Low-Wage America http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=1076&ft=1&f=1076 NPR stories about low-wage America, the income gap between rich and poor, affordable housing, welfare, medicaid, social security, and healthcare for the working poor. en Copyright 2013 NPR - For Personal Use Only NPR API RSS Generator 0.94 Wed, 21 Jul 2010 13:00:00 -0400 http://media.npr.org/images/npr_news_123x20.gif Low-Wage America http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=1076&ft=1&f=1076 Child Hunger: Nutritious Food Tough To Afford The Obama administration has pledged to end childhood hunger in the U.S. by 2015. Millions of kids cannot get enough to eat at home, and that number is going up, not down. NPR's Pam Fessler and Share our Strength founder Bill Shore talk about childhood hunger and the tug of war between nutrition and frugality. Wed, 21 Jul 2010 13:00:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=128671673&ft=1&f=1076 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=128671673&ft=1&f=1076 The Obama administration has pledged to end childhood hunger in the U.S. by 2015. Millions of kids cannot get enough to eat at home, and that number is going up, not down. NPR's Pam Fessler and Share our Strength founder Bill Shore talk about childhood hunger and the tug of war between nutrition and frugality.

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]]> Eating Nutritiously A Struggle When Money Is Scarce The Williamsons of Carlisle, Pa., live well below the poverty line. And in the family's struggle to obtain enough food, nutrition sometimes takes a back seat to necessity. Hunger in America is complicated. It's not just getting enough food, but getting the right food -- and making the right choices. Tue, 20 Jul 2010 00:00:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=128621057&ft=1&f=1076 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=128621057&ft=1&f=1076 The Williamsons of Carlisle, Pa., live well below the poverty line. And in the family's struggle to obtain enough food, nutrition sometimes takes a back seat to necessity. Hunger in America is complicated. It's not just getting enough food, but getting the right food -- and making the right choices.

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]]> A Daily Fight To Find Food: One Family's Story President Obama has pledged to end childhood hunger by 2015. But the number of hungry children in America has been rising: In 2008, almost 17 million children lived in households where getting enough food was a challenge. The Williamson family of five in Carlisle, Pa., who make $18,000 a year, highlight this struggle. Mon, 19 Jul 2010 11:37:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=128618224&ft=1&f=1076 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=128618224&ft=1&f=1076 President Obama has pledged to end childhood hunger by 2015. But the number of hungry children in America has been rising: In 2008, almost 17 million children lived in households where getting enough food was a challenge. The Williamson family of five in Carlisle, Pa., who make $18,000 a year, highlight this struggle.

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]]> Walmart Pledges $2 Billion To U.S. Food Banks This morning The Walmart Foundation announced a plan to donate $2 billion over the next five years in cash and food to food banks around the United States. The move marks an expansion of Walmart’s existing partnerships with the organization Feeding America. Guest host Allison Keyes speaks with NPR poverty and philanthropy correspondent Pam Fessler about the donation. Wed, 12 May 2010 12:00:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=126778627&ft=1&f=1076 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=126778627&ft=1&f=1076 This morning The Walmart Foundation announced a plan to donate $2 billion over the next five years in cash and food to food banks around the United States. The move marks an expansion of Walmart’s existing partnerships with the organization Feeding America. Guest host Allison Keyes speaks with NPR poverty and philanthropy correspondent Pam Fessler about the donation.

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]]> Wary Of Earth, Haitians Take To Water Haiti's government says it is ending the search and rescue phase for survivors, following last week's magnitude-7 earthquake. But rescue crews won't be kept from continuing their work. Meanwhile, Haitians are trying to flee their destroyed capital by the tens of thousands, with living conditions in Port-au-Prince now primitive at best. NPR's Jason Beaubien speaks to guest host Audie Cornish from the Caribbean island's docks. Sat, 23 Jan 2010 08:00:00 -0500 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=122893877&ft=1&f=1076 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=122893877&ft=1&f=1076 Haiti's government says it is ending the search and rescue phase for survivors, following last week's magnitude-7 earthquake. But rescue crews won't be kept from continuing their work. Meanwhile, Haitians are trying to flee their destroyed capital by the tens of thousands, with living conditions in Port-au-Prince now primitive at best. NPR's Jason Beaubien speaks to guest host Audie Cornish from the Caribbean island's docks.

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]]> Skeletons Of The Auto Industry Linger Across U.S. In all, 21 Chrysler and General Motors plants will be closed permanently or idled over the next few years. In addition to the loss of thousands of jobs, the closures can mean a substantial drop in tax revenue for affected communities. Some cities converted the vacant auto plants into other businesses in an attempt to reinvent their economies. Wed, 15 Jul 2009 15:05:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=106655302&ft=1&f=1076 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=106655302&ft=1&f=1076 In all, 21 Chrysler and General Motors plants will be closed permanently or idled over the next few years. In addition to the loss of thousands of jobs, the closures can mean a substantial drop in tax revenue for affected communities. Some cities converted the vacant auto plants into other businesses in an attempt to reinvent their economies.

