Black Wealth, White Wealth, Brown Wealth
Family Wealth Critical to Child Opportunity
by Fred Kammer, SJ
A new study by the Insight Center for Community Economic Development in Oakland reminds us once again that family income is not the only indicator of the well-being of people in the household, especially children. Family assets—wealth—are critical to child development, good health, good education, security, and dreams of a better future.
New Orleans among the Ten Worst Cities for Renters
New Orleans ranks fifth among the ten worst U.S. cities for renters behind Miami (#1) and McAllen (#2); but the Gulf South also has #7 (Memphis) and #8 (Orlando)—five of the top ten!
Venessa Wong of Bloomberg Businessweek digested a recent study by Harvard University’s Joint Center for Housing Studies to focus on the ten worst cities for renters. The ten are ranked by the percentage of tenants spending more than half of their income on rent. See her article here.
Theologians challenge President and Congress
National Catholic social justice leaders and theologians across the country are urging President Obama and Congressional leaders to show leadership and moral vision in the face of political pressure to cut spending by slashing safety net programs. JSRI Fellow Alex Mikulich signed on to the July 13, 2011 statement that is available here.
June Jobs Report Dismal
Why unemployment matters to people of faith
Louisiana Children, Poverty, and the Faith Community
By Fr. Fred Kammer, SJ
Presented to the for Louisiana Interchurch Conference, 41st Annual Assembly on March 14, 2011, in Lafayette, Louisiana.
Scripture and Poverty
People on the Move Conference Booklet
People are on the move all over the globe! Large-scale migration is one of the most important social developments of our time; and the increasing growth in population and changes in demographics are exciting and challenging. However, too many societies have proven to be ill equipped to handle the rapidly changing populations. As a result, communities all over the globe are struggling with the serious implications of large-scale migration. What’s fueling this large wave of migration? What are the social justice issues involved? What is the Christian response to immigration?
The view from the states
<p>In September, the U.S. Census Bureau released its new figures on poverty from the 2009 American Community Survey. The five states of the Gulf South continue to have millions of people living below “the poverty line.”</p>
What are they saying about the Census and Poverty?
By Fred Kammer, SJ, JSRI Director
In September, the U.S. Census Bureau released its new figures on poverty from the 2009 American Community Survey. The five states of the Gulf South continue to have millions of people living below “the poverty line,” as you can see from the table below[1], together with the overall U.S. and regional numbers:
Increasing U.S. and Gulf South hunger reflected in new reports
<p>In a July 1st release, the Food Research and Action Center (FRAC) reported that, “More Than 40.4 Million Americans Participated in SNAP/Food Stamps in April 2010.” This is the latest set of available numbers and the report includes comparison figures for each state going back five years to April of 2005. Five years ago, 25,321,690 U.S. residents used food stamps (now named the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program—SNAP). That number has increased 59.4% to 40,373,357 residents in need of food aid today!</p>
Children’s hunger is focus of Congressional bills
By Fred Kammer, SJ
Gulf South Unemployment Doubles to 2.6 Million in Two Years
<p>While pundits and politicians observe the first signs of a spring thaw in the abysmally deep economic trough we are in, workers in the U.S. and the Gulf South are still waiting for signs that their lives will be better. In the Gulf South, the number of persons unemployed has more than doubled from 1,208,649 in February, 2008, to 2,654,281 in February, 2010. Almost one-and-a-half million workers in the region have lost jobs during this two-year period. While Louisiana (still “benefiting” from Hurricane recovery spending) and Texas continue to have unemployment levels below the national average of 9.7 percent, Florida (12.2%), Mississippi (11.4%), and Alabama (11.1%) all exceed the national level. Alabama, moreover, has seen the greatest growth in unemployment—an astonishing 156% increase in just two years! Mississippi was not far behind with a 145-percent increase.</p>
Congressional Response Mixed, Sometimes Dismal
By Fr. Fred Kammer, SJ, JSRI Director
Gulf South unemployment figures over two years
U.S. Xenophobia and Racism - The Presence of the Past
By Dr. Alex Mikulich, JSRI Research Fellow