Overview: A federal government shutdown seems imminent despite efforts this week in both houses of Congress to advance a continuing resolution or stopgap measure. The CCUSA social policy team sent an action alert to Catholic Charities agencies, supporters, and volunteers, asking them to tell their representatives to prevent a shutdown. If you haven't already, please contact your representatives in Congress too. You can use the CCUSA action alert in the following paragraph.
Action alert: A government shutdown hurts those least able to weather it -- those relying on their next paycheck, hoping for their next meal, looking for a safe place to sleep. Tell your representatives in Congress: it's time to work together to pass a stop-gap measure.
Economy: In the week ending September 23, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial unemployment claims was 204,000, an increase of 2,000 from the previous week's revised level. The previous week's level was revised up by 1,000 from 201,000 to 202,000. The 4-week moving average was 211,000, a decrease of 6,250 from the previous week's revised average. The previous week's average was revised up by 250 from 217,000 to 217,250.
Economic mobility summits: The U.S. Department of Health & Human Services Administration for Children & Families (ACF) Office of Regional Operations (ORO) plans to host eight economic mobility engagement events across different ACF regions during the remainder of 2023. With the two events hosted earlier in the year, ORO will have successfully hosted economic mobility convenings in all 10 ACF regions in 2023. The events will unite partners from diverse sectors--federal, nonprofit, state, philanthropic, and more--to build knowledge about the barriers preventing their communities from achieving economic mobility. Specific topics will include the cliff effect, equity, mental health, housing, human trafficking, and more.