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The article focuses on the challenges to be overcome by the U.S. President Donald Trump, to fulfill his campaign promises, due to the demographic, economic and social changes happening in the U.S. Topics discussed are socioeconomic conditions of when men and women without a bachelor's degree, other issues include male mortality, fall in fertility, and single headed households, need for retaining Affordable Care Act for the benefit of the poor and training program for the less educated.

The article discusses the number of children under the age of six that were exposed to lead in Flint, Michigan's water. Topics include the state and federal government's failure to address the crisis for two years after it began, the impact of lead exposure on the growth, behavior, and intelligence of children, and the social conditions of low-income children and their families in Flint.

The article discusses U.S. Federal Communication Commission (F.C.C.) chairman Tom Wheeler's efforts to change Lifeline, a subsidy program that aids low-income people with their phone bills in order to apply to broadband Internet access as well. Topics addressed include the importance of Internet in the lives of low-income Americans, as well as critics of the Lifeline program.

The article discusses approaches to funding social safety net programs in the United States such as Social Security, Medicaid and Medicare, and food stamps. The author highlights former U.S. under secretary of health Wilbur Cohen's argument that programs targeted directly at poor individuals receive poor funding and political support, compares targeted and universal social welfare programs, and discusses redistribution-based tax policies in the U.S.

The article profiles Edith Ramirez, chairwoman of the U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC). Topics discussed include the FTC's focus on digital privacy and transactions, potential conflicts between FTC priorities and those of the U.S. Federal Communications Commission (FCC), and her views about consumer protection for low-income families in the U.S.

The article discusses commercial tax preparers that target low-income Americans in efforts to extract excessive fees for filing their taxes as of April 7, 2014. Topics addressed include a planned U.S. Senate Finance Committee hearing on the issue, increasing U.S. regulatory efforts to prevent tax-filing abuses, as well as several individuals who were charged inflated fees in Alabama.

The article discusses nonprofit lending organization Neighborhood Assistance Corporation of America's efforts to provide mortgage loans for low-income borrowers seeking to purchase homes in the U.S. as of February 25, 2014. Topics addressed include the views of the organization's director, Bruce Marks; U.S. government policy's focus on preventing a housing bubble; and concerns regarding a lack of access to credit for low-income individuals and minorities in the U.S.

The article discusses the 2013 investigation of the U.S. 340B program, which offers drug discounts to hospitals that treat low-income patients, but which also allows hospitals to charge full price to other patients for discounted drugs. The U.S. pharmaceutical industry's political advocacy, Medicaid health care programs, and drug sales forecasting are also discussed.

The author discusses the reduction in state budget announced by the Oklahoma Legislature on the poor people of the state, citing reduction of revenue caused by tax cuts enacted by the government, and mentions strategies of the Republican party to distract voters from the issue.

The article on the city ordinance enacted in Washington to ban aggressive begging in the state.

In the 1990s, the term ''digital divide'' emerged to describe technology's haves and have-nots. It inspired many efforts to get the latest computing tools into the hands of all Americans, particularly low-income families. Those efforts have indeed shrunk the divide. But they have created an unintended side effect, one that is surprising and troubling to researchers and policy makers and that the government now wants to fix. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

HERAT, Afghanistan -- Even the poorest families in Afghanistan have matches and cooking fuel. The combination usually sustains life. But it also can be the makings of a horrifying escape: from poverty, from forced marriages, from the abuse and despondency that can be the fate of Afghan women. The night before she burned herself, Gul Zada took her children to her sister's for a family party. All seemed well. Later it emerged that she had not brought a present, and a relative had chided her for it, said her son Juma Gul. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

The article presents the author's comment on the increasing poverty rate in the U.S. The author criticized the U.S. government policy that failed to address the nutrition crisis for hungry people in the nation. He highlighted the magnitude of food crisis by citing the example of Bronx warehouse run by the Food Bank for New York City, whose food storage shrinked to an unexpected level in its attempt to distribute food for poor residents.

