Economic Opportunity Report articles from February 2004

Economic Opportunity Report archives from February 2004

Head Start pushes for more services than Medicaid, CLASP analyst finds.
February 2, 2004... Low-income children who participate in the Head Start program generally receive a higher level of service than low-income children who participate in Medicaid program, a policy analyst at the Centers for Law and Social Policy (CLASP) noted. ...

Low-income voters targeted by community voting project.(Brief Article)
February 2, 2004... Registering more than 2 million new low-income voters in 26 states for this year's presidential election is the primary objective of the Community Voting Project (CVP), a national coalition aimed at mobilizing the collective voting power of...

National bake sale aims to increase participation in nutrition programs.
February 2, 2004... Holding a bake sale to raise money for federal nutrition programs for low-income children, on its surface, does not seem like it would be an effective mechanism. But when that bake sale generates more than $1 million, a second look at the...

CAP president's national tour seeks support for poverty rally.(Community Action Partnership)(community action agencies)(Brief Article)
February 2, 2004... With the Community Action Partnership's (CAP) anti-poverty rally upcoming, CAP President Derrick Span will spend the next several months crisscrossing the country generating support for the rally from community action agencies (CAAs) as well as...

D.C voucher opponents seek to have provision repealed.
February 2, 2004... Just days after President Bush signed into law a bill that contained a provision that would provide low-income students in the District of Columbia with vouchers to attend the school of their choice, a campaign began to have the provision...

Low-income Minnesotans receiving free dental care from local clinic.
February 2, 2004... Because of the prohibitive cost of dental care, it often is not a high priority for low-income Americans, thus leading to serious illnesses that often are avoidable. However, an agency in Minnesota is using the availability of free dental care...

New Jersey progressing toward goal of 100 new foster homes by February.(Brief Article)
February 2, 2004... In less than a week, New Jersey's Division of Youth and Family Services (DYFS) progressed nearly halfway toward its goal of licensing 100 foster homes by mid-February. The department's Office of Licensing has licensed 47 new foster homes...

Workers under 25 most susceptible to poverty, DOL statistics note.(Brief Article)
February 2, 2004... Young workers are more vulnerable to poverty than those of any other age group, according to a report by the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL). The figures, collected during the last half of 2003, showed 10.4 percent of 16-to 19-year olds and...

DCHA requests $20m HOPE VI Grant; forms alliance with Russell Simmons.(District of Columbia Housing Authority)(Brief Article)
February 2, 2004... The District of Columbia Housing Authority (DCHA) submitted a $20 million HOPE VI Grant application to the US Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) for the revitalization of the Eastgate Gardens community. The plan to rebuild...

Local agencies assisting BCAC in helping homeless citizens.(Berkshire Community Action Council )(Brief Article)
February 2, 2004... By involving the community in dealing with the problem of homelessness when temperatures plunge, the Berkshire Community Action Council (BCAC) in Massachusetts may have found a temporary solution. In addition to the BCAC, the Council of...

Tenn. food stamp caseload climbed 16 percent in 2003, DHS reports.(Brief Article)
February 2, 2004... The number of Tennessee residents participating in the state's Food Stamp program increased by 16 percent between December 2002 and December 2003, according to findings issued by the state's Department of Human Services (DHS). In December...

Lack of welfare guidance causing confusion at state level, GAO says.(Brief Article)
February 2, 2004... The lack of uniform guidelines from the federal government for welfare programs has created a complex national picture of what services states offer, according to a new General Accounting Office (GAO) report. The report, Supports for...

NAHRO conference.(Brief Article)
February 2, 2004... NAHRO Conference. The National Association of Housing and Redevelopment Officials (NAHRO) will hold its annual Legislative Conference March 17-18 in Washington, D.C. One of the key issues that will be discussed is the U.S. Department of Housing...

Calif. Senate passes charity care bill.(Brief Article)
February 2, 2004... Calif. Senate Passes Charity Care Bill. The California Senate last week passed a bill that would require hospitals to report their policies for providing care to low-income and uninsured patients, thus giving state legislators more authority in...

