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The Community Action Association of Pennsylvania provides multiple services. In 2023, more than 19,000 low-income individuals received transportation services, bus passes, transport or support for vehicle purchase or repair, according to its annual report. (Adobe)

PA Community Action Agencies work to eradicate poverty

Tuesday marks the 60th anniversary of the Economic Opportunity Act, enacted in the 1960s as part of a national "War on Poverty." It has made a big …

A new report from the Pennsylvania Workforce Development Association showed some suburban Philadelphia counties have seen wage declines in recent years, including Chester, Delaware and Montgomery. (WavebreakmediaMicro/Adobe Stock)<br /><br />

Report: PA wage growth surpasses pre-pandemic levels, national average

Pennsylvania's wage growth has rebounded from pre-pandemic lows and now exceeds the national average, according to the latest "Pennsylvania Workforce …

The Goonies Solar project in Central Pennsylvania is expected to generate enough clean energy to power 33,000 homes annually. (anatoliy_gleb/Adobe Stock) <br />

Two years of Inflation Reduction Act in Pennsylvania

The Inflation Reduction Act was signed into law two years ago this week. In Pennsylvania, its effects so far include carbon reduction, job creation …

Since its inception more than 50 years ago, the Property Tax and Rent Rebate program has provided more than $8 billion in property-tax and rent relief to Pennsylvanians. (jackfrog/Adobe Stock)

PA property tax rent rebate plan helps 50+ residents stay in their homes

Pennsylvanians are seeing some financial relief with their property taxes and rent. The state expansion of the existing property tax and rent rebate …

At its June 1 commencement, 83 students received diplomas as part of the second graduating class of the Erie County Community College class of 2024. Commencement speaker First Lady Dr. Jill Biden and Pennsylvania Auditor General Timothy DeFoor underscored the importance of continued community support for the school. (Peopleimages/Adobe Stock)

Erie's local college foundation helps students with unexpected expenses

As some colleges in Pennsylvania and nationwide close their doors, one school in Erie has taken a big step toward making higher education more …

In 2022, fatal drug overdoses in Philadelphia hit a peak of 1,413, with people of color hit hardest. More than 80% of the overdose fatalities in 2022 involved opioids, almost always fentanyl. (Adobe Stock)

New Medicaid policy boosts 'street medicine' in PA

Philadelphia is addressing its opioid crisis by deploying mobile medical units to provide Medicaid-funded "street medicine" to the unhoused population…

Pennsylvania's economic well-being ranks 23rd and shows improvements in children in poverty, with only 394,000, compared to more than 583,000 nationwide, according to the new Kids Count Data Book from the Annie E. Casey Foundation. (WavebreakmediaMicro/AdobeStock)

Report: PA ranks 23rd among states in child well-being

Pennsylvania ranks in the middle among states for the well-being of its children, at 23rd overall in the new Kids Count Data Book from the Annie E…

Pennsylvania has nearly 300 colleges, universities and technical schools for prospective students of all career interests, according to the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development.(NolaV/peopleimages.com/AdobeStock)

Education Advocates: Affirmative Action Ruling a Step Back for Racial Equality

In Pennsylvania, education advocates contended affirmative action has been a critical tool in promoting equity and addressing historical …

According to the National Council on Aging, to participate in the Senior Community Service Employment Program, an older person has to be living on a family income of no more than 125% of the Federal Poverty Level. (Vadim Pastuh/Adobe Stock)

PA Job Training Program Empowers Seniors Amid Challenges

A Pennsylvania work-based job training program is helping the state's 3.4 million seniors overcome challenges to finding work. Francis McKenna…

The 2023 Kids Count Data Book noted Pennsylvania's average annual cost of center-based child care for a toddler was $11,346, or 10% of the median income for a married couple and 35% of a single mother's income in the state. (DenisProduction.com/Adobe Stock)

Report: PA Ranks 22nd Among States in Child Well-Being

Pennsylvania ranks in the middle among states for the well-being of its children. It is 22nd overall in the new Kids Count Data Book from the Annie E…

Pennsylvania's Children's Health Insurance Program covers dental and vision care, as well as medical care. (Halfpoint/AdobeStock)

Pennsylvania DHS Now Oversees Children's Health Insurance Program

As families enrolled in Medicaid transition to the Children's Health Insurance Program, it is important for them to know Pennsylvania has changed how …

