The U.S. Census Bureau released figures today showing the nation's poverty rate jumped to 14.3% in 2009. That's the highest level since '94.
That rate indicates 43.6 million Americans are poor — the highest number in the nation's 51 years of keeping track.
The Office of Management and Budget defines poverty for 2009 as earning less than $21,954 for a family of four.
Vermonters who rely on two of Vermont's emergency fuel assistance programs might have trouble receiving help this year.
The Burlington Free Press reports the Warmth Program and the Shareheat Fund — both administered by the Champlain Valley Office of Economic Opportunity (CVOEO) — are underfunded.
“We’ve never, ever gone into a heating season with this few resources,” says CVOEO Community Relations Director Tim Searles. “This is unprecedented."
You can send donations to Shareheat c/o CVPS, 77 Grove St., Rutland, VT 05701. Or to Warmth Program c/o CVOEO, P.O. Box 1603, Burlington, VT 15402-1603.
In response to a recent Time magazine cover story titled "Rethinking Homeownership," The Wall Street Journal today published a piece titled "10 Reasons to Buy a Home."
"Maybe there's more pain to come in the housing market," Brett Arends writes, "but when Time magazine starts running covers that declare 'Owning a home may no longer make economic sense,' it's time to say: Enough is enough."
VHFA Director of Development Joe Erdelyi will be a panelist at next month's National Housing & Rehabilitation Association Fall Developer's Forum in Boston.
Joe will be part of the Oct. 19 "Financing Affordable Housing Part 1: State Tax Credit Allocators Roundtable."
Registration for the two-day event is open now.