Food program awards.(Brief Article)
February 2, 2004... Food Program Awards. The Child and Adult Food Care Program (CAFCP) of the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) is accepting applications for its 2004 Building for the Future Awards. The awards, which are presented...

WIC comment period re-opened.(Federal Register)(Brief Article)
February 2, 2004... WIC Comment Period Re-opened. The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) is re-opening its comment period for the Women and Infant Children (WIC) program because of inaccuracies in the previous request for comments....

AmeriCorps guidelines.(Federal Register)(Brief Article)
February 2, 2004... AmeriCorps Guidelines. The Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS) has issued its 2003-2004 AmeriCorps application guidelines. These guidelines establish requirements for organizations applying for funds and provide the criteria...

MSEIP grants.(Federal Register)(Brief Article)
February 2, 2004... MSEIP Grants. The U.S. Department of Education's Office of Postsecondary Education is accepting applications for its FY 2004 Minority Science and Engineering Improvement Program (MSEIP) grants. Although Congress has not enacted a final...

Summer Food Service Program grants.(Federal Register)(Brief Article)
February 2, 2004... Summer Food Service Program Grants. The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) is soliciting comments regarding methods for improving access to the Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) by children in needy areas. The...

Low-Income Housing Credit.(Federal Register)(Brief Article)
February 2, 2004... Low-Income Housing Credit. The IRS has issued regulations that facilitate the electronic filing of the Low-Income Housing Credit Allocation Certification. The regulations affect taxpayers who file IRS Form 8609. The IRS has identified two...

Rural energy grants.(Grants)(Brief Article)
February 2, 2004... Rural Energy Grants. The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Rural Utilities Service (RUS) is making available $11.3 million in competitive grants to acquire, construct, extend, upgrade, and otherwise improve energy genergation, transmission or...

NIDA AIDS grant.(Grants)(Brief Article)
February 2, 2004... NIDA AIDS Grant. The National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) and the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) invite innovative applications to address critical gaps in research on HIV/AIDS prevention, treatment, and related health issues...

Indiana.(Around The States)(Brief Article)
February 2, 2004... INDIANA: The state's Housing Finance Authority (IHFA) approved more than $7 million in awards to support affordable housing programs. Approximately 24 awards totaling $7,234,600 were issued under the Housing from Shelters to Homeownership...

Massachusetts.(Around The States)(MassHousing's Board of Directors approved a $17.4 million loan commitment to preserve affordability)(Brief Article)
February 2, 2004... MASSACHUSETTS: MassHousing's Board of Directors approved a $17.4 million loan commitment to preserve affordability and significantly improve the living conditions at Blue Hill Apartments, a 144-unit low-income development in Boston. In early...

Missouri.(Around The States)(affordable rental housing developments approved)(Brief Article)
February 2, 2004... MISSOURI: The state's Housing Development Commission (MHDC) approved funding for 47 affordable rental housing developments as part of its Rental Production and Preservation Program. The proposals were funded after MHDC staff reviewed 114...

Oregon.(office of Housing and Community Services offers home buying funds)(Brief Article)
February 2, 2004... OREGON: The state's office of Housing and Community Services (OHCS) is now offering cash assistance to help eligible homebuyers fund their dowpayment and closing costs to purchase their first home. This new home loan option, the CashAdvantage...

Wisconsin.(Around The States)(Brief Article)
February 2, 2004... WISCONSIN: The state's Housing and Economic Development Authority (WHEDA) Foundation is accepting applications from nonprofit groups, local governments and tribal authorities under its annual housing grants competition. Awards totaling $800,000...

Alaska.(Around The States)(Brief Article)
February 2, 2004... ALASKA: The state's Housing Finance Corporation (AHFC) approved a resolution to issue up to $140 million in housing development bonds. The 2004 A and B tax-exempt, fixed-rate bonds--with a final maturity of Dec. 1, 2035--would refund more than...

