The Urban Institute released a report discussing the community of the long-term unemployed. Individuals who have been out of work for more than 26 weeks (the long-term unemployed) tend to be less educated and are more likely to be non-white, unmarried, disabled, impoverished, and to have worked previously in the construction industry and construction occupations. The long-term unemployed have much more in common with workers who are newly unemployed and workers who have become discouraged and dropped out of the labor force. This suggests that solutions to long-term unemployment may be effective for other workers who have experienced other forms of labor market distress.

The United States Department of Agriculture's Economic Research Service released a report that estimates the extent to which inflation in food prices has eroded improvement in the food security of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) recipients that followed the increase in benefit size in April 2009 mandated by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA).

The National Literacy Trust released a report outlining the level of importance young individuals place on literacy skills in regards to their employment prospects. In addition, it briefly outlines the vital role that technology plays in the lives of young individuals and the degree to which this is linked to wider employment skills. A complementary report presents evidence on employers' views on literacy and employability.

The U.S. Department of Labor released a "Trauma Guide" that was created to address the psychological and mental health needs of women veterans. This guide is also a compilation of best practices aimed at improving effectiveness in engaging female veterans. Written for service providers, the guide offers observational knowledge and concrete guidelines for modifying practices with the goal of increasing re-entry outcomes.

This brief from the Transitional Jobs Network highlights a variety of models currently being used to connect homeless individuals with employment. Models highlighted include transitional jobs, individualized placement support, alternative staffing, customized employment, contextualized basic adult education, adult education bridge programs, and sector-based training. Within each model, a program example is provided for readers to better understand how the strategy is being used in the real world.

This study, commissioned by the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation in the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, examines local programs that connect homeless individuals and families with other support services in order to best prevent future homelessness. Fourteen programs that have defined partnerships with other supportive service agencies were chosen for this study, and promising practices of these programs and partnerships are highlighted.

This ASPE Research Brief explores local programs for linking human services and housing supports to prevent and end family homelessness. The Research Brief is based on interviews with stakeholders in 14 communities nationwide, highlighting key practices that facilitated the implementation and ongoing sustainability of the programs.

The National Low-Income Housing Coalition has released a report capturing the gap between wages and rents across the country, and is the estimate of the full-time hourly wage that a household must earn to afford a decent apartment at the Housing and Urban Development (HUD) estimated Fair Market Rent, while spending no more than 30% of income on housing costs. This report underscores the challenges facing the lowest income renters: increasing rents, stagnating wages, and a shortage of affordable housing, while providing solutions that will benefit the lowest income renters.

Learn how homelessness is affecting our youngest children and what Head Start/Early Head Start can do to help.

The Administration for Children and Families headquarters were joined by Regional offices in a first-ever combined face-to-face and virtual Tribal Consultation.