The Day

The Day Problems known, solutions more elusive

11/25/2014  On the campaign trail in September, Gov. Dannel P. Malloy announced a series of initiatives aimed at encouraging job creation and business growth, along with more state investment in affordable housing. We agreed with those proposals then. Now, in the wake of a detailed United Way report showing that financial struggles are startlingly and stubbornly pervasive throughout the state, the need for those initiatives has taken on a sense of absolute urgency. The United Way’s study of financial hardship in the state focused specifically on a segment of the population labeled as ALICE – Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed. While 10 percent of the state’s population is officially designated as living in poverty, more than a third of Connecticut’s families struggle to afford the… Read More »The Day Problems known, solutions more elusive

The Day United Way report identifies hurdles for the working poor

by Ann Baldelli 11/21/2014  Housing and child care are two of the biggest hurdles for the working poor, as low-paid employees across southeastern Connecticut struggle to stay financially afloat in a state where 51 percent of the jobs pay less than $20 an hour. That was one of many points highlighted Friday at the United Way of Southeastern Connecticut’s “Redefining a Hardworking America” program that attracted about 80 people concerned about the financial hardships faced by 26 percent of the population in New London County. Continue reading: TheDay.com

The Day Report: More in state struggling financially

by Ann Baldelli, 11/16/2014  Connecticut is an expensive state to live in. In fact, the cost of basic household expenses here is more than most jobs can support, according to a report released today by the Connecticut United Ways that provides a detailed snapshot of financial hardship above and beyond the outdated and woefully inadequate federal poverty guidelines. Thirty-five percent of Connecticut’s working households grapple to afford the basics of housing, child care, food, health care and transportation, according to the ALICE report – an abbreviation for Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed – which was developed by the state’s 16 United Way chapters in collaboration with Rutgers University. It is intended to be used as a tool for policymakers and stakeholders to better understand and… Read More »The Day Report: More in state struggling financially