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Trump’s Plan To Defund Social Security Article
President Donald Trump walks up to speak during a news conference at the White House on August 10, 2020, in Washington, D.C. (Getty/Alex Wong)

Trump’s Plan To Defund Social Security

Permanently terminating the employee payroll tax along the lines President Trump has proposed would empty Social Security’s trust fund by 2026 or earlier.

Seth Hanlon, Christian E. Weller

The Economic Fallout of the Coronavirus for People of Color Article
A woman gives vouchers for groceries, provided by the food bank Feeding South Florida, to people lined up in their vehicles on April 6, 2020, in Sunrise, Florida. (Getty/Joe Raedle)

The Economic Fallout of the Coronavirus for People of Color

Occupational segregation, employment discrimination, and exploitation make economic downturns, such as the one created by the COVID-19 pandemic, worse in communities of color by destabilizing jobs, undermining small businesses, and increasing income shocks and unexpected expenses.

Connor Maxwell, Danyelle Solomon

3 Ways HUD Is Using Regulatory Attacks to Dismantle Fair Housing Protections Article
A man walks his dogs through the Park View neighborhood in Washington, D.C., February 2019. (Getty/The Washington Post/Bonnie Jo Mount)

3 Ways HUD Is Using Regulatory Attacks to Dismantle Fair Housing Protections

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development has proposed multiple rules that target housing access for marginalized communities and weaken protections against discrimination.

Areeba Haider

A Right to Counsel Is a Right to a Fighting Chance Report

A Right to Counsel Is a Right to a Fighting Chance

Guaranteeing legal representation for renters facing eviction not only is a highly effective means of keeping renters in their homes, but it also benefits whole communities by preventing homelessness, preserving affordable rental homes, and more.

Heidi Schultheis, Caitlin Rooney

Racial Disparities in Home Appreciation Report

Racial Disparities in Home Appreciation

Segregation and racial disparities in home appreciation put African Americans at a disadvantage in their ability to build equity and accumulate wealth.

Michela Zonta

Lack of Housing and Mental Health Disabilities Exacerbate One Another Article
A homeless man beds down for the night at a warming shelter in Washington, D.C., January 2015. (Getty/The Washington Post/Jahi Chikwendiu)

Lack of Housing and Mental Health Disabilities Exacerbate One Another

Understanding the relationship between homelessness and mental health disabilities is key to preventing and ending homelessness for people with mental illness, particularly as housing costs continue to rise.

Heidi Schultheis

Homes for All Report

Homes for All

It is time for the federal government to contribute more aggressively to the U.S. supply of affordable housing, as it did in the past.

Michela Zonta

The Latest HUD Proposal Would Exacerbate the Housing Insecurity Crisis Article
A woman looks over an album of family photos after an eviction team removed all her possessions from her foreclosed home in Colorado, February 2009. (Getty/John Moore)

The Latest HUD Proposal Would Exacerbate the Housing Insecurity Crisis

By tripling the minimum rent and imposing counterproductive so-called work requirements, the Department of Housing and Urban Development’s proposed legislation would increase economic hardship for households already most at risk of eviction and homelessness.

Heidi Schultheis, Michela Zonta, Rejane Frederick

5 Features of Successful Housing Finance Reform Report

5 Features of Successful Housing Finance Reform

A reformed housing finance system should prioritize people at all income levels, including renters, and support liquidity and affordability across the mortgage market.

Sarah Edelman, Gregg Gelzinis

Recovering from Hurricane Maria Requires an Extensive Federal Response Article
Victims of Hurricane Maria carry supplies in Morovis, Puerto Rico, October 7, 2017. (AP/Ramon Espinosa)

Recovering from Hurricane Maria Requires an Extensive Federal Response

After weathering two devastating storms, Puerto Rico is still struggling to recover as the federal government fails to provide short-term and long-term relief.

Erin Cohan, Sarah Shapiro, Rebecca Cokley, 6 More Sarah Edelman, Gregg Gelzinis, Connor Maxwell, Scott Sargrad, Eliza Schultz, Cristina Novoa

The ‘Trump Loophole’ Would Benefit Millionaires, Not Small Businesses Fact Sheet

The ‘Trump Loophole’ Would Benefit Millionaires, Not Small Businesses

President Trump's and House Republicans' proposed "small-business" tax cut would create a new loophole for millionaires—including Wall Street financiers, lobbyists, lawyers, and wealthy business owners like Trump—while doing little or nothing for real small businesses.

