The Great Recession created a long list of economic hardship for Oregonians, including sharply higher unemployment, declining income and higher
Poverty & Inequality
Poverty & Inequality
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Providing a clearer picture of the recession’s toll on Oregon families, the U.S. Census bureau today reported that the share
The federal recovery act signed into law earlier this year has protected about 84,000 Oregonians from living in poverty.
Oregon was one of only eight states to see its poverty rate rise during the first year of the recession,
U.S. Census Bureau data released today showed that Oregon failed to make progress expanding health coverage or reducing poverty in
The federal government today raised the poverty line, which Oregon uses to determine eligibility for some public assistance programs.
With a congressional debate on the scope of a federal economic recovery package nearing, Oregon advocates urged lawmakers to aid
The morning after the election, I watched a video of Barack Obama telling how, on a rainy morning last June,
As the last economic expansion hit its peak, the typical Oregon household’s income rose slightly in 2007 over the previous
Oregon made headway in its efforts against food insecurity in the two years before the current economic downturn hit.
Latest Podcasts
Underpaid, Overworked, and Essential: Oregon’s Long-Term Care Crisis
In this episode, we examine the crisis in Oregon’s system of long-term care. Demand for long-term care is rising as
January 8, 2026
Income Inequality in Oregon: What Does the Latest Data Show?
Income inequality in Oregon remains vast, but history shows this is not inevitable.
December 11, 2025
How Trump Is Hiding Hunger and Why Poverty Persists
This episode examines what the end of the federal food security report means for Oregon, as well as why poverty is a policy failure, not an individual failure.
November 13, 2025