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 Benefits for Working Families
Nearly 4 million families in America include at least one worker but are still poor, struggling to pay for food, shelter, and health care. If working families don't get the help they need, their problems eventually land on the city's doorstep. Growing homelessness, uncompensated care in public clinics and hospitals, and rising demands on local food pantries and soup kitchens are among the challenges - and costs - that cities may face.
One inexpensive way city officials can help is by helping low-income working families claim key federal benefits such as the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC), Medicaid/State Child Health Insurance Program (SCHIP), and food stamps. Outreach and enrollment initiatives can bring millions of federal dollars into the local economy. Key steps that municipal leaders can take include: building public awareness; coalition building; helplines or other referrals to assistance; and volunteer-operated tax preparation or other enrollment services.
Programs & Services
Publications & Resources - Includes downloadable publications, audioconference transcripts, and other resources related to Benefits for Working Families.
Nation's Cities Weekly Articles
Read articles about family economic success »
For Further Information
Contact Heidi Goldberg, Senior Program Associate, at 202-626-3069 or goldberg@nlc.org.
The Institute's work on famiy economic success is supported by the Annie E. Casey Foundation and the Ford Foundation.
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