Since its creation in 1991, the Peruvian Social Fund (FONCODES) has spent about $570 million funding micro-projects throughout the country. Many of these projects have involved the construction and renovation of school facilities, mainly primary schools in rural areas. FONCODES projects are driven by community demand and targeted using an index of…

This book examines the nature of persistent poverty in two impoverished towns in the coalfields of Appalachia and the Mississippi Delta and a contrasting social milieu in a prosperous but remote rural mill town in northern New England. Drawing on 350 in-depth interviews and census data, the book analyzes the dynamics of poverty, politics, and…

From a report of the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development, presents the ingredients for a development program to help the world's poorest countries and people meet basic human needs. The program should include provisions for productivity and employment, food security, health services, lower rates of population growth, and…

Describes the structure and organization of a research and training program focusing on urban poverty and social welfare policy. Explains that the program trains undergraduates in the theory and empirical analysis of issues in poverty research. Notes that students must develop and present a plan of service to a local social service agency in an…

In 1999, 108 of Appalachia's 406 counties were "distressed," with high poverty and unemployment rates. Three experts on Appalachia (Ron Eller, Amy K. Glasmeier, Greg Bischak) discuss problems and potentials of these counties, focusing on the working poor, welfare reform, the utility of social indicators, the challenge of changing the…

This document begins with highlights of a seminar meeting held in July of 1992 on poverty in America, followed by a background briefing report on the problem of poverty in the United States. This background briefing report is the first in a series of three reports. It summarizes some major themes of the vast and growing body of poverty literature,…

Article considered the problems Mexico must face in caring for the educational and social needs of its people. (RK)

A survey by the U.S. Conference of Mayors of its 22 member Task Force on Joblessness on Hunger to determine the current status of hunger in cities revealed the following facts among others: (1) Despite 15 months of economic recovery, the problem of hunger has grown and is expected to increase over the next year; (2) Two-thirds of the cities…

This document contains transcripts of witness testimony and prepared statements from the Congressional hearing called to examine the long-term effects of unemployment on families. Witnesses include an unemployed man who now volunteers for a group of low-income advocates for the poor; a former unemployed auto worker who now has a job assisting…

A brief historical review of the American Depression during the 1930s is presented. (JR)

Contracted school food services relieve school personnel of the tasks and problems involved in operating a food service. However, because good nutritional food has a low profit margin, a profitable contracted school food service does not meet desired nutritional standards. All things being equal, a food service management company cannot compete…

Using income data and poverty counts estimates derived from the current population survey, a national probability sampling of approximately 50,000 households, statistics are given on the income distribution among the aged, the impact of earnings from employment, the poverty thresholds, the total poor and near poor, the older poor: families, the…

This document examines the problems and potentials that cable televisions have in public service, with a view toward understanding CATV's growth and how that growth relates to the developmental and educational needs of the Appalachian Region. Six developmental districts in Appalachia were chosen for intensive study. A team of consultants was…

The negative income tax has been proposed as an effective means to combat poverty in the United States. This study, which is inferential in nature and a complement to ongoing field experimentation, is concerned with such questions as: (1) How will a negative income tax affect the working poor, (2) Will a negative income tax encourage some people…

Statistics are given on population, health, poverty, education, and blacks as victims of crimes. (Author/AM)