Reports that the U.S. President George W. Bush administration has proposed reducing the value of subsidized-housing vouchers given to poor New York City residents in 2005, with even bigger cuts planned for some urban New England areas. How the proposal is based on a disputed new formula; Potential impact on poor families, who will be forced to pay hundreds of extra dollars per month in rent; Overview of the Section 8 program, which will be affected; Rationale for changing the Section 8 program, according to the housing secretary, Alphonso Jackson; Issue of fair market rents; Observation of some housing groups that many predominantly Democratic states, including New York and Massachusetts, fare poorly under the new proposals, while Republican states tend to benefit; Outlook.

Reports that U.S. President George W. Bush administration officials say they are planning an election-year initiative to promote marriage, especially among low-income couples. Details of the measure, which focuses on training for so-called healthy marriages; Why officials believe the measure is timely; Pressure on Bush from conservative Christian advocacy groups to prohibit same-sex marriage; Political aspects of the proposal; Arguments for and against the measure; Outlook.

Examines the plight of homeless people in New York City. Why the growing presence of the homeless in places like Union Square, Manhattan is alarming business groups; Visibility of this transient population; Plans of city officials to conduct an annual census of the street population; Views of advocates for the city's poor, who claim more people are sleeping in the streets; The city's policy dealing with the homeless; Speculation on reasons for any increase.

Focuses on the first wave of benefit expirations under the 1996 federal law that altered welfare in the United States. Insistence of city officials in New York City that safety-net assistance in the form of work programs and state aid for needy families facing time limits would be available; Details of the efforts of Barbara Carson, a 63-year-old woman raising her five grandchildren, to find employment.

Reports that the United States Census Bureau is revising its definition of what poverty is in the US. Why fixing a poverty line is a subjective endeavor; What are considered to be essential items such as telephone and housing; Effect of a higher income threshold on government spending; Description of Indiana Economic Development Council efforts to provide `basic needs' budgets for families in that state.

Reports that a federal judge barred New York City officials from expanding their new welfare policies until they can guarantee access to food stamps and Medicaid applications. Concern that the city is overlooking the needs of the poor in its zeal to reform welfare; City prevented from converting welfare offices into job centers; Ruling by Judge William H. Pauley 3d; Assertion that city workers violated federal laws when dealing with the poor.

Focuses on the decision of the city government of New York to conduct an inquiry regarding the possible implementation of a welfare policy by Mayor Rudolph W. Giuliani. How the policy could deprive the poor of access to food and medical assistance; Provisions of the policy; Benefits of the policy; Changes in the beneficiaries and local administration brought about by the policy.

Offers information on a United States bipartisan agreement to merge anti-poverty programs of US President Bill Clinton and Speaker of the House J. Dennis Hastert. Importance of the agreement; Anticipated delay in implementation and reasons; What the merged anti-poverty program would do, including the spread of prosperity more evenly; Details of Clinton's tour through a struggling Newark, New Jersey high school to promote `New Markets'; Difficulties for Clinton; Outlook.

Reports on the efforts of the Government and the Muslim militants of Egypt to win over the support of the poor. Investments of the Government on the poor; Activities of the Muslim militants; Expectations of the people from the Government; Dissatisfaction of the poor.

Opinion. Examines the gravity of poverty in New York City and indifference of the city Government. Budget cut in anti-hunger projects; Burgeoning difference between the rich and the poor.

Opinion. Suggests a method to the Government for solving the cash handling problems of the poor in the United States. Advantages of a Federal mutual fund for the poor.

Reports that some United States cities are using taxpayer money as a lever to raise the pay of the working poor. Baltimore, Maryland as a city which has forced companies with city contracts to pay their workers well above the minimum wage; The goal of what its advocates call the living-wage movement; Other governments which have enacted legislation regarding the working poor's pay; Other city governments which are considering this legislation.

Looks at the shaping of legislation which would slash up to millions in Federal aid assisting the poor in Michigan. What the percent of welfare clients earn; What state officials say; More.