Poverty and the Working Poor

The plight of the poor, even those unable to meet basic financial security despite working full-time jobs, is the single greatest contributor to a range of problems of concern to The Center including homelessness, health care access, poor nutrition, educational inequality, unemployment, at risk children and criminal justice. Our compassionate response as faithful citizens is the measure of our moral character. Unfortunately, too often the voices of those on the margins are left out of the debate. In 2010 we will press the legislature for meaningful reforms in a number of areas to protect the most vulnerable among us from financial predators and to make sure that the programs we support through tax incentives are the best investment of public funds for the long-term health of the Commonwealth. The legislation we pursue in this area will fall into one of the following issues.

Tax Expenditure Analysis

Predatory Lending

Fully Refundable Earned Income Credit

Expanding Unemployment Insurance