In Case You Missed It...

Off the Charts will take a break over the long Thanksgiving weekend, but we’ll be back on our regular schedule on Monday.  To mark the Thanksgiving holiday, this week we ran a series exploring the hardships that many American families face in the weak economy, the programs that help them make ends meet and promote opportunity, and the threats that these programs are encountering.

• Arloc Sherman kicked off the series by showing that many families are having a hard time meeting basic needs such as food and housing.

• Chad Stone explained that jobless benefits for the long-term unemployed help relieve hardship and boost job creation but are slated to end abruptly at the end of December.

• Stacy Dean pointed out that millions of households have trouble affording adequate food and that SNAP (formerly food stamps) helps many Americans afford an adequate diet.

• Chuck Marr described how policymakers can help low-wage workers.

• Barbara Sard noted that funding cuts under sequestration threaten to halt progress against homelessness and worsen the shortage of affordable housing.

• Finally, Ed Bolen explained that many SNAP recipients will face empty cupboards this Thanksgiving, in part due to the across-the-board benefit cut that took effect November 1.

A variety of news outlets featured CBPP’s work and experts recently.  Here are some highlights:

Food Stamp Costs Are Decreasing Without The GOP's Cuts
Mother Jones
November 26, 2013

Unless D.C. Finds Alternative, N.C. Faces New Budget Cuts
Charlotte Observer
November 25, 2013

No, Obama's Policies Are Not Holding Back the Economy
U.S. News & World Report
November 22, 2013

Student Loans Are a Good Deal for Students and the Government
Huffington Post
November 21, 2013