Public News Service

A 2018 study estimated 33% of Baltimore City is a food desert. (Adobe Stock)

Baltimore food deserts highlighted during Hunger Action Month

September is Hunger Action Month and advocates in Baltimore City are calling attention to expanding food deserts. Over the summer the Giant Foods …

In Maryland, more than 48% of tipped workers make less than $17 an hour. (wavebreak3/Adobe Stock)

New report measures benefits of MD’s 2024 minimum wage increase

Many Maryland workers are benefiting from the minimum wage increase that went into effect at the beginning of this year. But a new report from Oxfam …

The Poor People's Campaign said if poor and low-income people voted at the same rate as those in higher income brackets, they would have the power to sway elections in every state. (AI/Adobe Stock)

Poor People's Campaign rallies in D.C. ahead of election

With chants of "We are the swing vote," poor and low-wage workers gathered in Washington, D.C., recently to rally and strategize ahead of the …

Maryland schools served more than 34 million breakfasts during the 2022-2023 school year. (Adobe Stock)

Report: MD schools serving thousands fewer meals post-COVID

The latest Maryland School Breakfast Report finds tens of thousands fewer kids are being served post COVID. The end of pandemic era waivers two …

The number of Maryland seniors reporting insufficient sleep increased to 29%, according to the American's Health Rankings Senior Report from the United Health Foundation. (Adobe Stock)

Report: MD senior health ranks 10th in nation; challenges remain

A new report found Maryland's older residents face worsening physical and behavioral health and looks at the possible reasons. The America's Health …

The initial phase of the Maryland Tutoring Corps Grant Program will reach 80,000 students in the state. (Adobe Stock/AntonioDiaz)

Report: Maryland ranks 22nd nationally in overall child well-being

The Annie E. Casey Foundation has published its annual Kids Count Data Book and the report showed the toll the pandemic took on educational progress…

Construction on a six-home development in Fairmount Heights began Oct. 13. (Adobe Stock/AI)

Affordable housing meets cutting-edge energy tech in MD's Fairmount Heights

By Kayla Benjamin for The Washington Informer.Broadcast version by Brett Peveto for Maryland News Connection reporting for the Solutions Journalism Ne…

More than 600,000 Marylanders participate in SNAP in an average month. (Adobe Stock)

One-year extension of farm bill buoys food insecure in MD

The November continuing resolution included a one-year extension of the 2018 farm bill, marking a temporary reprieve for Marylanders relying on …

Maryland SNAP participation peaked during the summer of 2021 with more than 860,000 enrolled in the program. (Adobe Stock)

Report: 1 in 9 Marylanders rely on federal programs to avoid food insecurity

A new report looking at hunger in Maryland showed the role federal nutrition programs play in supporting many residents, as well as the state's food …

Baltimore City students can experience hands-on planting at Great Kids Farm. (Adobe Stock)

USDA announces partnership to reform school food procurement

October is National Farm to School Month and the Department of Agriculture has announced a new effort to improve students' access to high-quality food…

Households with income at or below 200% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines are eligible for the ACP. (Adobe Stock)

Thousands of Maryland Households Qualify for Internet Subsidy

Maryland residents struggling to pay for web access can get help from two connected programs. The Federal Communications Commission's Affordable …

More than 7 million Americans are receiving Supplemental Security Income. (Adobe Stock)

Social Security Administration Raising Awareness of SSI in Maryland

The Social Security Administration wants to make sure Marylanders know about the Supplemental Security Income program. Supplemental Security Income …

The new Kids Count Data Book indicates 54% of 3- and 4-year-olds in Maryland were not enrolled in preschool programs between 2017 and 2021. (Adobe Stock)

Report: Maryland Ranks 21st for Child Well-being

The new Kids Count Data Book found the child care system still struggling in the wake of the pandemic. The Annie E. Casey Foundation report showed …

Estimates indicate Maryland will lose $69 million of federal funds per month. (Piman Khrutmuang/Adobe Stock)

MD SNAP Benefit Reductions Will Total Nearly $700 Million in 2023

With the end of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) emergency allotments, hunger advocates are sounding the alarm over food insecurity …

A new report states home repairs and electrification offer enormous local job growth opportunities. (Charles Taylor/Adobe Stock)

Study: MD Needs to Repair Thousands of Homes to Meet Climate Goals

A new report found Maryland will need to repair hundreds of thousands of homes occupied by low and middle-income people in order to meet its climate g…

60 days notice when the decision is made to terminate or allow the current public health emergency to expire. (Adobe Stock)">

Food Insecurity Looms Amid Inflation, End of COVID Era Supports

The issue of charity around meals is a common theme during the holidays, though this year the prospect of a sudden drop-off in federal benefits has …

The expanded Child Tax Credit, a form of guaranteed income for families with children, reached an estimated 1.2 million children in Maryland, according to White House estimates.(Adobe Stock)

