News

As Reported by Scott Stafford, The Berkshire Eagle:

With the winter season bearing down on the Berkshires, the federal allotment that provides heating aid for lower income families has been cut by more than $11 million from last year’s allocation.

As Reported by Deb Allard, The Herald News, Fall River:

With winter on the way, Citizens for Citizens Inc.

A Focus on Fuel Assistance and Weatherization

MASSCAP, along with Citizens for Citizens and the network of Community Action Agencies in Massachusetts, will launch its annual statewide awareness campaign on heating help including fuel assistance and energy efficiency programs in advance of the cold weather. 

As Reported by Taylor Knight, 22WLLP News:

A new study recently released by MassBudget found that some of the poorest communities are located in the Pioneer Valley. 

As Reported by Diane Lederman, MassLive/Springfield Republican:

Thinking about health care beyond the doctor’s office, offering smaller buses to reach rural residents and stepping out of silos to work collaboratively across the Pioneer Valley were some of the suggestions offered to address poverty and inequality raised in a recent statewide report.

Effective programs that help families to make ends meet, like the Earned Income Tax Credit, SNAP, fuel assistance, school lunches, Head Start, and Social Security cut the number of people in Massachusetts living in poverty by almost half and reduce the number of children living in poverty by more than half, according to a new report on poverty called “Obstacles on the Road to Opportunity: Finding a Way Forward Together.” The report was commissioned by the Massachusetts Association for Community Action (MASSCAP) and written by Nancy Wagman, Kids Count Director of the Massachusetts Budget and Policy Center (MassBudget).

As Reported by Chandler Walsh, Charter TV 3:

Public Programs Cut Child Poverty by More than Half, According to New Report on Poverty in Massachusetts

 Report Commissioned by MASSCAP and Written by MassBudget Looks at “Obstacles on the Road to Opportunity: Finding a Way Forward Together”

Forum Looks at Impact of Public Programs on Poverty in Greater Worcester

Congressman McGovern Stresses the Fundamental Importance of Making Our Voices Heard

Effective programs that help families to make ends meet, like the Earned Income Tax Credit, SNAP, fuel assistance, school lunches, Head Start, and Social Security cut the number of people in Massachusetts living in poverty by almost half and reduce the number of children living in poverty by more than half, according to a new report on poverty called “Obstacles on the Road to Opportunity: Finding a Way Forward Together.” The report was commissioned by the Massachusetts Association for Community Action (MASSCAP) and written by Nancy Wagman, Kids Count Director of the Massachusetts Budget and Policy Center (MassBudget).

Please Sign Up to Volunteer Here

Please sign up to volunteer at sites in Lawrence, Andover and North Andover to help people in need.

As reported by Neal Simpson, Patriot Ledger:

Times are good on the South Shore: The economy is booming, growing companies are scrambling to find enough workers and the unemployment rate is hovering somewhere under 3 percent.

Public Programs Cut Child Poverty by More than Half, According to New Report on Poverty in Massachusetts

Report Commissioned by MASSCAP and Written by MassBudget Looks at “Obstacles on the Road to Opportunity: Finding a Way Forward Together”

Effective programs that help families to make ends meet, like the Earned Income Tax Credit, SNAP, fuel assistance, school lunches, Head Start, and Social Security cut the number of people in Massachusetts living in poverty by almost half and reduce the number of children living in poverty by more than half, according to a new report on poverty called “Obstacles on the Road to Opportunity: Finding a Way Forward Together.” The report was commissioned by the Massachusetts Association for Community Action (MASSCAP) and written by Nancy Wagman, Kids Count Director of the Massachusetts Budget and Policy Center (MassBudget).

As reported by Keith Eddings, The Eagle-Tribune:

Leaders of several of the region’s anti-poverty programs on Tuesday predicted a dire future for the poor as President Trump and Congress begin cutting funding for the programs to pay for the tax cut they recently enacted that could reduce federal revenue by $1.5 trillion over a decade.

Public Programs Cut Child Poverty by More than Half, According to New Report on Poverty in Massachusetts

Report Commissioned by MASSCAP and Written by MassBudget Looks at “Obstacles on the Road to Opportunity: Finding a Way Forward Together”

 Forum Looks at Impact of Public Programs on Poverty in Lawrence

Effective programs that help families to make ends meet, like the Earned Income Tax Credit, SNAP, fuel assistance, school lunches, Head Start, and Social Security cut the number of people in Massachusetts living in poverty by almost half and reduce the number of children living in poverty by more than half, according to a new report on poverty called “Obstacles on the Road to Opportunity: Finding a Way Forward Together.” The report was commissioned by the Massachusetts Association for Community Action (MASSCAP) and written by Nancy Wagman, Kids Count Director of the Massachusetts Budget and Policy Center (MassBudget).

As reported by Jordan Frias, Spare Change News:

A report outlining the effects of social programs and removing barriers for low-income individuals and families was discussed at a recent panel discussion hosted by Action for Boston Community Development in Dorchester.

As Reported by Marilyn Schairer, Producer, Morning Edition:

A new report says that while public programs such as food stamps and Head Start help many families make ends meet, one in three children in Massachusetts are living in poverty.

Report Commissioned by MASSCAP and Written by MassBudget Looks at
“Obstacles on the Road to Opportunity: Finding a Way Forward Together”

Effective programs that help families to make ends meet, like the Earned Income Tax Credit, SNAP, fuel assistance, school lunches, Head Start, and Social Security cut the number of people in Massachusetts living in poverty by almost half and reduce the number of children living in poverty by more than half, according to a new report on poverty called “Obstacles on the Road to Opportunity: Finding a Way Forward Together.” The report was commissioned by the Massachusetts Association for Community Action (MASSCAP) and written by Nancy Wagman, Kids Count Director of the Massachusetts Budget and Policy Center (MassBudget).

As reported live by Chris Lovett at BNN; Interview with Sharon Scott-Chandler, ABCD, and Joe Diamond, MASSCAP

As reported by Steve Pfarrer, Greenfield Recorder, February 19, 2018:

With a new year — and new challenges — ahead, the Pioneer Valley’s premier anti-poverty agency has revised its name and logo to make sure its mission is clear, both to people it assists and to western Massachusetts residents in general.

As reported by Joann MacKenzie, Staff Writer, Gloucester Times:

In a recent community needs assessment conducted by local health officials and other stakeholders, alcohol, not opioids, emerged as a greater issue, says Jennifer Beloff, director of Action Inc.’s Client and Housing Services.

A Breakfast Briefing on Poverty & Opportunity
A Review of MASSCAP’s Public Policy Priorities
When:        February 6, 2018 10:30 a.m.

Full Press Release – English
Full Press Release – Spanish

The Massachusetts Association for Community Action (MASSCAP) and the Greater Lawrence Community Action Council today joined State Senator Barbara L’Italien (D – Andover), State Senator Kathleen O’Connor Ives (D – Newburyport), State Representative Linda Dean Campbell (D – Methuen), State Representative Diana DiZoglio (D – Methuen), State Representative Juana Matias (D – Lawrence), and State Representative Frank Moran (D – Lawrence) in kicking off this year’s tax season by launching the annual volunteer tax assistance program (VITA).