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November 1, 2007

Group offers advice for helping people out of poverty

More than a quarter of Providence residents live below the federal poverty line, but working with private institutions may provide a way out, according to a group charged with studying poverty in the city.

The Poverty Work and Opportunity Task Force, created by Mayor David N. Cicilline, suggested today that city officials could work with banks and other companies to help those residents raise their standards of living.

Results of the group’s report, Pathways to Opportunity, were presented this morning to Cicilline at Casey Family Services.

Specifically, the group recommended working with banks to provide lower fees and more services to people living below the poverty level – currently $20,650 for a family of four.

The group also recommended more oversight of payday lenders, businesses which, nationwide, have been criticized for high interest rates and predatory practices.

The group also had broad advice that touched on a number of other areas – like education -- where it thought reform could help provide economic improvements for families.

-- with reports from Journal staff writer Gregory Smith

Posted by Brandie Jefferson  at 1:16 PM | Permalink

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