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Although Utah's poverty rate has always been below the national average, housing affordability has become a major issue, affecting how families can cope with emergencies and other day-to-day expenses, according to the Community Action Partnership of Utah. (Adobe Stock)

UT poverty simulation aims to catalyze change, empathy

More than 8% of Utah's population lives in poverty, according to the Census and an event this month wants to give participants a better idea of the …

Around 20% of children in San Juan County are uncertain about their next meal, which is double the statewide average, according to Utah Food Bank. (Adobe Stock)

Utah Food Bank opens two pantries on Navajo Nation

Utah Food Bank is expanding in San Juan County, and has announced the opening of two new pantries that will help support residents of the Navajo …

One in three families across the United States does not have enough diapers to meet their baby's needs, according to the Administration of Children and Families. (Adobe Stock)

Utah mom shares impact of 'diaper assistance'

One Utah mom with three children is grateful for assistance from the Utah Diaper Distribution Demonstration Project. Taylor Graff said the program …

Nationally, 25% of parents with diaper need reported they have missed an average of five days of work or school in the past month due to not having enough diapers to drop children off at child care. (Joaquin Corbalan / Adobe Stock)

As UT diaper needs grow, help is available

Inadequate diaper supply can jeopardize Utahn's ability to advance financially. That is according to Vic Velivis, the founder and executive director …

Utah is one of the states that pays and administers its own supplemental payments. People can contact the state directly for payment information. (Adobe Stock)

Eligible Utahns Could Qualify for Supplemental Security Income Payments

Many people in Utah and across the country are eligible for financial aid on top of receiving Social Security payments, but are not aware of it…

Utah's average cost of center-based child care for toddlers was $9,003 per year, 9% of the median income of a married couple. (Adobe Stock)

UT Excels in Child Well-Being, But Parents Struggle with Child Care Costs

Utah ranks second in the country for overall child well-being, moving up from last year's fourth-place ranking in the annual Kids Count Data Book…

The Utah Food Bank's Southern Distribution Center works closely with 25 local grocery stores to help provide fresh food to Utahns in need. (Adobe Stock)

Utah Food Bank Southern Distribution Center Expands as Need Increases

The need for emergency food in Utah's six southernmost counties is on the rise, so Utah Food Bank is expanding its Southern Distribution Center in St…

Since the 2020 winter season, the cost of home energy has increased 36%, reflecting the highest prices in the last 10 years, according to the National Energy Assistance Directors' Association. (Adobe Stock)

As Utah Temps Drop and Energy Costs Rise, Help is Available

As temperatures drop across the state of Utah and energy costs continue to rise, Utahns may be eligible for heat utility assistance to stay warm as …

In 2022, almost 260,000 Utah residents purchased their health coverage online through the Affordable Care Act health insurance exchange. (Rawpixel.com/Adobe Stock)

Utah Open Enrollment Begins Nov. 1 for Health Coverage

Open-enrollment season for health insurance is upon us, and Utahns who want to get the right kinds of coverage have a lot to consider. More than 300,…

In a recent survey on children's well-being, Utah ranked highest among the states in the Four Corners region. (Monkey Business/Adobe Stock)

Utah Ranks 4th Among States in Survey on Children's Well-Being

An annual report on children's well-being rates Utah among the best in the country, but advocates warn it also pointed to a growing mental-health …

Studies show that 40% of college students in Utah and across the country say food insecurity is affecting their academic performance. (prostock/Adobe Stock)

Study: Food Insecurity a Major Problem for Utah College Students

There may be some truth to the expression about the "starving college student" struggling to earn a degree. A survey of students enrolled in Utah …

Inability to pay was the most cited reason for educational disruptions, according to an analysis by the Latino Politics and Policy Initiative at UCLA. (Adobe Stock)

For Some in UT, College Dreams Cut Short by Pandemic

Low-income families in Utah may have shifted funds from education to pay for pandemic-related costs, a trend in line with findings showing Black and …

Food banks and pantries across Utah saw double the normal number of families in need during the first two years of the COVID-19 pandemic. (Utah Food Bank)

