Have you or a loved one been personally affected by any form of poverty during COVID-19? What do you think would most help those affected by poverty during this pandemic?
Based on Median Household Income
1. Central Falls
2. Woonsocket
3. Providence
4. Pawtucket
5. West Warwick
Crossroads Rhode Island
Crossroads is the leading provider of housing and services to those who are homeless in Rhode Island. Their services include 24-hour emergency services, education and employment resources, and comprehensive case management.
RI Meals on Wheels
Meals on Wheels is an organization that delivers food to senior citizens that physically cannot make their own food. Those assisted by Meals on Wheels usually cannot leave their home to buy food or receive meals at an adult day care center.
The harsh realities of poverty have been rising in Rhode Island because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Many are still left unemployed, and also do not have health insurance to cover regular expenses as well as COVID-19 hospitalizations and testing. This is a time in which health inequity is prevalent, and people may not receive the necessary medical care if they do not make enough money. COVID-19 has the potential to cause life-threatening symptoms, no matter one’s economic status. This box is dedicated to sharing resources for Rhode Island residents who are struggling with poverty during this pandemic, including health coverage and workers’ rights.
COVID-19: GETTING HEALTH COVERAGE AND HEALTH CARE: https://www.economicprogressri.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/4-20-Health-Coverage-and-Health-Care-COVID-19-ENG.pdf
COVID-19 WORKERS’ RIGHTS AND SICK LEAVE LAWS: https://www.economicprogressri.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/7-24-ENG-Worker-Rights-2-pages.docx.pdf
Click this link to see the diagram of the five tiers of achieving health equity.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/core/lw/2.0/html/tileshop_pmc/tileshop_pmc_inline.html?title=Click%20on%20image%20to%20zoom&p=PMC3&id=2836340_590fig1.jpg
Concentrated Poverty: a neighborhood where 30 percent or more of its population is living in poverty.
Opportunity Gap: the ways in which race, ethnicity, socioeconomic status, English proficiency, community wealth, familial situations, or other factors contribute to lower educational aspirations and achievement.
TANF: Temporary Assistance for Needy Families; also known as welfare.
SNAP: Supplementary Nutrition Assistance Program
SNAP provides benefits to low-income families in order for them to purchase healthy, nutritious food.
Information on SNAP: https://www.fns.usda.gov/snap/supplemental-nutrition-assistance-program
LIHEAP: Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program
LIHEAP is a federally-funded program that assists low-income families with their energy bills.
Information on LIHEAP: https://www.acf.hhs.gov/ocs/programs/liheap
Medicaid: a federal and state program that helps with medical costs for some people with limited income and resources. Medicaid also offers benefits not normally covered by Medicaid, including nursing home care and personal care services
29,772 Rhode Island households are currently in the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program.
123,104 children are currently enrolled in Medicaid.
19,501 women and children receive WIC (Women, Infants, and Children) supplemental nutrition.
(Information provided by the Rhode Island Community Food Bank)
https://upriseri.com/2020-09-18-epi/
This article connects the ideas of poverty, systemic racism, and COVID-19. Like the rest of the United States, as well as countries all over the world, Rhode Islanders have been struggling with poverty during these tough times. As many residents of the United States have began a stronger fight for racial justice, now is an important time to research how people of color are disproportionately affected by issues involving poverty.
The poverty rate in Rhode Island is higher than any other New England state. There is also a hunger problem in Rhode Island as well.
This article explains that many Rhode Island residents that receive SNAP benefits also have to receive assistance from food pantries in order to have an adequate amount of food to feed their families. It also explains that the majority of families receiving SNAP benefits have at least one working adult in the family, suggesting that some wages for certain jobs do not allow people to make ends meet.
