Next Week’s 2023 Poverty, Health Care Reports Will Likely Show Continued Economic Inequality

On September 10, the U.S. Census Bureau will release poverty, income, and health insurance coverage statistics from 2023. These numbers will provide a snapshot of the economic hardship that children, adults, and families experienced last year. In the lead-up to this release, CLASP experts have been exploring dimensions of poverty in a series of commentaries that can be found here. 

Stay tuned next week for our same-day reactions to the Census Bureau’s statistics and what they mean for families and communities with low incomes. 

Too Many People Can’t Rent with Housing Choice Vouchers. Will Switching From Vouchers to Cash Help?

A new Department of Housing and Urban Development pilot program will provide direct rental assistance to some renters who are eligible for housing choice vouchers. Giving cash instead of vouchers to eligible renters is a monumental change that signals trust in participants. 

Federal Investments Are Essential as the Final Child Care COVID Relief Funds Expire

Federal investments of over $50 billion, including $39 billion from the American Rescue Plan Act, helped sustain child care providers during COVID-19. These funds improved access, affordability, and provider support, but are set to expire on September 30, 2024.

In a new brief, CLASP offers states ways to improve child care access within the confines of the current system, focusing on financial assistance policies. Due to racial and economic barriers, expanding equitable access to such support is especially vital to families of color with low incomes. The brief examines and recommends both large-scale transformative policies and smaller-scale policy flexibility.