UT Lawmakers Ponder Permanent Working Group on Hunger Issues

Statistics showed during the pandemic, the number of Utah families experiencing food insecurity grew, and advocates argued the state needs to take a …

The continuing pandemic and poor economic conditions in rural communities are keeping demand high at Utah's food banks. (Elena Shi/Adobe Stock)

Groups Scour 2022 Utah Budget for Funds to Fight Hunger

Advocates in the battle against food insecurity are urging lawmakers to find room in the upcoming Utah state budget to increase aid to food banks and …

A legislative report shows that more than 100,000 Utah families are considered food insecure and regularly depend on food banks for assistance. (areogondo/Adobe Stock)

Task Force Recommends Ways to Cut Utah's Poverty, Food Insecurity

CEDAR CITY, Utah - A new legislative study shows that more than 100,000 Utah families are periodically food insecure, meaning they do not have the …

Utah housing advocates recommend that tenants who face possible eviction or are negotiating back rent with a landlord should contact an attorney to help protect their rights. (Vitali Votelaskyi/Adobe Stock)

End of Federal Eviction Moratorium Puts Pressure on Utah Renters

SALT LAKE CITY -- Since the end of the federal eviction moratorium in August, renters in Utah who are behind on their payments may be forced to …

Thousands of Utah school children lose access to their daily school lunch and breakfast meals during the summer and other school breaks. (Anatoly/Adobe Stock)

'Stop Child Hunger Act' Aims to Fill Gaps in School Meal Programs

SALT LAKE CITY - Many Utah students, particularly those in rural areas, often are left without access to their school's meal program during breaks in …

The outlook for children's well-being in Utah is good, but a new report says 173,000 kids live in households where parents don't have stable employment. (diego serva/Adobe Stock)

Report: Utah Among Top 5 States for Children's Well-Being

SALT LAKE CITY -- Families with children in Utah and other states remained mostly steady over the past year in an annual report on children's wellbein…

Gov. Spencer Cox announced an early end last week to Utah's participation in the $300-a-week federal unemployment stimulus program, claiming workers were making too much money in jobless benefits to return to their jobs. (zimmytws/Adobe Stock)

Utah Governor Ends $300 Federal Jobless Benefit Early to Boost Employment

SALT LAKE CITY, Utah -- Utah officials are cutting back on jobless benefits, claiming without evidence federal "bonus" payments are keeping thousands …

Experts are concerned that many parents haven't been equipped in the pandemic to cope with the stress of working at home while their children are learning from home. (Rafael Ben-Ari/Adobe Stock)

Experts: Poverty, Pandemic Could Bring Increase in Child Abuse Cases

SALT LAKE CITY -- Utah families need more resources to counter concerns of a slumping economy and the pandemic, which could subject more children to …

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau and the Federal Trade Commission say they're prepared to enforce penalties against landlords who expel tenants despite the current federal ban on evictions, which is in effect until June 30. (Joaquin Corbalan/Adobe Stock)

Agencies Vow to Penalize Landlords Who Violate Eviction Ban

SALT LAKE CITY - Landlords in Utah, and across the country, who wrongly evict renters protected by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's …

College students who are eligible for financial assistance are now also eligible for SNAP benefits under a new, temporary extension of the government nutrition program. (Brastock/Adobe Stock)

SNAP Benefit Extension: A Lifeline for Some in UT Colleges

SALT LAKE CITY -- For many students, money is scarce and getting a college education means making sacrifices, but it shouldn't mean going hungry…

The School Breakfast Scorecard recently ranked Utah 51st for the number of students receiving breakfast on a daily basis. A new program, Smart Start, aims to improve participation. (Wavebreaknedia/Adobe Stock)

Utah Seeks to Improve Participation in School Breakfast Program

SALT LAKE CITY -- As Utah students head back to the classroom soon, research shows providing breakfast will be a critical factor in helping kids who …

Many Utahns have lost their health insurance during the COVID-19 pandemic, but subsidized coverage is now available through the Affordable Care Act. (Rido/Adobe Stock)

