Best practices for addressing state budget shortfalls have been identified by a group of ten nonprofit organizations today in a report entitled “Smart Choices in Hard Times: Best Practices for State Budgets.” “When budgets are tight, families are counting on smart budget choices that protect what matters most. We have to look at the budget […]
Smart Choices in Hard Times Read More »
It’s a new month: October. Fall is officially here bringing with it crisp cool weather and Halloween. But for many Nebraska families, the turn of the calendar page means much more. Public benefits programs, like the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP, formerly Food Stamps) and Aid to Dependent Children (cash welfare) “kick in” at midnight
A New Month, A Small Reminder Read More »
In spite of poverty rates that show Nebraska faring better than the rest of the nation, data show thousands more Nebraskans are low-income, according to a report released by the U.S. Census Bureau, “Income, Poverty, and Health Insurance Coverage in the United States: 2009“. One in ten Nebraskans (9.9%) faced poverty in 2009. This is
September is Hunger Action Month and the momentum is building to address childhood hunger in Nebraska and Nationwide. Our vision of assuring that all kids have the food they need to grow, learn, and succeed is within reach. As a nation, we are turning our eyes towards the goal of ending childhood hunger by 2015.
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I came to Nebraska Appleseed knowing that many of the policies I would advocate would be under attack. I was right, and the common complaints were all present. If a benefits program wasn’t too expensive, it was creating incentives for illegal activity. It is easy for groups to attract support simply by shouting others down,
A Voice for the Needy Read More »
Ever since I decided to go to law school I have been interested in public interest law. So, when I began searching for a job to keep me busy between my 1L and 2L years of law school, I was excited to come across Nebraska Appleseed. While I wanted to work in an area of
A Law Clerk’s View of Public Interest Work Read More »
The calendar has clicked over to August. The scramble to soak up the last days of summer and begin preparing for going back to school begins. At Nebraska Appleseed, our Low Income Economic Opportunity Program is also thinking about school for low-income families. Nebraska Appleseed has long recognized that education is one of the surest
Making Back to School Easier for Teen Parents Read More »
Last week Appleseed won a lawsuit in the Nebraska Supreme Court which restored Medicaid benefits to hundreds of low-income parents unlawfully dropped from the program by the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). In the suit, Davio v. HHS, 280 Neb 263 (2010), class members challenged HHS’ policy of terminating a person’s Medicaid
Nebraska Supreme Court Rules In Favor Of Low-Income Parents Dropped from Medicaid Read More »
Nebraska is at a crossroads. The choices we make today about building and supporting our workforce will impact quality of life in our state for years to come. According to the Georgetown University Center on Education and the Workforce, Nebraska ranks 7th in the nation for future need for workers with post-secondary education, yet only
An Urgent Conversation: The 2010 Building Nebraska’s Future Workforce Forum Read More »
Ahh, summertime. For me, summertime in Nebraska brings back memories of swimming lessons, playing with kittens, and eating picnics of sandwiches, peaches and popsicles on our front porch. Unfortunately, for too many kids in Nebraska, summertime is a time of hunger, rather than one of carefree days and picnic meals. According to a new report,
Hunger Doesn’t Take a Vacation Read More »