Public Policy Forums

Tugging on the Safety Net:
Understanding Poverty and Poverty Programs in Today's Economy

Wednesday, October 31, 2012, 8:00–10:30 a.m.
Constellation Room, 21st Floor, World Trade Center
401 E. Pratt Street, Baltimore, MD

Sponsored by The Annie E. Casey Foundation, the UMBC Department of Public Policy,
and the Maryland Institute for Policy Analysis and Research

The increase in the number of near poor and poor has major implications for the government and private programs that allow families to acquire the goods and services they need to lead a decent life. There is evidence that the need is increasing, with more people falling into poverty as they, for a variety of reasons, become unable to make ends meet. At the same time, the "safety net" resources to help the poor are declining. There is growing pressure to trim federal, state, and local budgets by cutting social programs. Donations to nonprofits that provide services to the poor are down.

At this forum, local and national experts discussed the dimensions of today's poverty, and examined safety net programs from a public policy perspective.

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