Nonprofits Help Utahns Find 'Bidencare' Coverage in Health Marketplace

OGDEN, Utah -- You may know it as "Obamacare." But nowadays, the Affordable Care Act (ACA) has a new moniker, "Bidencare," because President Joe …

Thousands of Utah families who have lost jobs during the pandemic depend on SNAP benefits to buy enough groceries each month to stave off hunger. (Tada Images/Adobe Stock)

Advocates: Ending Hunger in Utah, U.S. Should be Biden’s Top Priority

SALT LAKE CITY -- In his first week in office, President Joe Biden signed an executive order extending a temporary increase in SNAP benefits during …

Thousands of Utahns affected by the pandemic turned to food banks for the first time to put meals on the table, pushing the state's network of assistance agencies to their limit. (aerogondo/Adobe Stock)

Utah Families Need Continued Support to Recover from Crisis

OGDEN, Utah - While the $900 billion pandemic-relief package should be a welcome assist for struggling Utah families, a coalition that works to fight …

Mealtime isn't an upbeat occasion for the one in six Utah families facing food insecurity as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. (vectorfusionart/Adobe Stock)

Pandemic Brings Food Insecurity to More Utah Families

SALT LAKE CITY -- As Congress debates a new coronavirus stimulus bill, more people in Utah are facing food insecurity as the economy struggles with …

Studies show the need for universal post-high-school education is rooted in the shift from an industrial to a knowledge-based economy. (Rob/AdobeStockPixnio)

Utah Workers Need More Education for Post-Pandemic Economy

LOGAN, Utah - As the nation struggles to recover from the economic downturn amid the novel coronavirus pandemic, workforce experts are calling on …

Groups advocating on behalf of Utah tenants say those who've fallen behind on their rent due to the COVID-19 crisis could soon run out of options. (tab62/Adobe Stock)<br /> <br /><br />

Utah Tenants Behind on Rent Could Soon Face Evictions

SALT LAKE CITY - Groups working for affordable housing in Utah say the next two weeks could be "crunch time" for people trying to catch up on their un…

The 2020 KIDS COUNT Data Book ranks Utah fourth in the nation for the overall well-being of its children, with 2% fewer living in poverty (16%) than the national average (18%). (Monkey Business/Adobe Stock)

Utah Kids Rank 4th for Overall Well-Being in New Report

SALT LAKE CITY - Utah is among the best states in the nation for children's overall well-being, according to a new national report. The 2020 KIDS …

Starting Wednesday, about 60,000 more Utahns will become eligible for full Medicaid coverage after more than a year of wrangling over the program. (maxiporik/AdobeStock)

Utah Gets Federal OK for Full Medicaid Expansion Plan

SALT LAKE CITY - Thanks to the state's "fallback plan," about 60,000 more Utahns will become eligible for Medicaid benefits on Wednesday. Federal …

A new report shows the number of children without health insurance, in Utah and across the nation, is on the increase. (AdobeStock)

Utah Sees Increase in Number of Uninsured Children

SALT LAKE CITY - After almost a decade of steady improvement, the number of children without health insurance in Utah and the nation is on the rise …

Research shows that low-income families spend about twice as much of their monthly income on food as middle-income households. (drobotdean/AdobeStock)<br /><br />

Utah Lawmakers Hear from Critics of Proposal to Hike Food Taxes

SALT LAKE CITY – A proposal to almost triple Utah's food tax to make way for an income-tax cut has critics saying the move could tear some low-i…

A new report shows that the number of Utah children living in concentrated poverty has decreased significantly over the past decade. (AdobeStock)

Report: Fewer Utah Children Living in Concentrated Poverty

SALT LAKE CITY – The number of Utah children living in concentrated poverty has decreased significantly over the past decade, according to a …

Health-care advocates are pushing the Utah Legislature to approve a full Medicaid expansion under the Affordable Care Act. (DayaProductions/AdobeStock)

Feds Reject Utah Waiver Request for Partial Medicaid Expansion

SALT LAKE CITY – The Trump administration has rejected Utah's waiver request for enhanced federal funding for partial expansion of the state's M…

