The Nation’s Leading Non-Partisan Forum on Poverty and Opportunity

MISSION

VISION

Spotlight convenes diverse voices across the political spectrum to drive informed debate and action on economic opportunity.

Spotlight Exclusives

District of Columbia

11.11.26

Building Dignity and Belonging Into Local Services Starts With Listening

November 11, 2026

Building Dignity and Belonging Into Local Services Starts With Listening

Whether people feel respected, have a voice in decisions and believe they belong in their communities can also shape their ability to achieve lasting economic mobility. That was a central message of a recent Urban Institute webinar, “Building Dignity and Belonging into Local Programs and Services,” which explored how local organizations can make those principles part of their everyday operations.

District of Columbia

11.4.26

Protecting Children From Wildfire Smoke

November 4, 2026

Protecting Children From Wildfire Smoke

As extreme weather continues to worsen and the danger of wildfires increases, researchers are finding the impacts go far beyond damage to physical structures. A new paper published by Fedcap’s Community Impact Policy Institute looks at the dangers for schools and daycare facilities, many of which are not equipped to filter the fine particulate matter in wildfire smoke.

Wisconsin

10.28.26

Benefit Cliffs Can Undermine Workers' Efforts To Get Ahead, Researchers Say

October 28, 2026

Benefit Cliffs Can Undermine Workers' Efforts To Get Ahead, Researchers Say

For low-wage workers, earning more money can sometimes mean losing public benefits that help pay for food, housing, health care and child care. These “benefit cliffs” can leave families worse off financially despite working more hours or taking a higher-paying job.

District of Columbia

10.21.26

New SNAP State Cost-Shift Policy Could Threaten Program’s Future

October 21, 2026

New SNAP State Cost-Shift Policy Could Threaten Program’s Future

Changes in the SNAP program as a result of last year’s Big Beautiful Bill include a provision mandating that states will be required to pay a share of SNAP benefits starting next October, with the required share determined solely by the state’s “payment error rate.” A new paper from the Hamilton Project argues that the new rules may put the entire program in jeopardy for some states.

Florida

10.14.26

States With Medicaid Coverage Of Doulas Show Signs Of Healthier Babies

October 14, 2026

States With Medicaid Coverage Of Doulas Show Signs Of Healthier Babies

More than half of states now cover doula services through Medicaid, and a new paper from Farhad V. Farahani, a PhD candidate in economics at the University of South Florida, finds indications of healthier birth outcomes in those states, particularly among Black women.

District of Columbia

10.7.26

Expiration Of Expanded Child Tax Credit Fueled Economic Pessimism

October 7, 2026

Expiration Of Expanded Child Tax Credit Fueled Economic Pessimism

The expanded Child Tax Credit in 2021 resulted in dramatic reductions in the U.S. child poverty rate. New research by Jacob Bastian of Rutgers University and Melody Harvey of the University of Wisconsin-Madison finds that the decision by Congress to not extend the expansion also resulted in driving up lingering economic pessimism, particularly among children with families.

Wisconsin

9.30.26

Social Security Cuts Could Hit Lower-Income Retirees Especially Hard

September 30, 2026

Social Security Cuts Could Hit Lower-Income Retirees Especially Hard

If Congress fails to shore up Social Security’s finances, the consequences for retirees could vary dramatically — and research presented at an Institute for Research On Poverty at the University of Wisconsin-Madison webinar Wednesday suggests lower-income beneficiaries could have the least ability to absorb a reduction

Iowa

9.23.26

Sugary Beverage Consumption Down 13% In States With New SNAP Restrictions, Study Shows

September 23, 2026

Sugary Beverage Consumption Down 13% In States With New SNAP Restrictions, Study Shows

Twenty-three states have had waivers approved to limit purchases of sugary beverages and/or foods with SNAP benefits, and 11 of those waivers have been implemented thus far. A new working paper found an initial decrease of soda purchases by 13 percent in the first 10 states where the waivers have been implemented.

District of Columbia

9.15.26

Census Data Shows Higher Incomes, Slightly Lower Poverty Rate in 2025

September 15, 2026

Census Data Shows Higher Incomes, Slightly Lower Poverty Rate in 2025

U.S. households saw meaningful gains in income in 2025, while the nation’s official poverty rate declined slightly, according to new data released Tuesday by the U.S. Census Bureau.

Wisconsin

9.1.26

Child Care’s Access Problem Is Bigger Than a Shortage of Slots

September 1, 2026

Child Care’s Access Problem Is Bigger Than a Shortage of Slots

For families struggling to find affordable, reliable child care, the number of licensed slots in a community can be a misleading measure of how much care is actually available.That was one of the central messages from a recent Institute for Research on Poverty webinar at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, which brought together researchers examining child care capacity, parental trade-offs and provider closures in Virginia, Massachusetts and Wisconsin.

Policy and Research Centers

Find policy and research institutions engaged in the study of poverty, economic mobility and social welfare.

AARP Foundation

American Enterprise Institute for Public Policy Research

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State Data & Insights

State Spotlight

Hover over a state to get a snapshot of poverty statistics in the state and access information and resources, news articles and links to learn more about state efforts to reduce poverty.

News

Latest Coverage

Find the latest stories, research, and insights on policies, programs, and ideas shaping the national conversation on poverty and economic mobility.

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In the News

Medicaid

work requirements

Health

Place-Based

Rural Areas

District of Columbia

2026

November 12, 2026

Hospitals Brace For Medicaid Work Rules And Deep Spending Cuts

Health systems are racing to guide millions of patients through new eligibility hoops, slated to go into effect Jan. 1.

In the News

Hunger

Nutrition

SNAP

District of Columbia

2026

November 10, 2026

USDA Policy Shift Would Cut Millions Off SNAP

The Agriculture Department is reviving a plan that will require low-income people to take additional steps to qualify for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program.

In the News

Housing

Homelessness

District of Columbia

2026

November 9, 2026

U.S. Homeless Population Had Record Drop in 2025

The Department of Housing and Urban Development credited President Trump, while homeless advocacy groups said that so-called Housing First policies of his predecessors played a part.

Driving the national conversation around economic mobility

Spotlight is the signature initiative of The Fedcap Group’s Community Impact Policy Institute, the organization’s internal think tank focused on evidence-based policymaking, applied research, and public-sector policy innovation.

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The Nation’s Leading Non-Partisan Forum on Poverty and Opportunity

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Find policy and research institutions engaged in the study of poverty, economic mobility and social welfare.

AARP Foundation

American Enterprise Institute for Public Policy Research

American Public Human Services Association

State Spotlight

Latest Coverage

Hospitals Brace For Medicaid Work Rules And Deep Spending Cuts

USDA Policy Shift Would Cut Millions Off SNAP

U.S. Homeless Population Had Record Drop in 2025

Driving the national conversation around economic mobility