Over 41% of people who earn minimum wage or less are in families that earn less than $50,000 per year, and 19% are in families that make less than $30,000 per year, according to the Analysis of Pennsylvania Minimum Wage report. (Fizkes/AdobeStock)

As Other States See Pay Hikes, PA Minimum Wage Stuck at $7.25

Low-wage workers in Pennsylvania are missing out on the pay hikes in 23 other states that took effect this month, when those states raised their …

Utilities offer payment programs and other arrangements for households having trouble paying bills. The Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission said last year, utilities spent <a href=

$459 million on such programs. (Kenishirotie/Adobe Stock)">

Staying Warm in PA with Winter Heating Assistance

Higher fuel prices and a bitterly cold start to this winter mean it will cost more for most people to heat their homes, according to the U.S…

As of 2021, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the Keystone State is home to more than 600,000 union members. (Sittinan/Adobe Stock)

Report: PA Workers Benefit from Tight Labor Market, Unions

The latest research on the "State of Working Pennsylvania" says a tight labor market and new levels of union organizing are offering new opportunities…

This year's Pennsylvania education budget includes $850 million in recurring funding to allow school districts to invest in student learning while simultaneously allowing local communities to cut property taxes. (WavebreakMediaMicro/Adobe Stock)

New PA School Year: Underfunded Districts, Unresolved Lawsuit

CORRECTION: The $3.7 billion figure represents an increase in education investments during the eight-year Wolf Administration, not the Pennsylvania …

The America's Health Rankings report found an 11.5% increase in the number of Pennsylvanians over age 60 experiencing food insecurity. (Adobe Stock)

Report: PA Sees Drug Overdose Spike in Older Adults

Older people in Pennsylvania are dying from drug overdoses at much higher rates now compared to a decade ago, according to the latest America's …

Gov. Tom Wolf's proposed Pennsylvania Opportunity Program is meant to help families still recovering economically from the pandemic or the increasing costs of living. (Commonwealth Media Services)

Wolf, Community Leaders Seek $2,000 Payments for Pennsylvanians

Gov. Tom Wolf, lawmakers and community leaders are calling on the General Assembly to pass legislation that would send checks of up to $2,000 to …

In the six months the expanded Child Tax Credit was active, child poverty was reduced by 30%, data show. (Adobe Stock)

Low-Income Families Feel the Strain without Monthly Child Tax Credits

By Katie Fleischer for Ms. Magazine.Broadcast version by Emily Scott for Keystone State News Connection reporting for the Ms. Magazine-Public News …

A partir de abril, los propietarios de Filadelfia deben solicitar asistencia para el alquiler e inscribirse en el programa de desalojo de la ciudad antes de solicitar desalojo debido a falta de pago del alquiler. (Adobe Stock)

Proyecto de ley reformaría informes de selección de inquilinos en PA

Filadelfia -- Una nueva legislación en el Senado estatal abordaría lo que los defensores de la vivienda dicen que son registros de desalojo …

Students often face delays in getting their academic records transferred to their new school, which can lead to delays in re-enrollment. (Adobe Stock)

Bill Would Address Barriers to Graduation for Some PA Kids

HARRISBURG, Pa. -- A bill making its way through the Pennsylvania General Assembly would help ensure a smooth transition to graduation for young …

Since 2013, Pennsylvania's neighboring states New York, Maryland and New Jersey have all enacted legislation that puts them on a pathway to $15 minimum wages. (Adobe Stock)

Report: Increasing Minimum Wage in PA and Beyond Would Help Rebuild Economy

HARRISBURG, Pa. -- With the expanded unemployment benefits from the American Rescue Plan ending last week, a new report from the Keystone Research …

This week, state Sen. Katie Muth, D-Moyersford, and Rep. Malcolm Kenyatta, D-Philadelphia, started circulating memos in the General Assembly seeking sponsorship of bills to increase TANF benefits to 50% of the federal poverty level. (Annie Spratt/Unsplash)

Report: TANF Benefits Vital for PA, But Program Needs Overhaul

HARRISBURG, Pa. - This week marks the 25th anniversary of Temporary Assistance for Needy Families, the cash-assistance program commonly known as TANF…