Income Programs' Differences Show Equity is Key

By Katie Fleischer for Ms. Magazine.Broadcast version by Emily Scott for Maryland News Connection reporting for the Ms. Magazine-Public News Service …

The People's Commission to Decriminalize Maryland's 2022 legislative priorities hone in on homelessness, poverty, youths, drug policy and bodily autonomy. (Adobe Stock)

MD People's Commission Lists Legislative Priorities for 2022

As Gov. Larry Hogan revealed his proposed Fiscal Year 2023 budget in Annapolis yesterday, the People's Commission to Decriminalize Maryland announced …

No matter where you live in Maryland, the Maryland Health Connection website offers a choice of plans from multiple insurance companies. (Adobe stock)

New MD Law, Biden Plan Cut Health-Insurance Costs

ANNAPOLIS, Md. -- Maryland's health insurance open enrollment period runs through Jan. 15, and whether you are younger or older, extra financial …

Fewer than one-in-five workers in the United States has access to paid family leave. (Adobe Stock)

MD Paid Leave Supporters: It's Time for the Time to Care Act

ANNAPOLIS, Md. -- Advocacy groups say a paid leave proposal in Maryland would provide peace of mind for workers, especially those with disabilities …

United Way of Maryland helped more than 900 households in the state avoid evictions in January through its Strategic Targeted Eviction Prevention Program. (Adobe stock)

As Summer Evictions Loom, MD Group Boosts Prevention Program

BALTIMORE, Md. - With the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's eviction moratorium now set to end July 31, and with Maryland's to expire …

The number of Maryland fourth graders who were not proficient in reading increased to 65% in 2019, according to a new report. (Adobe stock)

Report: MD Lawmakers Need to Keep Spotlight on Child Well-Being

BALTIMORE -- Advocates said Maryland lawmakers need to focus more than ever on helping children, as a new report shows the state dropped from 21st in …

A new report finds 20% of Maryland families with children say they have little or no confidence they would be able to pay their rent or mortgage on time. (Adobe stock)

Report: MD Kids Face Dire Consequences During Pandemic

BALTIMORE, Md. -- With Congress still wrangling over a COVID-19 stimulus package, a new report shows America's children are suffering dire …

A new report says families' access to the federal cash assistance program known as TANF has been limited by policies rooted in racism. (Adobe Stock)

Report: Cash Assistance Goes to Fewer Low-Income Families

ANNAPOLIS, Md. -- The Temporary Assistance for Needy Families, or TANF, program is reaching fewer families in poverty than earlier federal assistance …

More Marylanders are turning to food banks as poverty increases during the pandemic. (Maryland Food Bank)

MD Anti-Poverty Expert: Pandemic Highlights Neglect of Poor

BALTIMORE -- A Maryland author and leader of a national anti-poverty group is challenging U.S. leaders to tackle social inequities spotlighted this …

One estimate suggests almost 300,000 Maryland families can't pay rent as a result of COVID-19-related income loss. (Adobe Stock)

Caution Urged in Applying for Federal Eviction Moratorium

ANNAPOLIS, Md. -- Some Maryland families hit hard by the novel coronavirus are breathing a sigh of relief since the Centers for Disease Control and …

U.S. Census takers are beginning their door-to-door surveys of Baltimore residents, but will also be setting up mobile sites where people can get help filling out census questionnaires. (Adobe Stock)

U.S. Census-Takers Target Baltimore to Boost Response Rate

BALTIMORE -- There may be a knock on your door soon, as the U.S. Census Bureau is following up door-to-door with households in Maryland that have not …

The Capital Area Food Bank in Maryland is receiving a $400,000 grant this month. (Capital Area Food Bank)

$1M in Grants Help MD Groups Address COVID-19 Impact

BALTIMORE -- Spurred by concern for supporting underserved communities battling the impact of COVID-19, UnitedHealthcare awarded $1 million to …

Insurance and medical care costs are a top concern for people potentially infected with the coronavirus. (Adobe stock)<br />

Maryland Reopens Insurance Enrollment as Coronavirus Spreads

ANNAPOLIS, Md. -- As the coronavirus outbreak worsens, Maryland has reopened its health insurance exchange to boost coverage and expand treatment for …

The Rev. William Barber of the Poor People's Campaign leads a rally in Washington in June 2019. (Poor People's Campaign)

For MLK Day Tribute, MD's Poor People's Campaign Hosts Film on Poverty

ANNAPOLIS, Md. -- The Poor People's Campaign, led by Rev. William Barber, is marking MLK Day Monday with screenings in Maryland and around the …

A son of sharecroppers, Rep. Elijah Cummings, D-Md., fought hard for his hometown of Baltimore, even while investigating President Donald Trump. (Flickr)

Baltimore Mourns Rep. Elijah Cummings, Who 'Fought for All'

BALTIMORE – As the nation grieves the sudden passing of Maryland's Democratic Congressman Elijah Cummings, activists in his Baltimore district …

Baltimore�s Middle Grades Partnership students have a three-year retention rate of 78%. (Middle Grades Partnership)

