Charlotte, North Carolina, has become a place where a comfortable life requires a six-figure salary, according to a recent study from SmartAsset. The study’s authors used a 50/30/20 model for their calculations, in which no more than 50% of a household’s income is allocated for essentials such as housing, transportation, and groceries, 30% for “fun” things such as hobbies and entertainment, and 20% for savings, investments, and paying off debt.
The Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program (SNAP) is one of the most important social service programs in the United States, keeping millions of lower-income families above the poverty line while reducing levels of food insecurity. The program was expanded in 2020 at the onset of the pandemic.
Now that those additional benefits ended, hunger-fighting groups expect a surge in demand at food banks and warn SNAP recipients may fall back into poverty.
This year, over 200 Atrium Health staff and medical students have participated in virtual poverty awareness experiences with Crisis Assistance Ministry. The sessions are part of an ongoing partnership between Atrium and Crisis Assistance Ministry that aims to sensitize healthcare providers to the challenges their patients may face outside the walls of the examining room.
Last year, Julia shared her story of Thanksgiving after a visit to Crisis Assistance Ministry. Yet, hidden in that one brief moment were so many more moments of loss, resilience, and hope. This fall, Julia shared her journey with Crisis Assistance Ministry volunteers gathered for their annual recognition dinner. Here, in her own words, is her story.
It’s National Senior Citizens Day, a fitting time to reflect on the outlook for aging in America. About 5% of the people served at Crisis Assistance Ministry are age 65 and over. Each has a unique story of a life filled with triumphs and challenges.
Imagine receiving a well-deserved raise at work, only to discover that it drives your struggling family further into financial distress.
As a new exhibit opens at the Levine Museum of the New South, entitled Legacy of Lynching: Confronting Racial Terror in America, participants from the recent trip to Montgomery, Alabama, reflect on what they learned about the past, present, and future of racial justice in America, including right here in Mecklenburg County.
As important as financial stability is, research shows that where we live may be just as critical to overall health. Last month, the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and the University of Wisconsin Population Health Institute released the “2019 County Health Rankings Key Findings Report”, which examines how location and health intersect.
