Washington Area Women's Foundation

Weekly Round-Up: News and Analysis on Women and Poverty (Week ending December 19, 2008)

Spotlight on Poverty and Opportunity, a national foundation-led initiative, is excited to collaborate with The Women’s Foundation to bring you the latest news and analysis on women and poverty.

Spotlight is the go-to site for news and ideas about fighting poverty. And every Friday, look for our weekly rundown of the top news stories on women and poverty.

Here’s this week’s news:

  • The Los Angeles Times profiles a transitional residence offering housing and support services to homeless women and their children.
  • Many are concerned that a last-second Bush Administration policy allowing doctors to refuse services on grounds of “conscience” will negatively affect women and the poor, as noted by the Los Angeles Times.
  • As reported by the San Francisco Chronicle, a California judge struck down an eligibility requirement making it harder for some low-income women to receive state assistance with pregnancy and childbirth.
  • The Salt Lake Tribune reports that many women victims of domestic violence have difficulty finding affordable housing in a recession market.
  • The Associated Press notes a report saying that because of poverty and other factors, the percentage of women being incarcerated on the rise.
  • In a tough economic climate, a Connecticut organization offering literacy and life-skills training to low-income women needs basic goods like food rather than toys, according to the Connecticut Post.
  • The Wilmington News Journal reports on a training session for a women-centered volunteer day with Habitat for Humanity.
  • The Tulsa World covers a charity that assists low-income parents – often single moms – with infant care expenses.
  • The Casper Star Tribune highlights a Wyoming-based job training nonprofit that has been a success placing single moms in good jobs.
  • The Corpus Christi Caller-Times editorial board criticizes a city council decision to cut a grant to Planned Parenthood.

To learn more about Spotlight, visit www.spotlightonpoverty.org.  

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The Spotlight on Poverty and Opportunity Team

Spotlight on Poverty and Opportunity is a foundation-led, non-partisan initiative aimed at ensuring that our political leaders take significant actions to reduce poverty and increase opportunity in the United States. We bring together diverse perspectives from the political, policy, advocacy and foundation communities to engage in an ongoing dialogue focused on finding genuine solutions to the economic hardship confronting millions of Americans.