Live – Broke in Philly

Rate of births to white single moms accelerates, as low-income women wrest ‘beauty’ from hard lives

November 13, 2018

From Philadelphia Media Network: The rate of unmarried white females having babies nearly tripled between 1980 and 2016, rising from 10 percent to almost 30 percent, according to Child Trends, a nonprofit research organization. That figure, which measures births to females ages 15 to 44, is about twice as high as the 15 percent of births to unmarried white females in 1990. (Read more.)

Closing in on 5 years, has Mantua’s Promise Zone designation laid a foundation for poverty reversal?

November 7, 2018

From Philadelphia Weekly: Almost half-way through its allotted 10-year timespan, the Promise Zone hasn’t yet made a big difference to many of those measures but has created links between the community, the City of Philadelphia and the federal government that didn’t exist before, and which are designed to lay the foundation for future progress. (Read more.)

The Penn Alexander effect: Is there any room left for low-income residents in University City?

November 5, 2018

From Philadelphia Media Network: It’s becoming a familiar story in this corner of the city, where an array of forces have conspired to drive up real estate prices and, in some cases, drive out low-income renters. (Read more.)

Fear of Schuylkill Punch: Residents with lower incomes spend more on water, survey finds

November 3, 2018

From Billy Penn: Despite the unfortunate nickname, “Schuylkill Punch” has been proven plenty safe to drink, but the myth that it’s not has an unfortunate effect. In the poorest big city in the country, many people are unnecessarily spending their money on more expensive water. And Water Dept. surveys sent out this spring showed the phenomenon touches specific groups of people more than others. (Read more.)

New partnership will protect 475,000 Philly homeowners from sewer snafus

November 1, 2018

From PlanPhilly: The Philadelphia Energy Authority announced on Wednesday a new partnership with American Water Resources that will provide 475,000 eligible homeowners an affordable water and sewer line protection plan for about $8 a month. American Water Resources is a subsidiary of American Water, the nation’s largest publicly traded water and wastewater utility company. (Read more.)

Wake Up With WURD 10.9.18 – Jake Blumgart

October 18, 2018

From WURD Radio: Jake discusses his PlanPhilly.com story on a recent study done by the Pew Charitable Trusts which shows that the vast majority of low-income Philadelphians receive no assistance with their housing costs. As a result, many have to rely on unconventional and sometimes illegal arrangements to secure shelter. (Read more.)

The care of our elders will change on January 2019

October 11, 2018

Some elderly people in our community live in very precarious conditions, and many times it is due to lack of information. We are talking with Lydia Hernandez of PCA about the changes that come with medicare and medicaid especially for our viejitos (Read more.)

Killing SEPTA transfer fees, charging for parking differently — it’s all in Philly’s new transportation plan

October 10, 2018

From PlanPhilly: The City of Philadelphia released what may be its most ambitious and concretely detailed transportation plan yet on Wednesday. Called CONNECT, the seven-year plan details the goals, strategies and tactics officials hope will address the city’s most pressing transportation challenges, including increased congestion, declining bus ridership, and a bike commuting trend that’s gone flat. (Read more.)

Social Isolation: A Common Issue Among Immigrants

October 8, 2018

From ParaTiMujer Radio Program: Social Isolation is one of the biggest barriers for Immigrants. In order to success in a new country, we should speak the language and learn the culture. A group of women from different parts of the globe share their stories of overcoming social isolation. (Read more.)

Where kids live determines whether they realize American Dream

October 4, 2018

From Philadelphia Media Network: Although they both start at the same level of poverty, the child who comes of age in the less-poor community will make more money in life than the child who spends her life in the low-income area. (Read more.)