Pennsylvania is receiving funds from the federal Wagner-Peyser Act program to support SkillUp PA. (Glenn Carstens-Peters/Unsplash)

PA Creates Virtual Skills Training Program To Help Job Seekers

HARRISBURG, Pa. -- Pennsylvania is launching an online job-training program focused on helping residents looking for a new career get the expertise …

To qualify for Pennsylvania's Emergency Rental Assistance Program (ERAP), household income must be 80% or less of the county's Area Median Income (AMI). (Adobe Stock)

Groups Working to Prevent PA Evictions: "30 More Days Isn't Enough"

PHILADELPHIA - The federal moratorium on evictions has been extended through July 31 - but the Biden administration says this is the final extension…

The Black Appalachian Coalition hopes to change the stereotypical narrative that this region is just rural and white, and hopes to see federal funding allocated to communities equitably. (Adobe Stock)

New Coalition Aims to Change "Whitewashed" Narrative of Appalachia

PHILADELPHIA - The Appalachian region has long dealt with environmental pollution and economic disinvestment, and a new coalition wants to ensure its …

A new report says in the year before the pandemic, fewer Pennsylvania children were living in poverty and more of their parents had secure employment. (Adobe Stock)

Report: PA Families Need National Support in Pandemic Recovery

PHILADELPHIA -- Families with children in Pennsylvania and beyond were hit hard during the pandemic, and returning to pre-COVID levels of support …

A new report says every Pennsylvania county has at least one area with few, if any, pharmacies that are key to COVID-19 vaccine distribution. (Anna Kosolapova/Adobe Stock)

Report Reveals PA Health-Care Access Disparities

HARRISBURG, Pa. -- A new report shows Pennsylvanians are experiencing disparities in access to health care, especially in rural areas and among under-…

Pennsylvania ranks 44th in the nation for the amount of school funding that comes from the state, at only 38%. (Drazen/Adobe Stock)

PA Education Funding Trial Date Set

HARRISBURG, Pa. - A judge has set Sept. 9 as the tentative trial date for a lawsuit that claims the General Assembly has violated Pennsylvania's …

Backers of paid family leave say it would help working Pennsylvanians who face economic insecurity when they need to take off work for medical or family emergencies. (luckybusiness/Adobe Stock)

Paid Leave Called "Critical" to Economic Recovery

PITTSBURGH - The COVID pandemic has shown that the lack of a paid family-leave system has devastating consequences for families, public health and …

Five parents and six Pennsylvania school districts are plaintiffs in the school funding lawsuit filed in 2014. (Andriy Blokhin/Adobe Stock)

Court Rules Parents Can Pursue School-Funding Suit

HARRISBURG, Pa. -- Calling the issue a matter of "great public importance," a judge has ruled parents challenging the constitutionality of …

Nearly 70% of voters say they've used telemedicine services during the pandemic, and are likely to do so again. (Drazen/Adobe Stock)

Survey: Out-of Pocket Costs a Major Health Concern

HARRISBURG, Pa. -- A new survey shows Pennsylvanians are worried they can't afford the high out-of-pocket costs for health care, and they want relief…

With kinship care, family members can support each other in difficult times, keeping the family intact and connected. (Rawpixel.com/Adobe Stock)

Report Calls for Equity in Kinship Care

HARRISBURG, Pa. -- A new report highlights the advantages of kinship care for children in contact with Pennsylvania's child-welfare system, and the …

Advocates for public education in Pennsylvania say deep inequities between wealthy and poor school districts have had a disparate impact on Black and Latinx children. (Rido/Adobe Stock)

PA Education Budget Proposal Called "Good Start"

HARRISBURG, Pa. - Public-education advocates have high praise for Gov. Tom Wolf's proposed education budget, but some believe the state could do more …

The ReImagine Appalachia Blueprint and Clean Energy Transition programs would create 250,000 new jobs in Pennsylvania. (Framestock/Adobe Stock)

Report: Appalachia Climate Plan Means PA Jobs

HARRISBURG, Pa. - Fighting climate change could be key to rebuilding the Pennsylvania workforce that's been devastated by the COVID pandemic…

COVID-driven unemployment has left millions of tenants nationwide thousands of dollars behind in rent. (CLShebley/Adobe Stock)

Biden Eviction Moratorium Called "Good Start"

