low income families

Washtenaw County is exploring ways to reduce or even eliminate justice system fines and fees. To do that, the county recently joined the national organization Cities and Counties for Fine and Fee Justice. WEMU's Josh Hakala explains.

A "Community Baby Shower" continues through the end of May in Washtenaw County. We know there is a local and national shortage of baby formula, but there are a number new moms in our community that need a more than that. That's the idea behind the month-long event: to raise needed supplies to be distributed to give mother and child a hand-up as they begin their journey together. WEMU's David Fair was joined by the Vice President of Development of the United Way of Washtenaw County, Susan Smith, to discuss how serious the needs are and what we can collectively do to help in our community.

For those who need to take a payday loan to help meet financial obligations, it can be crippling. With interest rates averaging 370% in Michigan, just paying the loan back creates a cycle of debt that can be near impossible to escape. The "Stop the Debt Trap" petition drive is seeking to limit those interest loan rates to a maximum of 36%. WEMU's David Fair spoke with the group's Josh Hovey about the effort to get the initiative on the November ballot and why it's so important for all too many in Washtenaw County and around the state.

Low income households in Washtenaw County and Southeast Michigan face an greater energy burden. That means paying for gas and electricity eats up a significant amount of the monthly budget. A coalition of groups, including the Ann Arbor-based Ecology Center, has been working with the Michigan Public Service Commission and the utilities in the state to create programs of greater assistance. David Fair brings you the latest in his conversation with the Ecology Center's Alexis Blizman.

Consumer prices are going up in virtually every sector of our lives, including safe and accessible water. WEMU's David Fair checked in with Jen Read, Director of the Michigan Water Center at the U of M Graham Sustainability Institute, to discuss the myriad of efforts underway to make policy that treats access to safe and affordable water as a right instead of a privilege.

Washtenaw County is launching its "Resilient Washtenaw" climate action plan. The goal is to get county operations to carbon neutrality by 2030 and…

When you have to worry about food, housing, and transportation, education can fall away on the list of priorities. Add in a healthy mistrust of a system…

Michigan has a number of underserved urban and rural communities with limited access to quality mental health services for children, yet most children in…

Energy poverty is a problem all too many low-income households have to contend with. While more affluent households leave a bigger carbon footprint, it is…

We know, with certainty, the climate crisis is negatively impacting our environment. It is also having adverse affects on pubic health, particularly in…