Alexandra Thornton, Seth Hanlon

The Art of a Devastating Deal for Distressed Communities Article
A home facing foreclosure is seen in San Antonio, February 2009. (AP/Eric Gay)

The Art of a Devastating Deal for Distressed Communities

Community development, housing, and small-business cuts in Trump’s budget would leave struggling communities even worse off.

Joe Valenti, Sarah Edelman

The Trump Budget’s Attack on People with Disabilities Article
Three-year-old Cody Snyder, who has cerebral palsy, plays in his front yard in Bloomingdale, Ohio, with his mother Dawn on June 5, 2007. (AP/Mark Stahl)

The Trump Budget’s Attack on People with Disabilities

The Trump budget would be particularly damaging for Americans with disabilities.

Katherine Gallagher Robbins, Harry Stein, Jackie Odum, 2 More Michela Zonta, Rachel West

Trump at 100 Days: Case Studies of Trump’s Self-Serving, Special Interest Government Report
The White House is seen in Washington, April 23, 2017. ((AP/Manuel Balce Ceneta))

Trump at 100 Days: Case Studies of Trump’s Self-Serving, Special Interest Government

President Trump and those who serve in his administration make policy that benefits themselves and special interest elites like them at the expense of ordinary Americans who placed their faith in him.

Liz Kennedy, Danielle Root

The Big Lie that Conservative Policies Are Good for Small Business Article
A small-business owner is seen in the kitchen of his restaurant in Belzoni, Mississippi, on  March 23, 2017. (AP/Rogelio V. Solis)

The Big Lie that Conservative Policies Are Good for Small Business

This column busts five myths about how business regulation, tax giveaways, competition, and the Affordable Care Act affect small businesses.

Kate Bahn, Regina Willensky Benjamin

The 2008 Housing Crisis Report

The 2008 Housing Crisis

Contrary to conservative arguments, the 2008 housing crisis was caused by unregulated and loosely regulated private financial entities—not the federal government’s support for homeownership.

Colin McArthur, Sarah Edelman

5 Things to Watch in President Trump’s Skinny Budget Article
Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin listens as President Donald Trump speaks during a meeting on the federal budget on February 22, 2017, in the White House. (AP/Evan Vucci)

5 Things to Watch in President Trump’s Skinny Budget

The impact of President Trump’s budget on working families will depend on the answers to these five questions.

Harry Stein, Scott Nathan

A Plan for Rebuilding America and Investing in Workers and Jobs Report

A Plan for Rebuilding America and Investing in Workers and Jobs

The start of the 115th Congress presents an important opportunity to strengthen communities, expand employment, raise wages, and build the infrastructure that will power the U.S. economy in the 21st-century.

Kevin DeGood

Treasury Secretary Nominee Steve Mnuchin’s Bet Against Seniors Article
Treasury Secretary nominee Steve Mnuchin arrives at Trump Tower in New York on November 30, 2016. (AP/Richard Drew)

Treasury Secretary Nominee Steve Mnuchin’s Bet Against Seniors

The Department of the Treasury requires a trustworthy leader. Based on the record of Financial Freedom, Mnuchin’s reverse mortgage company, it is unclear whether he meets this qualification.

Colin McArthur, Sarah Edelman

Toward Jobs and Justice Report

Toward Jobs and Justice

A strong housing foundation is a key component of economic security.

Michela Zonta, Sarah Edelman

The Role of Midwestern Housing Instability in the 2016 Election Article
This December 3, 2014, photo shows an abandoned house in Detroit, one of thousands of dilapidated buildings in Detroit. (AP/Beth J. Harpaz)

The Role of Midwestern Housing Instability in the 2016 Election

Although the national housing market outlook has improved in recent years, Midwestern voters—and the election results—may have been influenced by negative equity rates, housing instability, and a struggling mortgage market.

Michela Zonta, Sarah Edelman, Colin McArthur

Housing the Extended Family Report
Dilsia Acosta holds her grandson, March 2016. (AP/Allen G. Breed)

Housing the Extended Family

The housing needs of an increasing number of extended families are not being fully met by the current housing market.

Michela Zonta

A Progressive Agenda for Inclusive and Diverse Entrepreneurship Report
A pedestrian crosses a street in the main business section of Montezuma, Georgia, April 2014. (AP/David Goldman)

A Progressive Agenda for Inclusive and Diverse Entrepreneurship

Women and people of color face significant structural barriers to starting a small business and have lower rates of business ownership, but progressive policies that expand access to capital and support entrepreneurial education can help overcome these barriers.