Nebraska.(Around The States)
February 2, 2004... NEBRASKA: The state's Health and Human Services System (DHHS) will hold a hearing Feb. 5 to accept comments on proposed changes to child support program regulations. The proposed changes include, among other things, requiring local employers to...

Public housing advocates fear HUD budget fails PHA residents.(FY 2005 Budget Proposal)(Housing and Urban Development)(public housing authorities)
February 9, 2004... President Bush's plan for public housing reform included in his proposed $31.3 billion Fiscal Year 2005 budget for the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) could lead to thousands of public housing residents losing their...

Group accuses U.S. of violating international human rights law.
February 9, 2004... By failing to ensure that adequate housing is available for all of its citizens, the United States is violating an international human rights law, according to the National Law Center on Homelessness and Poverty (NLCHP). The group details...

Head Start, LIHEAP gain, CSBG loses under President's HHS budget request.(FY 2005 Budget Proposal)(Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program)(Community Services Block Grant)
February 9, 2004... The LIHEAP and Head Start programs will receive the two biggest funding increases under President Bush's $32.76-billion Fiscal Year 2005 budget request for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' Administration on Children and...

Senate bill would provide grants to assist low-income tax filers.(Brief Article)
February 9, 2004... A bill approved last week by the Senate Finance Committee includes a provision that would provide grants to agencies for assisting low-income taxpayers in filing their tax returns. The Tax Administration Good Government Act (S. 882), was...

Rural homeownership a top priority in administration's budget request.(FY 2005 Budget Proposal)
February 9, 2004... The rural housing provisions of the Bush administration's Fiscal Year 2005 budget proposal look much like those of the past two years--homeownership programs received strong support while others were cut. The FY 2005 budget for rural...

Downpayment requirement eliminated under proposed House legislation.(Brief Article)
February 9, 2004... A bill introduced in the House last week would create 150,000 new homeowners by eliminating downpayment requirements for first-time homebuyers seeking home mortgages through the Federal Housing Administration (FHA). FHA loans typically...

No dropoff in Medicaid plan quality for low-income enrollees: report.
February 9, 2004... Medicaid managed care plans that concentrate primarily on low-income enrollees do not differ in their use of quality-improvement strategies than those plans that consist primarily of commercial enrollments, according to a report by New...

Number of rural EITC recipients increasing, brookings report finds.(Earned Income Tax Credit)(Brief Article)
February 9, 2004... Contrary to popular belief, residents of rural areas often are major beneficiaries of low-income tax credits, according to the findings of a new report issued by the Brookings Institute. The report, The State of Low-Wage Workers, based its...

New York's AmeriCorps programs face funding crisis, Clinton says.
February 9, 2004... Without the additional funding for the Fiscal Year 2004 AmeriCorps budget, programs throughout New York state have been forced to cut back their services significantly, according to Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-N.Y.) To that end, she is...

Volunteer Income Tax Assistance Site.(Lower East Side People's Federal Credit Union)(Brief Article)
February 9, 2004... Volunteer Income Tax Assistance Site. The Lower East Side People's Federal Credit Union (LESPFCU) in New York City last week opened its third Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) site for providing free tax preparation and financial education...

Florida Freedom Initiative.(Brief Article)
February 9, 2004... Florida Freedom Initiative. A new demonstration program will test whether the modification of certain Social Security Administration (SSA) rules fosters greater self-sufficiency among Florida's low-income residents. The Florida Freedom...

Early Childhood Educator Grants.(Brief Article)
February 9, 2004... Early Childhood Educator Grants. The U.S. Department of Education is accepting applications for its 2004 Early Childhood Educator Professional Development (ECEPD) grants, which provide professional development for early childhood educators who...

Magnet School Program grants.(Grants)(Brief Article)
February 9, 2004... Magnet School Program Grants. The U.S. Department of Education is inviting applications for its Fiscal Year 2004 Magnet School Assistance Program (MSAP) grants. Although Congress has not enacted a final appropriation for FY 2004, it is...

