Poverty

Sharon Ward Discusses Health Care and Welfare Spending on Radio Smart Talk

March 14, 2012

On WITF's Radio Smart Talk, Sharon Ward said than taking away health care from children or jeopardizing the nursing care of seniors, policymakers should look at alternatives, including closing tax loopholes and ending corporate welfare.

Commonwealth Foundation Spots Bigfoot in Pennsylvania

February 16, 2012

“The Commonwealth Foundation has spotted Bigfoot in the state Department of Public Welfare," Sharon Ward says in a statement responding to a new report. "In other words, they are seeing something that just isn’t there."

Op-ed: Now Is Not the Time to Reduce the 'Safety Net'

February 5, 2012

Businesses that don’t invest become less competitive. It’s the same for our state. Only by investing in our schools, roads, workforce and other assets and lifting people out of poverty will we enjoy a more prosperous future. Read Sharon Ward's op-ed on reducing poverty originally published in the Harrisburg Patriot-News.

Poverty Rises Sharply in PA and the Nation

September 27, 2011

As the recession took its toll last year, more Pennsylvanians and Americans fell into poverty, saw their incomes decline and joined the ranks of the uninsured, according to new data from the U.S. Census Bureau.

Tables: Pa. Metro and County Data on Poverty and Uninsured Rates

September 26, 2011

Poverty has risen sharply in most regions of Pennsylvania, highlighting the widespread impact of the recession. PBPC has created tables showing poverty and uninsured rates in Pennsylvania's major metro areas and larger counties.

Local Census Data: Poverty Rises Sharply in Most Parts of Pennsylvania

September 22, 2011

Poverty has risen sharply in most regions of Pennsylvania, highlighting the widespread impact of the recession and the need for policymakers to protect struggling families and invest in building a stronger economy.

Census Data: For Record Number of Americans, Recession Is Far From Over

September 13, 2011

As the recession took its toll last year, more Americans fell into poverty, saw their incomes decline and joined the ranks of the uninsured, according to new data from the U.S. Census Bureau. In 2010, the poverty rate increased to 15.1%, the highest level since 1993.

Public Welfare Funding in Final 2011-12 Budget

July 14, 2011

The 2011-12 budget makes big reductions to Department of Public Welfare (DPW) programs, including welfare-to-work, health care and human services.

Public Welfare Funding in Governor Corbett's Proposed 2011-12 Budget

March 9, 2011

Total state funding for the Department of Public Welfare (DPW), which administrates most of the health care programs in the state, is increased in the budget proposed by Governor Tom Corbett for the 2011-12 Fiscal Year. Total DPW funding is $11.2 billion.