Poverty line wages are too low
People who earn wages at the poverty line can’t afford essentials like safe housing, food, child care, transportation, taxes and healthcare. The cost of living varies across our state, but […]
Get the full story on minimum wage news
Recent articles that claim minimum wage increases hurt low-wage workers all have something in common; they look at small areas over short periods of time instead of the big picture. […]
More programs for kids possible with extra revenue
Arkansans are spending more than they were last year, and that could mean enough extra tax revenue to fund fantastic programs for kids. For four months straight, sales and use taxes […]
The cost of an unpredictable work schedule
Low-income workers, especially women, are more likely to work jobs with unpredictable schedules. The percent of Arkansas kids whose parents do not have full-time, year-round employment has gone down overall since […]
Child poverty is too high, state holding steady on kids’ health
The 2015 KIDS COUNT® Data Book from the Annie E. Casey Foundation points out that more than 200,000 children are living in poverty in Arkansas. That’s almost 30 percent – […]
5 things you should know about race equity and the 2015 session
This legislative session was filled with missed opportunities. Lawmakers passed bills that weren’t good for families of color. As Arkansas becomes a more diverse state, it is important for Arkansas’s […]
If bosses steal, Arkansas workers have few laws to protect themselves
May Day started in 1886 as a fight for an 8 hour work-day, but what if you work 8 hours and only get paid for 7? Some hard working families in […]
Time to protect Arkansas renters
Arkansas has the nation’s weakest laws on tenants’ rights and in some cases even criminalizes renters. State law puts those who pay rent – most often the lower income residents […]
Poverty can change how kids learn
Children from lower-income families have fewer resources, and this directly impacts a child’s brain development. A new study published by Nature Neuroscience adds to a growing body of evidence that “pulling […]
AACF Weekly Legislative Update Vol. 11
There was a flurry of activity at the State Capitol this week as the session nears its end. Next week, perhaps the final one of the session, promises to be […]