D.C. Choice grants.(Grants)(Brief Article)
February 9, 2004... D.C. Choice Grants. The U.S. Department of Education's Office of Innovation and Improvement is accepting applications for Fiscal Year 2004 D.C. School Choice Incentive Program Grants. The grants will provide low-income parents in the District...

Team Nutrition grants.(Grants)(Brief Article)
February 9, 2004... Team Nutrition Grants. The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) is making available $4 million in Team Nutrition (TN) Training Grants to be used to assist state agencies in improving children's lifelong eating and...

Staff development.(Brief Article)(Calendar)
February 9, 2004... Feb. 24-26. Howard Gesbeck of Wipfli Young is presenting "In-Depth Review of Head Start Fiscal and Administrative Requirements" training in Dallas. Day 1: Administrative Requirements; Day 2: Cost Principles; Day 3: Head Start Administration....

Montana.(Around The States)(Office of Public Instruction )(Brief Article)
February 9, 2004... MONTANA: The state's Office of Public Instruction (OPI) is looking for sponsors for its Summer Food Service Program. Two types of programs are available--the area-wide program and the enrolled program. An area-wide program requires that at...

Colorado.(Around The States)(Brief Article)
February 9, 2004... COLORADO: The state's Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) recently awarded $407,137 in community-based abstinence education grants to eight local organizations. The award recipients, while offering diverse programs, all focus on...

Ohio.(Around The States)(high-poverty areas)(Brief Article)
February 9, 2004... OHIO: The state's Department of Education (ODE) asked for and received support from Congress on a proposal to pilot a method of preparing quality teachers in high-poverty areas. With the assistance of Rep. Ralph Regula (R-Ohio), chairman of the...

Texas.(Around The States)(Brief Article)
February 9, 2004... TEXAS: The state's Department of Agriculture (DOA) provided a $552,000 Texas Capital Fund award to the city of Waelder for water and road construction in support of economic development. The Texas Capital Fund provides funding for...

Virginia.(Around The States)(Brief Article)
February 9, 2004... VIRGINIA: The state's Department of Education (VDOE) is asking the 2004 General Assembly to expand the board's authority to assist children in chronically low-performing school divisions. The board endorsed legislation that would allow the...

Michigan.(Around The States)(Brief Article)
February 9, 2004... MICHIGAN: The state's Housing Development Authority (MSHDA) approved nearly $40 million for the construction of rental housing developments in Saginaw and Benton Harbor. The projects are being submitted to the U.S. Department of Housing and...

Missouri.(Around The States)(Brief Article)
February 9, 2004... MISSOURI: The state's Housing Development Commission (HDC) granted $6.25 million from the Missouri Housing Trust Fund (MHTF) for 121 housing assistance programs. MHTF, which must be used to financially assist agencies providing housing...

Public housing advocates worried about HUD budget's implications.(Department of Housing & Urban Development)
February 16, 2004... President Bush's budget request for the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), proposes to shift millions of dollars in rental assistance from Washington's responsibility to local government. Low-income housing advocates called...

President's HHS budget provides safety net for inmates' children.(FY 2005 Federal Budget)(Department of Health & Human Services)(Brief Article)
February 16, 2004... The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' FY 2005 budget proposal includes $50 million for the Mentoring Children of Prisoners initiative, a program supported by President Bush, that is aimed at ending the shame and stigma for children...

Vermont welfare agency creates hotlines for Medicaid recipients.(Department of Prevention, Assistance, Transition and Health Access)(Brief Article)
February 16, 2004... Vermont's low-income Medicaid recipients who are having trouble adjusting to the new payment structure now have two hotline systems that will reinstate coverage that was terminated due to nonpayment of Medicaid premiums. Last December,...

D.C. public-private partnership seeks to improve low-income health care.(District of Columbia)(Primary Care Association)
February 16, 2004... A public-private partnership in the District of Columbia has been organized to spread new or renovated clinics in low-income neighborhoods through a program created by the city's Primary Care Association (DCPCA). The program, Medical Homes...

