"There seem to be a growing consensus that cash is the best tool in the fight against poverty. But is it?" asks guest columnist Heath Henderson.

The organizations hope to create “a place-based, collective service delivery model” to create the ultimate in coordination — one-stop shopping to tackle poverty.

Nearly 1 in 5 American children live in poverty, and several experts have suggested that the new stimulus package could reduce child poverty by 57%.

Through the Family Stability Community Challenge, UWGPSNJ identified four high-performing nonprofit organizations — the Poverty Action Fund's first grantees — whose proposals connect individuals and families to important economic security programs.

Chicago is a well-off town with a poverty problem. Philadelphia is poor. But The Fund for the School District of Philadelphia, Pew's Fund for Health and Human Services and GreenLight Fund Philadelphia are already employing parallel strategies.

While no official announcements regarding plans to conduct a longitudinal study of poverty in Philadelphia have been made yet, beginning to hypothesize or imagine how such a study would work in the city may be a worthwhile exercise.

Misinformation and language barriers prevent many in Chinatown from applying for unemployment compensation or rental assistance.

Private nonprofits like the Sierra Group and JEVS run most of the city-wide disability workforce programs. But should the City of Philadelphia look to New York City's model to expand its own disability workforce development efforts?

Dr. Eric Edi, chief operating officer of The Coalition of African and Caribbean Communities, says a simplified, and less invasive benefits application form would eliminate hesitancy and fear that has kept numerous families from applying for benefits.

When people who receive benefits increase earned income as well, they often face a "benefits cliff," where the benefits taper off before sustainable economic self-sufficiency and growth can occur.