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]]> Charities Lament 'Cash For Clunkers' Program When Congress passed a new law to give people up to $4,500 to junk their old cars and buy new, more efficient ones, the auto industry cheered. But some charities say they'll be the unintended victims of this program, and so will the low-income people they try to help. Tue, 14 Jul 2009 16:07:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=106612934&ft=1&f=1076 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=106612934&ft=1&f=1076 When Congress passed a new law to give people up to $4,500 to junk their old cars and buy new, more efficient ones, the auto industry cheered. But some charities say they'll be the unintended victims of this program, and so will the low-income people they try to help.

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]]> In Phoenix, Homeless Battle Summer Heat Summers in Phoenix can be long and lethal for those who can't escape the heat. Those who live in it say the heat makes them irritable, disoriented and unable to eat. Even at night, the temperature can hover in the lower 90s. Sat, 11 Jul 2009 16:00:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=106499804&ft=1&f=1076 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=106499804&ft=1&f=1076 Summers in Phoenix can be long and lethal for those who can't escape the heat. Those who live in it say the heat makes them irritable, disoriented and unable to eat. Even at night, the temperature can hover in the lower 90s.

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]]> Can Expanding Food Stamps Jolt The Economy? Some economists say the additional $20 billion allocated to the federal food stamp program is a smart way to boost spending in a recession — especially with 4.8 million new people getting aid. But critics say a real economic kick-start will take a lot more money. Tue, 07 Jul 2009 00:18:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=106307995&ft=1&f=1076 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=106307995&ft=1&f=1076 Some economists say the additional $20 billion allocated to the federal food stamp program is a smart way to boost spending in a recession — especially with 4.8 million new people getting aid. But critics say a real economic kick-start will take a lot more money.

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]]> Hundreds Of Calif. Homeless March For Land Rights In Sacramento, hundreds of homeless demonstrate in hopes of securing land to sleep on. In recent months a tent city and a city shelter have closed. With laws that prohibit sleeping in public places, these individuals say it is now illegal for them to exist. Thu, 02 Jul 2009 15:47:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=106226222&ft=1&f=1076 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=106226222&ft=1&f=1076 In Sacramento, hundreds of homeless demonstrate in hopes of securing land to sleep on. In recent months a tent city and a city shelter have closed. With laws that prohibit sleeping in public places, these individuals say it is now illegal for them to exist.

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]]> The Joy Of Work: A Disabled Man's Quest For A Job Michael Medina is looking for a job that will make him as happy as he once was when he worked as a janitor. He's aided by a job coach from the Arc of San Francisco, part of a national nonprofit network that helps people with developmental disabilities find general employment. Thu, 02 Jul 2009 00:01:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=106119247&ft=1&f=1076 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=106119247&ft=1&f=1076 Michael Medina is looking for a job that will make him as happy as he once was when he worked as a janitor. He's aided by a job coach from the Arc of San Francisco, part of a national nonprofit network that helps people with developmental disabilities find general employment.

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]]> New York Tackles Wage Theft Against Immigrants Nearly half of New York City's work force is foreign-born. And labor officials say these immigrant workers are among the most exploited. Now, after what critics call years of neglect, the state's Labor Department is testing out a more aggressive approach to help them. Tue, 19 May 2009 13:16:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=104087809&ft=1&f=1076 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=104087809&ft=1&f=1076 Nearly half of New York City's work force is foreign-born. And labor officials say these immigrant workers are among the most exploited. Now, after what critics call years of neglect, the state's Labor Department is testing out a more aggressive approach to help them.

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]]> Tax Protests About More Than Money In her weekly commentary, host Michel Martin shares thoughts about last week's tax protests and why it is important for Presidents to have some money in their own pockets. Mon, 20 Apr 2009 12:00:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=103274919&ft=1&f=1076 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=103274919&ft=1&f=1076 In her weekly commentary, host Michel Martin shares thoughts about last week's tax protests and why it is important for Presidents to have some money in their own pockets.

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]]> Alfre Woodard Brings True Story To Screen Award-winning actress Alfre Woodard stars in <em>American Violet</em>, a new film based on the story of Regina Kelly of Hearne, Texas. Kelly, a single mother of four, was unjustly accused of dealing drugs. Woodard talks about her role and the film's importance. Mon, 20 Apr 2009 12:00:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=103274899&ft=1&f=1076 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=103274899&ft=1&f=1076 Award-winning actress Alfre Woodard stars in American Violet, a new film based on the story of Regina Kelly of Hearne, Texas. Kelly, a single mother of four, was unjustly accused of dealing drugs. Woodard talks about her role and the film's importance.

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