Dear John,
In case you missed it...this week the Voices for Human Needs blog reflects on Black History Month, discusses the link between COVID-19 and violent crime, and details the concerns Virginians have about housing and evictions, and how the American Rescue Plan would help. Finally, we unveil this week's COVID-19 Watch: Tracking Hardship, a by-the-numbers glance at how the pandemic is affecting people with low incomes and other vulnerable populations. Please share!
.png)
This week on the blog...
Reflections on Black History Month: Jamaica Brickhouse
Feb. 25
I am not a stranger to adversity. I grew up as the oldest of five children in a single-parent household. Through each phase of my life, I have experienced some type of homelessness and poverty knowingly or unknowingly. Like most people in my community, I have quietly dealt with the effects of systemic racism and oppression, whether I was seeking employment, housing, or in the criminal justice system. For a long time, I did not know how to help myself and others on a larger, more impactful scale. READ MORE »
COVID-19's byproduct: A burgeoning increase in violent crime
Feb. 24
During the first weeks of widespread lockdowns in March 2020, one of the most immediate effects of social distancing was a marked decrease in crime. But as the pandemic continues to restrict our ability to safely coordinate and gather in person, the picture of crime in America has grown more complicated. In recent months, an increase in violent crime has been noted by criminologists. Experts have pointed to disruptions in economic and social assistance as the underlying factor among these trends. READ MORE »
Biden stimulus bill called key to preventing Virginia eviction crisis
Feb. 23
With the economy stalling and millions of Americans still out of work because of the pandemic, Virginia housing advocates are urging Congress to quickly pass President Joe Biden's $1.9 trillion stimulus package to bring relief to families being pushed into poverty. Brian Koziol, executive director for the Virginia Housing Alliance, said even before the pandemic, Richmond had the second highest eviction rate in the country, with four other Virginia cities in the top ten. READ MORE »
CHN's latest COVID-19 Watch: Tracking Hardship
Feb. 26
The 500,000/50 million edition. This week, the U.S. eclipsed the 500,000 mark for COVID-19 deaths. More Americans have died from COVID-19 than in combat during all of America’s wars against foreign enemies. On a brighter note, we are about to surpass 50 million vaccinations administered. Shots don’t hurt, much, but the pain to our economy is acute. According to The Century Foundation, some 19 million Americans – nearly 1 in every 8 workers – are currently collecting unemployment benefits, and that doesn’t even include many more who are out of the labor force and/or not collecting benefits for a variety of reasons. READ MORE »
Coalition on Human Needs
www.chn.org
Connect with us!