Baltimore Program Offers Low-Income Teens More Tools for Success

BALTIMORE – More low-income middle school students in Baltimore are getting into academically rigorous high schools, and they credit the city's …

Child advocates warn that growing up in impoverished neighborhoods is a liability for success in adulthood. (Adobe stock)

More MD Children Drawn Deeper into Poverty

BALTIMORE – The number of children in Maryland living in concentrated poverty widened by 9,000 children since 2008, according to a new report …

“Judy Centers” Work to Help MD Preschoolers Flourish

BALTIMORE – More low-income preschoolers in the Baltimore area will be ready when kindergarten starts next week because of their time at what ar…

Although Maryland ranks 14th overall in the nation for children's well-being, a new report says it still needs federal funds to help address the disparities faced by children of color. (iStockphoto)

MD Children Fare Better Depending on Race

ANNAPOLIS, Md. -– Maryland has seen modest gains in children's well-being since 2010, according to the new Kids Count Data Book by the Annie E…

Despite living in one of the wealthiest states in the country, more than 650,000 Marylanders struggle with hunger. (Pixabay)

Maryland Food Bank Aims to Decrease Food Insecurity

ANNAPOLIS, Md. – People around the country are stepping up to to help fight hunger, including for the nearly 665,000 struggling with food …

If Congress doesn't pass a new Farm Bill before the existing bill expires on Sept. 30, many programs at the U.S. Department of Agriculture will be stranded without funding. (Pixabay)

Debate Over SNAP Work Rules Slows Farm Bill

ANNAPOLIS, Md. — Congress may not be able to finish the farm bill by the end of the month, when the old one expires. One deadlock is a …

The 2018 KIDS COUNT Count Data Book reports that 15 percent of Maryland's kids are at risk of being overlooked as people are counted for the 2020 U.S. Census. (Pixabay)

Barriers Persist for Maryland's Children of Color

BALTIMORE – A new report measuring the well-being of Maryland's kids continues to show a gap between children of color and their white peers…

The USDA's Food Insecurity Nutrition Incentive program provides grants to state and local governments and nonprofit organizations to create incentives for food stamp recipients to shop at farmers' markets and other fresh food outlets. (Pixabay)

Double Your Cash at Local Farmers' Market

ANNAPOLIS, Md. – There's more to be thankful for at farmers' markets this holiday season. In addition to making fresh, locally grown produce …

Children's advocates say Maryland's children of immigrant families need equal opportunities to enroll in early-education programs. (woodleywonderworks/Flickr)

Report: Disparities Greatest for MD's Children of Color

ANNAPOLIS, Md. – A new report reveals the persistent disparities for children of color and those in immigrant families, in Maryland and across …

Maryland has capped payday loans at 33 percent but other states have not put limits in place. (consumerfinance.gov)

Payday Lenders Curtailed, For Now

BALTIMORE — While consumer rights groups are celebrating last week's decision by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau to stop payday debt tr…

Too much carbon dioxide in the air is robbing crops of nutrients. (usda.gov)

Study: Climate Change Impacting Crops

ANNAPOLIS, Md. – A report that looks in depth at how climate change is robbing crops of nutrition says there will be more hungry people and …

A new report says Maryland could be doing more to ensure the health of its youngest residents. (Mike Baca)

Maryland's Ranking Drops in Latest KIDS COUNT Book

BALTIMORE – Maryland has made some improvements in education, but according to the new 2017 KIDS COUNT Data Book from the Annie E. Casey …

PTAs raise millions of dollars for schools around the nation, but a new report says most of the money benefits children in more affluent neighborhoods. (Victoria Jordan)

Report: Millions of "Masked" Dollars Go to Affluent Schools

BALTIMORE – A new report looks at how much money is being raised by Parent Teacher Associations across the country, and reveals that schools in …

A plan is being proposed to provide health care for all. (cdc.gov)

Saturday is National Day of Action on Health Care

ANNAPOLIS, Md. -- As the GOP trys to resuscitate its plan to replace the Affordable Care Act, the debate over how to fix health care in the U.S…

Americans have easy access to water but that's not the case in other countries. (bloodwater.org)

World Water Day is Wednesday

ANNAPOLIS, Md. – Wednesday is World Water Day, and people are being asked to step up conservation to help people in this country and all over …

Maryland watchdog groups say health insurance affordability and accessibility would be compromised under the American Health Care Act proposed by U.S. House Republicans. (V. Carter)

Maryland Group Calls GOP Healthcare Plan a "Disaster"

ANNAPOLIS, Md. – On the heels of a report by the Congressional Budget Office that estimates the American Health Care Act would mean 24 million …

Assets for America's largest foundations are on the rise, but a new report says those working on social justice issues are not sharing in that wealth. (V.Carter)

Big Foundations Make Money, but Charitable Giving is Down

ANNAPOLIS, Md. – Foundations receiving tax-deductible contributions are booming, but a new report says little of the new money pouring in makes …

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MD: Poverty Issues