24 results found
Illinois Commission on the Elimination of Poverty Annual Report 2014
September 18, 2014It has been 6 years since the State of Illinois formed the Illinois Commission on the Elimination of Poverty to help reduce poverty throughout Illinois. In 2010 the Commission issued its recommended strategy in Building a Pathway to Dignity & Work and has since been monitoring Illinois's progress toward the goal of cutting extreme poverty in half. In this 2014 Annual Report, the Commission provides an analysis of progress toward that goal over the past year and recommendations for 2015.
Trapped by Credit: Racial Disparities in Financial Well-Being and Opportunity in Illinois
February 24, 2014This report examines an important aspect of economic racial disparity -- disparity in credit scores. The relationship between credit scores and minority presence illustrates a clear racial disparity in credit in Illinois. Though many related factors help to explain some variability in credit scores, even when controlling for them, racial differences in credit persist.Having a credit score is important for gaining access to things like education, better jobs, homeownership -- the very things that feed financial and social opportunity. While credit disparities exist in large measure due to the same historic policies that have limited access to broader financial opportunities for minorities, credit scores are particularly important to consider because they also impact individuals' future financial opportunities.In effect, credit scores can create a trap, one that minorities are more likely to fall into, thereby feeding the continued growth of income and wealth disparities.
The Game of Credit: A High Stakes Game That Perpetuates the Racial Wealth Gap
February 24, 2014Everyone deserves the opportunity to build a financially secure future for themselves and their families. Access to equal opportunities is the cornerstone of America's core values and is also a necessity to growing a healthy economy. Unfortunately, the reality is a far shot from that piece of the American dream. Income and wealth inequality are at levels that we have not seen since the Great Depression. The Great Recession further expanded an already growing racial wealth gap. Many families have little hope of upward mobility. In fact, day-to-day life is more expensive for those struggling to make ends meet due to unequal access to the tools we all need to build financially secure futures. This includes a basic checking & savings account, a retirement savings account, a college savings account, home and student loans with low interest rates, and a solid credit score that gives you access to these important loans. Many households of color have been denied access to these crucial financial tools needed to build credit and put them on a path to financial health. As this report will show, this inequity has led to a stark racial disparity in credit scores as well as related indicators, such as education level, student loan debt, employment, income, homeownership, and home loan debt. Fortunately, there are programs and policies that can help close the gap and therefore strengthen the economy, which are also outlined in this report.
Poverty Fact Sheets for Illinois House Districts
February 24, 2014These poverty fact sheets provide data for each Illinois House District on poverty, extreme poverty, homelessness, health care, affordable housing, retirement savings, and more.
Poverty Fact Sheets for Illinois Senate Districts
February 24, 2014These poverty fact sheets provide data for each Illinois Senate District on poverty, extreme poverty, homelessness, health care, affordable housing, retirement savings, and more.
Infographic: The War on Poverty, Then & Now
January 8, 2014Fifty years ago, Lyndon Johnson declared war on poverty, prompting the creation of dozens of federal programs aimed at alleviating poverty and striking at its roots. Today, just how much progress has been made? Download this infographic to find out.
Utilizing the Human Rights Framework: Lessons Learned from the From Poverty to Opportunity Campaign: Realizing Human Rights in Illinois
June 27, 2013In response to the growth and deepening of poverty in Illinois and the collateral human rights consequences, in December of 2006, Heartland Alliance for Human Needs & Human Rights initiated the "From Poverty to Opportunity Campaign: Realizing Human Rights in Illinois". Working in collaboration with a coalition of community members, advocates, organizers, faith-based institutions, and policy leaders, the campaign advocated state-wide for an improved response to the growing problem of poverty in Illinois. This paper documents some of the lessons Heartland Alliance has learned while using the human rights framework to build and advance a campaign to eliminate extreme poverty in Illinois.
Kindergarten to College: Local Innovation, National Impact
November 16, 2012In Spring 2011, the City and County of San Francisco launched the first universal matched Children's Savings Account (CSA) program in a public school system in the country. San Francisco's Kindergarten to College initiative opens a savings account for all children entering kindergarten in the City's public schools, putting students on a path to college from the first day of school. This presentation describes the initiative.
Savings Barriers & Policy Solutions: Illinois 529 Bright Start Program
November 16, 2012This presentation discusses child savings accounts (CSAs) and policy changes that can encourage children from low-income families to pursue secondary education.
Creating and Testing Social Policy: Evidence from SEED for Oklahoma Kids College Savings Research
November 15, 2012Children's Savings Accounts (CSAs) have the potential to significantly increase access to college opportunities for families. The concept of CSAs continues to gain momentum. In this presentation, experts will describe emerging CSA programs, their experiences with CSA inititatives at the local level, and the potential aspirational impact of these accounts.
The Impact of Youth Debt on College Graduation
November 15, 2012This presentation examines the way youth debt affects college graduation rates.
Barriers & Solutions to College Access
November 15, 2012This presentation discusses barriers and solutions to college access.
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