Kansas bill would provide more money to grandparents raising grandchildren.(Brief Article)
February 16, 2004... Low-income Kansas grandparents who have custody of their grandchildren may receive additional state aid under a bill that would keep those children out of the foster care system while saving the state money. Under the bill (S. 320),...

Group urges Washington legislature to pass school breakfast/lunch bill.
February 16, 2004... Washington state has consistently been one of the states with the highest level of hunger among its citizens, even though it is not one of the highest in the country for poverty. This situation led to the creation of a bill that would require...

Illinois DCFS revises foster care rule to limit number of unrelated children.(department of children and family services)(Brief Article)
February 16, 2004... As part of comprehensive efforts to provide the highest quality of care to the foster children of Illinois, the Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) has revised its policy regarding the number of unrelated children living in a...

Cuyahoga County wins TANF lawsuit; Ohio must repay 'diverted' funding.(Brief Article)
February 16, 2004... The state of Ohio must repay Cuyahoga County more than $60 million in TANF funds that were illegally diverted away from welfare programs, a Cuyahoga County Court of Common Pleas judge ruled last week. Ohio law requires that funds earmarked...

NCFL, Bank One will expand low-income literacy program.(National Center on family Litceracy)(Brief Article)
February 16, 2004... A pilot program that was jointly established by the National Center on Family Literacy (NCFL) and Bank One to promote reading among low-income children will expand to two more cities this year, according to officials at the NCFL. The...

USDA to make available $6 million in food stamp program grants.(United State department of agriculture)(Brief Article)
February 16, 2004... The U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) office of Food and Nutrition Services (FNS) is accepting applications for organizations interested in participating in one of two food stamp program grant competitions aimed at improving access to and...

More LIHEAP funding.(low income home energy assistance program)(Brief Article)
February 16, 2004... More LIHEAP Funding. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) last week released an additional $191.5 million in LIHEAP funds for states, territories and tribes. HHS will provide $99.4 million of this amount from LIHEAP...

HUD to host online home sale.(department of housing and urban development)(Brief Article)
February 16, 2004... HUD to Host Online Home Sale. The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) plans to sell up to 4,000 homes acquired through foreclosure during a special online auction that will take place Feb. 27-28. Properties available through...

New head start deadline.(department of health and human services)(Brief Article)
February 16, 2004... New Head Start Deadline. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is giving Head Start programs nationwide until June 21 to put in place new transportation safety regulations for program participants. The original deadline was...

Financial Management Survey.(Federal Register)(Corporation for National and Community Service)(Brief Article)
February 16, 2004... Financial Management Survey. The Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS) is seeking comments regarding its Financial Management Survey Form, which it will use to determine if program grant funds are being used in a way that meets...

HUD SOMA Survey.(US Department of Housing and Uraban Development)(Survey of Market Absorption)(Brief Article)
February 16, 2004... HUD SOMA Survey. The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) is seeking comments on its Survey of Market Absorption (SOMA) of new multi-family housing units. (SOMA) provides the data necessary to measure the rate at which new...

HUD Rulemaking Committee.(Federal Register)(Department of Housing & Urban Development)(Brief Article)
February 16, 2004... HUD Rulemaking Committee. The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) is developing a Negotiated Rulemaking Advisory Committee, which will provide advice and recommendations on developing a rule for effectuating changes to the...

Rural Housing grants.(Grants)(Brief Article)
February 16, 2004... Rural Housing Grants. The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Rural Housing Service (RHS) Applications for the Section 515 Rural Rental Housing Program for Fiscal Year 2004. Applications may be submitted for Section 515 Rural Rental Housing new...

Food Stamp grants.(Grants)(Brief Article)
February 16, 2004... Food Stamp Grants. The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) is accepting applications for Food Stamp Program Participation Grants for Fiscal Year 2004. This grant competition is designed to support projects that...

