By Katie Fleischer for Ms. Magazine
Broadcast version by Lily Böhlke for Tennessee News Service/Public News Service

NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- After over a year of dealing with the economic fallout caused by COVID-19, several things have become clear: The pandemic has disproportionately impacted women, especially women of color; and federal policies-not individual strategies-are necessary to help Americans fully recover.

In response to the gendered and racialized impacts of the pandemic, resulting in a drastic decline in women's labor force participation, the Biden administration has attempted to support struggling Americans through policies like the American Rescue Plan-which, among other provisions, provides additional financial support for people unemployed during the pandemic.

But unfortunately, those supplemental unemployment benefits have become increasingly politicized. Conservative politicians critical of policies like unemployment benefits and guaranteed income are attempting to frame people receiving benefits or direct cash as "dependent on the unemployment system" and discouraged from working. In addition to being flat-out inaccurate-the states that ended supplemental unemployment benefits early have not seen increased levels of employment, according to recent studies-these damaging myths target already marginalized groups like low-income women of color.

Nevertheless, across the country, governors in 26 states (25 GOP-led and one Democratic state) have already ended the federal supplemental unemployment benefits-funding provided entirely by the federal government at no cost to state budgets-and the rest are set to expire in early September unless Congress takes action to extend them.

False messaging about who works and why erases the lived experiences of people struggling to support their families and themselves. For example, a Black mother who received unemployment benefits and guaranteed income during the pandemic, Ebony (last name withheld), explained:

"There's this untruth that women like me sit at home and don't do anything. From TV and things, they think that we're at home sitting lazily doing nothing, making all these kids, everyone takes their money and just runs and goes shopping. And that's definitely not the truth. I can't tell you the last time I've been in a mall or whatever, I just go to the grocery store to get things that we need. I'm not lazy, I work my butt off day and night. Nobody wants to be broke, I know I don't."

Reinstating unemployment benefits would make a huge difference for many Americans, particularly low-income women and women of color. But that's just the first step. COVID-19 has laid bare and exacerbated the growing wealth disparities and race and gender inequities endemic to the U.S. economy.

It's time for the U.S. to build an economy that works for everyone and levels the playing field. An economy that doesn't rely on an extractive business model, which demands employees be available any time of day or night, often for poverty wages. An economy that doesn't leave millions of people without a living wage or benefits like paid sick leave, forcing them to live paycheck to paycheck. One where the wealthy pay their fair share.

Instituting new federal policies with economic equality at the center-like guaranteed income-are a stepping stone to this reality.

Magnolia Mother's Trust (MMT) is one real-world example of how the abstract economic policies being debated at the national level can have huge impacts on marginalized communities. Based in Jackson, Miss., MMT is an initiative that demonstrates the power of no-strings-attached financial benefits, providing Black mothers living in extreme poverty $1,000 per month for a year. For many of these women, the combination of increased unemployment benefits and guaranteed income gave them the economic security they needed to take care of their families and work towards long-term goals. By sharing their stories in Ms.'s Front and Center series, they show how cash relief provided a safety net for themselves and their children.

One MMT mom, Tia, explained:

"I know people say that if you have programs like these, people will stop working. I don't personally understand that-I mean, I think it's fine if someone made that choice, but for me I'll always want to be working, I want to be adding to my money, not decreasing it. It's not about not working; it's about just being able to take a little time off-to take a week and spend it with your kids, then go back to work. I wasn't able to do that before, to have that time off without being worried about covering the bills."

"It's been hard," said Sabrina, another MMT mother. "I'm not used to not working and being at the house. And obviously it's also hard because of the income loss. Unemployment helped me sustain. But now the governor just announced that Mississippi is going to cut us off from extra unemployment benefits so I'll be losing that $300 a week. It will be tough."

MMT mother Nikki relies on federal aid because of a disability, but she used to work in child care. "I really, really miss working," she said. "It's hard. I miss my babies-the ones I used to take care of. You fall in love with these kids spending so much time with them."

These moms aren't on "the sidelines" refusing to work; they all have goals for themselves and their families. Sabrina plans to study nursing, buy her own home and send her son to a school for kids with dyslexia. Tia was able to move out of subsidized housing. And Ebony is working to open her own nail salon business and buy a home.

"Invest in yourself," she advised the other MMT mothers. "That can be anything-it doesn't have to be starting a business-it could be self-care or learning something new. But you're the most important investment you can make."

Unemployment benefits are already difficult to access-after waiting for a month, Ebony was only able to receive the benefits she was owed because she happened to do the nails of a woman who worked intake at the state unemployment department.

Instead of cutting access to COVID benefits, now is the chance to expand and solidify them into permanent policy. Only through universal policies like increased unemployment benefits, expansion of the child tax credit and guaranteed income can the U.S. create an economic model that works in a post-pandemic world and allows women, low-income people and people to recover and reach their full potential.

Katie Fleischer wrote this article for Ms. Magazine.

