Raising the minimum wage to $10.10: A win-win for Rhode Island workers and the economy

April 04, 2013 Raising the minimum wage will improve the economic well-being of Rhode Islanders and strengthen the state’s economy.  Giving the lowest paid workers a raise will improve their economic security and help curb the growth in income inequality, which has been significant in the Ocean State over the past three decades.  Putting more money in the pockets of …

Raising the minimum wage to $10.10: A win-win for Rhode Island workers and the economy

Raising the minimum wage will improve the economic well-being of Rhode Islanders and strengthen the state’s economy.  Giving the lowest paid workers a raise will improve their economic security and help curb the growth in income inequality, which has been significant in the Ocean State over the past three decades.  Putting more money in the pockets of workers will also put more …

Response to Governor Chafee’s Proposed Budget for Fiscal Year 2014

The Governor’s proposed budget outlines several important policy priorities for the coming year. It includes new investments in many of the areas that are critically important to moving our economy forward, including infrastructure, education and workforce development. Unfortunately, the proposal fails to make meaningful improvements and investments in programs that address the needs of lower-income Rhode Islanders including housing, child …

Pulling Apart: A State-by-State Analysis of Income Trends

November 14, 2012 Gap Between Rich and Poor Grew More in Rhode Island than in Many Other States since 1970s Providence, RI —Income gaps widened in Rhode Island between the late 1970s and the mid-2000s, as they did for the country as a whole, according to a new study by the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities and the Economic …

Poverty in Rhode Island (Presentation to Interfaith Conference)

May 16, 2012 On May 16, leaders from Rhode Island’s faith-based communities helped answer the question “Why are people poor?”  Linda Katz, policy director, presented at the Rhode Island Interfaith Coalition annual conference, along with local and national thought leaders who discussed the systemic nature of poverty in Rhode Island. View Linda’s presentation from the conference “Poverty in Rhode Island.”

Facts about Rhode Island Works

The vast majority of RI Works recipients are young children. RI Works provides minimal cash support and work readiness services to approximately 7,000 low-income families. Almost 70 percent of RI Works recipients are children, and half of the children are under the age of six. In 40 percent of the families, only the children receive cash assistance, either because their …

Drastic Drops in Spending and Caseloads for Child Care Program in Rhode Island

March 27, 2012 The Child Care Assistance Program (CCAP) was enacted in 1997 to assure access to high quality child care for children in low and moderate income working families. Enrollment and funding increased each year until 2005. From 2005 to 2011 total funding declined by 40% and general revenue investment dropped from $56.1 million from $9.3 million in 2011. …

Rhode Islanders Need Child Care: Facts about the Child Care Assistance Program

March 27, 2012 The majority of Rhode Island families need child care. Seventy percent (70%) of Rhode Island children under age six have all parents in the workforce, meaning that these children spend at least some time in child care. That is higher than the U.S. average of 64%1. Child care is expensive. The average cost of care for children …