HARRISBURG, Pa. - As an estimated 230,000 Pennsylvania families face possible eviction, civil-rights advocates say President Joe Biden's executive …

Rally organizers say nearly 30% of Philadelphians with student debt in communities of color are behind on their loan payments. (Damir Khabirov/Adobe Stock)

Groups Demand Cancellation of Federal Student-Loan Debt

PHILADELPHIA -- Student and community groups will rally outside President-elect Joe Biden's Philadelphia headquarters Monday to demand he cancel all f…

Pandemic relief advocates are calling for an extension of the eviction moratorium and federal emergency rental assistance. (steheap/Adobe Stock)

PA Organizations Call for Action on COVID Relief

HARRISBURG, Pa. -- More than fifty advocacy organizations have sent a letter to Pennsylvania's congressional delegation urging immediate action on a …

Most of the Pennsylvania counties with the highest rates of uninsured children are in rural areas. (pingpao/Adobe Stock)

Report: PA Child Health Care Headed in Wrong Direction

HARRISBURG, Pa. -- A new report shows the number of children in Pennsylvania without health insurance is growing and children's advocates are …

Raising the maximum SNAP benefit 15% would make $490 million available in Pennsylvania over 16 months. (littlewolf1989/Adobe Stock)

Anti-Hunger Advocates Call for SNAP Boost

HARRISBURG, Pa. -- With more people facing food insecurity during the COVID pandemic, anti-hunger advocates are urging Congress to increase …

Research shows children with health insurance are likely to grow up to be healthier, more productive adults. (Pixel-Shot/Adobe Stock)

Fewer Children Have Health Insurance; Report Predicts Trouble Ahead

PITTSBURGH -- The number of children without health insurance was rising nationwide and here in Pennsylvania before the COVID pandemic, and a new …

The USDA says requiring a letter from the president be included with food given to needy families during an election campaign does not violate the Federal Hatch Act. (U.S. Dept. of Agriculture)

Hunger-Fighting Groups Raise Concerns about Trump Letter

HARRISBURG, Pa. -- Anti-hunger advocates are expressing alarm at a new US Department of Agriculture requirement that millions of boxes of surplus …

Because of the COVID pandemic, one of every four children in the United States could face hunger this year. (Carlos David/Adobe Stock)

An Unusual Partnership Works to Feed Hungry Kids

HARRISBURG, Pa. - A group battling childhood hunger has enlisted a major media company to help get meals to kids while schools are closed by the …

The blueprint calls for creating sustainable jobs while cutting greenhouse-gas emissions. (agnormark/Adobe Stock)

Coalition Creates Blueprint to “Reimagine Appalachia”

HARRISBURG, Pa. - More than fifty groups have joined together to produce a blueprint for job creation and building a sustainable economy in …

Food banks are critical community resources for families dealing with job losses during the pandemic. (astrosystem/Adobe Stock)

Grants to Help Underserved Communities in PA

PHILADELPHIA - Three community-based organizations have received major grants to help underserved Pennsylvanians during the COVID-19 crisis. Funded …

More than 1 in 10 Pennsylvania children lives in a high-poverty area. (kmiragaya/Adobe Stock)

Report Shows PA Needs to Do More for Kids

HARRISBURG, Pa. -- There has been some improvement in the well-being of Pennsylvania's children over the past year, but many still lack health …

The Global Strategy Group poll shows 89% support extending and increasing unemployment for laid-off workers. (Zoran Milic/Adobe Stock)

Poll Shows Support for Government Role in COVID Recovery

HARRISBURG, Pa. - The latest poll shows Pennsylvanians - regardless of their politics - support policies that will help working people and small …

The grant money will be used for a variety of programs, including more attention to maternal anxiety and depression. (Anneke/Adobe Stock)

PA Receives Major Grant for Children’s Services

HARRISBURG, Pa. -- Efforts to increase the number of children and families receiving high-quality services in Pennsylvania are getting a big boost …

The census needs to count everyone in every household, including infants and young children. (gregorydean/Adobe Stock)

Advocates: All Kids Need to Be Counted

HARRISBURG, Pa. -- Wednesday is Census Day, and despite the coronavirus pandemic, the U.S. Census is still happening. But children's advocates fear …

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PA: Poverty Issues