An America without poverty is possible.

Work requirements in public benefits programs don’t help people work. They block access to food, health care, and housing assistance, making families and local economies worse off. This brief illustrates how work reporting requirements fail to increase work while straining state resources and imposing harmful and costly burdens on all. The brief also provides an overview of better alternatives that would be more effective at supporting employment and reducing poverty.

An America Without Poverty Is Possible: GCPI’s Agenda for Economic Well-Being reflects our vision for a nation where people have the freedom and resources to care for themselves and their loved ones. In this future, economic opportunity is a right, hardship and instability are the exception, and children have what they need to reach their full potential. That is the American dream.

A year ago, I stepped into my role as Executive Director of the Georgetown Center on Poverty and Inequality. As I reflect on the past year, I find myself returning to the image of braiding sweetgrass—an Indigenous tradition that symbolizes interconnectedness, care, and reciprocity. Braiding requires three strands: the past, the present, and the future. Over the past year in my work at GCPI, we have woven these strands together to strengthen our work, our relationships, and our impact.

The Child Tax Credit (CTC) has been one of the most effective tools in reducing child poverty and supporting working families. The cash it provides to families improves economic stability and well-being for millions of children, helping ensure they have enough food, clothing, school supplies, and stable housing. This fact sheet highlights the critical role of the CTC in reducing poverty and outlines the five components of an effective CTC. By strengthening the CTC, we can build a future where every child has the resources they need to thrive.

For generations, Black leaders have played a pivotal role in advancing economic justice. Their work—often met with resistance—has laid the groundwork for many of the anti-poverty programs that millions rely on today. This blog highlights key Black anti-poverty leader who have fought to address systemic poverty through labor organizing, reproductive justice, and direct action.