Many Utah families most likely won't be able to buy as many groceries if a proposal to increase the state sales tax on food goes into effect. (Adobe Stock)

Hunger-Fighting Group: Food Tax Hike Hurts Low-Income UT Families

SALT LAKE CITY - An advocacy group is opposing a massive increase in the sales tax on food as one of the changes being proposed for Utah state taxes…

While Utah ranks high for overall child well-being, advocates say the state needs to put more funding into its education system to give kids a better chance in life. (AdobeStock)

Report Ranks Utah 7th Overall in Child Well-Being

SALT LAKE CITY — Utah remains near the top of the national rankings for overall child well-being, according to a new report. The state ranked …

Utah legislators are asking the federal government to approve their modified Medicaid expansion plan that would cover fewer people and could also save the state money. (Wikimedia Commons)

Utah Seeks Public Comments on Partial Medicaid Expansion

SALT LAKE CITY – Utahans can comment over the next few weeks on a proposed federal 1115 Waiver that the state needs to implement partial Medicai…

A new study shows that the number of uninsured children in Utah and across the nation is on the rise. (Pixabay)

Study: Number of Uninsured Kids in Utah on the Increase

SALT LAKE CITY – After a decade of improvement, the number of children with health insurance is dropping in Utah and across the nation…

Many new immigrants to the U.S. start out in low-wage jobs. Gina Cornia says that shouldn't count against them when they apply for green cards. (amira_a/Flickr)

Utahns Speak Out Against Proposed Immigration Rule

SALT LAKE CITY – Many Utahns are speaking out this week following a Trump administration proposal to broaden the factors that determine which le…

About 11 percent of young people ages 18-24 in Utah are parents. (Dean Wissing/Flickr)

Report: More Support Needed for Young Parents in Utah

SALT LAKE CITY - About 36,000 children in Utah have parents who are between the ages of 18 and 24, and a new Annie E. Casey Foundation report …

Crossroads Urban Center says more than half of all Salt Lake City residents don't make enough to afford renting an average-priced, two-bedroom house or apartment. (Nate Bolt/Flickr)

Affordable Housing Advocates: Utah Policymakers Can Do More

SALT LAKE CITY – The cost of buying or renting a home in Utah has been on the rise for years. Now, affordable-housing advocates say state …

Nearly half of households headed by someone age 65 or older are rent burdened, and more than 20 percent pay half or more of their income in rent. (Pixabay)

Study: “Rent Burdened” Households on the Rise

SALT LAKE CITY – High rents are threatening families' financial security and putting home ownership out of reach for many, according to a new …

A new study on afterschool programs found that nearly one in three Utah students living under the federal poverty level is at risk of continuing to live in poverty as adults. (Pixabay)

Study: After-School Programs Help Kids Living in Poverty

SALT LAKE CITY – After-school programs are boosting academic performance for Utah students living below the federal poverty level, according to …

Several colleges in Utah have opened food pantries to help address the growing challenges of food insecurity among students. (USDA)

Combating Hunger on Utah College Campuses

SALT LAKE CITY - A growing number of college students in Utah and across the nation don't have enough money to buy food, according to a new national …

More than 17 million people live within a mile of an active oil or gas well, including more than 2 million children and older adults. (Getty Images)

Doctors Confirm Health Risks Posed by Fracking

SALT LAKE CITY – Physicians' groups are sounding the alarm about the health risks posed by hydraulic fracturing, and have published a …

This week's Scouting for Food drive is looking for non-perishable donations, including peanut butter, canned beans, boxed meals, and canned fruits and vegetables. (Pixabay)

Scouts on the Job Fighting Hunger in Utah

SALT LAKE CITY – Shelves in food banks across Utah are getting pretty thin after the holiday rush, and the Boy Scouts of America are on the job…

New research suggests that communities that are able to meet and interact with people from different backgrounds tend to have less hate. (Pixabay)

University of Utah Study Maps Hate in America by Region

SALT LAKE CITY – Hate is a national phenomenon, but the way hate is directed varies depending on where you live, according to new research from …

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UT: Poverty Issues