Kate Bahn, Regina Willensky Benjamin, Annie McGrew

Opportunities for Promoting Credit for Affordable Housing in Rural America Report
A ranch home is pictured in Nevada, April 21, 2016. (AP/Scott Sonner)

Opportunities for Promoting Credit for Affordable Housing in Rural America

The affordable housing challenges facing rural communities demand a careful look at strategies that can boost credit and help rural communities thrive.

Shiv Rawal, Sarah Edelman, Gerado Sanz

Raising Wages and Rebuilding Wealth Report
Millions of Americans are still feeling the effects of a painful economic period.

Raising Wages and Rebuilding Wealth

To achieve economic security, middle-class Americans need policies that promote good jobs; a growing, inclusive economy; and affordable child care, higher education, health care, housing, and retirement.

Carmel Martin, Andy Green, Brendan Duke

Creating Safe and Healthy Living Environments for Low-Income Families Report
A man walks past a blighted building in the Penn-North neighborhood of Baltimore, with a residential tower in the Reservoir Hill neighborhood in the background at top right, on May 9, 2015. (AP/Patrick Semansky)

Creating Safe and Healthy Living Environments for Low-Income Families

Given how central homes and communities are to people’s lives, federal and local leaders must work to ensure low-income families live in environments that are conducive to their success.

Tracey Ross, Chelsea Parsons, Rebecca Vallas

Protecting Communities on the Road to Recovery Report
DASP needs additional protections to ensure that note purchasers handle the assets they purchase responsibly.

Protecting Communities on the Road to Recovery

Strong standards are critical to ensure that the Distressed Asset Stabilization Program protects homeowners and neighborhoods still recovering from the housing crisis.

Sarah Edelman, Michela Zonta, Shiv Rawal

Community Land Trusts Report
Community land trusts can help lower-income families safely bridge the gap between rental housing and traditional homeownership. (iStockphoto)

Community Land Trusts

Community land trusts can help lower-income families safely bridge the gap between rental housing and traditional homeownership, with the potential to challenge the conventional housing market and enhance neighborhood stability.

Michela Zonta

Yet Another Reason Raising the Social Security Retirement Age Is a Terrible Idea Article
Shonna Bennett volunteers at a branch of the Citrus County Library in Beverly Hills, Florida, on September 10, 2014. (AP/John Raoux)

Yet Another Reason Raising the Social Security Retirement Age Is a Terrible Idea

A new study documenting the growing life expectancy gap by income is the latest in a long line of research showing that raising the Social Security retirement age is the wrong approach.

Rebecca Vallas, Jackie Odum, Rachel West

A Secure Retirement Demands Limiting Conflicts of Interest Article
Decima Assise and Harry Lomping walk the halls of The Easton Home on November 6, 2015, in Easton, Pennsylvania. (AP/Matt Rourke)

A Secure Retirement Demands Limiting Conflicts of Interest

The U.S. Department of Labor’s final rule on conflicts of interest will protect savers and retirees, as well as improve trust in financial advice.

Joe Valenti

5 Trends to Watch in Consumer Finance Article
Customers use ATMs at a bank branch office, October 2009. (AP/Lisa Poole)

5 Trends to Watch in Consumer Finance

Expanding opportunity through finance demands attention to demography, technology, and sound public policy.

Joe Valenti

An Opportunity Agenda for Renters Report
A luxury rental building rises high above other residential buildings in the East Harlem section of New York City, February 3, 2015. (AP/Seth Wenig)

An Opportunity Agenda for Renters

The United States needs a two-pronged approach to housing policy that supports residential mobility to high opportunity areas and promotes reinvestment in economically impoverished neighborhoods.

David Sanchez, Tracey Ross, Julia Gordon, 3 More Sarah Edelman, Michela Zonta, Andrew Schwartz

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Tackling Climate Change and Environmental Injustice

Tackling Climate Change and Environmental Injustice

We pursue climate action that meets the crisis’s urgency, creates good-quality jobs, benefits disadvantaged communities, and restores U.S. credibility on the global stage.

Strengthening Health

Strengthening Health

We work to strengthen public health systems and improve health care coverage, access, and affordability.

Building an Economy for All

Building an Economy for All

Economic growth must be built on the foundation of a strong and secure middle class so that all Americans benefit from growth.

Advancing Racial Equity and Justice

Advancing Racial Equity and Justice

We apply a racial equity lens in developing and advancing policies that aim to root out entrenched systemic racism to ensure everyone has an opportunity to thrive.

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