Cities and states, including Mississippi, are grappling with rising homelessness.

In Mississippi, 982 people experience homelessness daily, according to the National Alliance to End Homelessness.

Ledger Parker - the executive director of Mississippi United To End Homelessness - said its Continuum of Care program works with partner organizations and government agencies, to serve and house vulnerable populations in 71 counties across the state.

He said the program utilizes outreach teams that aim to build relationships with the unhoused.

"So those outreach teams, whenever they go, they get to know them," said Parker. "They do collect information, and they perform an assessment. That assessment that we do is to try to find out how vulnerable they are in their homelessness. Our goal is we want to limit the number of deaths in homelessness."

Meanwhile, the Jackson City Council has recently delayed a vote on a contentious ordinance that would ban sleeping on city property, and allow the removal of homeless encampments - which is sparking debate over the best approach to tackle the crisis.

Parker said the outreach teams are vital, and work in several urban areas such as Tupelo, Meridian, Hattiesburg, Starkville, and Columbus to assist with finding housing.

He added that the group provides resources for wraparound services - but there are some challenges, as many individuals lack identification, which is essential for signing leases and applying for jobs in Mississippi.

"Those outreach teams begin the process of making sure that person has the pieces they need to get into housing," said Parker, "but then also down the road to get an employment, health care, mental health care. We try to really encourage them to choose housing."

Parker added that initially it's had to persuade individuals to accept housing.

Once housed, the organization strives to provide comprehensive support services. However, a small percentage, likely around 10%, experience a return to homelessness.

This recidivism rate is not ignored as the organization actively works to re-house these individuals.




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La Niña is bringing a cooler, wetter winter to Oregon and likely driving up heating bills as systems work harder.

This is the third year of major price hikes for Pacific Power and Pacific Gas and Electric, with rates up by 40% from four years ago.

One report found nearly half of Americans struggle to pay their utility bills and last winter, a January ice storm and rate hikes saw power shut off for a record number of Oregon households due to lack of payment.

Jami Seymore, home energy expert for the Energy Trust of Oregon, said this winter, one way to save on energy bills is to lower the thermostat at night.

"Every degree you drop that thermostat, you can save about 3% on your energy bill," Seymore pointed out.

Seymore recommended setting the thermostat to around 67 degrees during the day and about 59 at night. If you have a heat pump, do not change the temperature more than a few degrees either way for maximum efficiency.

The most helpful way to save money is to keep the heat inside by insulating walls, attics and floors. Seymore noted filling in gaps around the home like door frames, windows and mail slots can save up to 20% on heating costs. She added Energy Trust of Oregon can help cut the costs of projects.

"Energy Trust offers higher incentives for people with lower to moderate incomes to be able to make some of those changes a little more affordable," Seymore emphasized.

One source of energy loss people may overlook is the air filter. Seymore recommends changing it about every three months, or every time the season changes.

"A dirty air filter, that actually slows all that airflow coming in," Seymore observed. "It's going to waste energy and it's going to cost you more money."

If you need help with utility bills, Seymour advised checking with your utility provider first, as most have assistance programs and payment plans. You can also apply for Home Electrification and Appliance Rebates, which offer assistance for installing high-efficiency electric appliances, along with insulation and air sealing measures.


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Temperatures are dropping in the Commonwealth and community action agencies said help is available for those struggling to pay their heating bills.

The federal Home Energy Assistance Program helps households making less than 60% of the state median income, which for a family of four is just under $95,000.

Liz Berube, executive director of the community action agency Citizens for Citizens, serving the Fall River and Taunton area, called the eligibility requirements very generous.

"These are clearly for people who work, or you were working and you're laid off, you're on worker's comp, people who slip through the cracks," Berube outlined. "This could be the program for you."

Berube pointed out the website HeatingHelpMA.org has information on heating and other energy savings programs, as well as a link to an online application portal.

The Department of Public Utilities recently approved natural gas rate hikes for National Grid and Eversource customers. Monthly bills could increase from 11% to 30%.

Sen. Joan Lovely, D-Salem, said she is already hearing from her constituents in the Second Essex District, wondering how they will make it through the winter.

"Every single day, the biggest call to our office is housing insecurity and how am I going to heat my home," Lovely reported. "How am I going to be able to stay in my home?"

Lovely is grateful for the federal, state and local partnerships making the heating aid program possible.

Joe Diamond, executive director of the Massachusetts Association for Community Action, a coalition of more than twenty community action agencies helping families apply for needed services, said keeping people warm is about more than lowering energy bills.

"It is a health program. It's a safety program. It's a housing preservation program," Diamond explained. "It is also a program that allows people to access other programs."

Diamond noted if households qualify for heating help, they automatically qualify for weatherization programs, which can include new insulation, appliances or heating systems. Public safety officials stressed the programs save both money and lives. They emphasized well-maintained heating equipment is much less likely to cause fire or carbon monoxide poisoning.


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