low income families

Ann Arbor’s youth and low-income family non-profit Community Action Network has been forced to downsize its operations due to federal budget cuts. WEMU’s Ana Longoria has the details.

The school year is winding down, and a lot of the kids in the area are going to be headed to one camp or another. But for some, camp is too expensive, making access difficult or impossible. That’s where Washtenaw Camp Placement comes in. It connects those kids with the opportunity to participate in sleep-away summer camp and build a relationship with nature, increase self-esteem and expand personal horizons. WEMU's David Fair talked with executive director Matt Tarver-Wahlquist about this year’s opportunities and whether changes in federal policy and funding programs will have an impact.

Legislation rolled out Wednesday would help lower-income households with access to safe and affordable water. Rick Pluta tells us the bills have bipartisan support.

The Trump administration is cancelling or defunding a number of initiatives that have been investing in environmental and energy justice. These are programs that, in some cases, have a direct impact on Washtenaw County. The Biden-era Justice40 program has been cancelled. WEMU's David Fair spoke with one of the architects of that program, Dr. Jalonne White-Newsome, who is the former White House Federal Chief Environmental Justice Officer and is founder and CEO of Empowering a Green Environment and Economy, LLC.

The tax season has arrived, and there are a lot of people in the area that need some assistance in making sure they file accurately and on time. In fact, about 20% of those eligible don’t file taxes and miss out on the valuable credits they are entitled to. The United Way for Southeastern Michigan makes free tax assistance available to those in Washtenaw County earning $67,000 a year or less. WEMU's David Fair talks more about the program with the United Way’s Megan Thibos for this week's "Washtenaw United."

A group in Ypsilanti is looking to bring solar energy to low-income neighborhoods. WEMU’s Kevin Meerschaert has this report.

Ann Arbor is moving to dissolve its Housing and Human Services Advisory Board (HHSAB). WEMU’s Kevin Meerschaert reports.

Energy costs are a significant problem for many in our community, and utility bills are going up everywhere. In this month's installment of “1st Friday Focus on the Environment”, we look at the issue of energy equity with Dr. Tony Reames. He is Director of the Detroit Sustainability Clinic at the University of Michigan's School for Environment and Sustainability. Dr. Reames joined WEMU's David Fair and Michigan League of Conservation Voters executive director Lisa Wozniak with an assessment of where we are on energy equity and where we're headed.

Efforts to create a more equitable community continues as we move toward 2025. The Peace Neighborhood Center in Ann Arbor will partner with other non-profits and open a new facility on the eastern side of Washtenaw County. Bonnie Billups is executive director of the Center, and he joined WEMU's David Fair to discuss the new Peace HUB Community Resource Center.

While the Ypsilanti Freighthouse serves as a daytime warming center, the only 24/7 shelter for unhoused members of the Ypsilanti community is the Delonis Center in Ann Arbor. and it has limited beds available. There is ongoing community discussion about the need for a shelter on the eastern side of Washtenaw County. Concentrate Media's Rylee Barnsdale that need and what's being done about it with Lindsay Calka. She's the managing director of Groundcover News, a publication giving voice to low-income residents.