High School Equivalency grants.(Grants)(Brief Article)
February 16, 2004... High School Equivalency Grants. The U.S. Department of Education is accepting applications for its High School Equivalency Program (HEP), which helps migrant and seasonal farmworkers and their children obtain a general education diploma (GED)...

Montana.(Around The States)(Government finance)(Brief Article)
February 16, 2004... MONTANA: The city of Belgrade has been awarded $400,000 in economic development funds by the state's Department of Commerce through the Community Development Block Grant--Economic Development Program. The city will make a $370,000 loan to...

North Dakota.(Around The States)(Brief Article)
February 16, 2004... NORTH DAKOTA: The 13th annual housing conference, sponsored by the state's Housing Finance Agency (NDHFA), will be held Feb. 18-19 in Bismarck. The theme of this year's conference is "Planting the Seeds of Affordable Housing," with conference...

Ohio.(Around The States)(Government finance)(Brief Article)
February 16, 2004... OHIO: The state's Housing Finance Agency (OHFA) approved $700,000 in Housing Development Assistance Program (HDAP) loans for two housing projects in Dayton and Youngstown. The funds will be used to construct 100 single-family homes for low- and...

Oklahoma.(Around The States)(Brief Article)
February 16, 2004... OKLAHOMA: The state's Housing Finance Agency (OHFA) awarded more than $1.3 million in HOME Investment Partnership Program funds to three local agencies to build 74 new homes. The breakdown is as follows: Broken Bow Housing Authority received...

Maryland.(Around The States)(Government finance)(Brief Article)
February 16, 2004... MARYLAND: Twelve new programs in seven Maryland jurisdictions have been awarded $3.4 million in grants by the state's Department of Education (MSDE) through the federal 21st Century Community Learning Centers (21st CCLC) Grant Program. The...

California.(Around The States)(Housing Finance Agency)(Brief Article)
February 16, 2004... CALIFORNIA: The state's Housing Finance Agency (CalHFA) is now accepting applications for participation in its Housing Enabled by Local Partnerships (HELP) program. The HELP program is providing an additional $10 million in lowinterest loans...

South Carolina.(Around The States)(Government finance)(Brief Article)
February 16, 2004... SOUTH CAROLINA:. South Carolina will award $7 million in 21st Century Community Learning Center grants for the 2004-05 school year, and is now accepting applications for those grants. Funds will be used to provide academic enrichment activities...

SCHIP for adults.(Slants & Trends)(State Childrens' Health Insurance Program)(Brief Article)
February 23, 2004... SCHIP FOR ADULTS--More low-income adults will soon have access to health insurance now that states have begun revising their State Childrens' Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) to allow adults to be covered. Michigan last month became the ninth...

NCLB rejections.(No Child Left Behind Act)(Brief Article)
February 23, 2004... NCLB REJECTIONS--About a dozen states have rebelled against the No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB), complaining that it imposes costly new obligations for assisting low-income and poor performing schools without providing the money to carry them...

HUD's sale of unsubsidized mortgages will liquidate its existing inventory.(Department of Housing & Urban Development)(Brief Article)
February 23, 2004... The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) hopes that this year's sale of its existing inventory of unsubsidized multifamily and healthcare mortgage loans will generate more revenue than last year's sale. Last year, HUD...

Ed. dept. makes policy changes to help immigrants learn English.
February 23, 2004... The U.S. Department of Education last week established two policy changes that will help students who are new to the United States, as well as the English language. They will give states and local school districts greater flexibility to help...

Iowans not making enough money to avoid poverty, ISU study finds.(Brief Article)
February 23, 2004... High health care costs and low-wages are being blamed for more Iowans being in poverty than ever before, a new study conducted by Iowa State University says. The study, "Iowa Self-Sufficient Wage," found that most state residents do not...

H&R Block attacked by advocacy group over use of refund anticipation loans.
February 23, 2004... H&R Block is charging too much interest on refund anticipation loans (RALs) provided primarily to low-income taxpayers, a national low-income advocacy group argues. To that end, the group has started a national petition to discourage H&R Block...