the U.S. Census Bureau for the year 2007 shows that median household income and poverty rates in Minnesota were relatively stable.August 26, 2008

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