Poverty

Educators, religious leaders and Metro East officials gathered Tuesday in East St. Louis, where the poverty rate for children is three times the national average, to discuss potential solutions.

Educators, health officials, lawmakers coming together on Tuesday in East St. Louis, where one in two children live in poverty.

Despite Illinois' plan to reduce poverty in the state, financial problems are worsening for many downstate families as pandemic-era enhanced benefits sunset in the face of rising inflation.

The state said this week it will not participate in a federal program that would provide $120 in benefits to each eligible child, citing administrative hurdles. The decision sparked anger from Missouri parents, who say that officials "basically just robbed us."

A new report found many families earn too little to qualify for the $2,000 federal benefit, which is tied to a family’s earnings and income taxes. Nearly a quarter of the Missouri children who fall into the gap are Black — higher than the state's overall population of Black kids.

Mark Rank of Washington University's Brown School discusses his new book, "Poorly Understood: What America Gets Wrong About Poverty."

A St. Louis nonprofit plans a six-month training program to help low-income women gain financial stability. Rung for Women will offer 120 women financial literacy classes, health and wellness sessions and career counseling.

A St. Louis non-profit is creating opportunities aimed at reducing homelessness in the city.Project Outreach St. Louis launched in early December with a…

More than half of Missouri’s poorest residents are paying more than half of their yearly income in rent. Non-profit leaders at two Missouri organizations…

Low-income families who live in public housing in East St. Louis are burdened by hidden fees that keep them trapped in debt, according to a survey…