The American story of poverty is familiar to too many. It’s a story of hitting roadblocks with dire consequences at every turn, where a missed paycheck from a volatile job can quickly turn into power shut-offs and empty refrigerators. Today, millions of Americans still live below the poverty line, and more than one in eight children experienced poverty in 2023.
Our American story of escaping poverty through hard work, saving up, and climbing the economic ladder is more myth than reality. But another story is possible.
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.
Imagining an America where opportunity is available to everyone requires directly addressing systems that hold back women of color. Prioritizing women of color isn’t just a slogan—it’s sound strategy. Centering women of color generates a ripple effect, benefiting all families and creating systems that work for everyone.
Our work ensures that policy agendas and policymaker actions are informed by the lived experiences of people experiencing poverty. Together, we’re building a future free from poverty, grounded in opportunity for all.
An Economic Well-Being Research Agenda
Economic inequality is growing, and too many families are left struggling because of policy choices that ignore their needs.
GCPI is committed to the long-term fight for an America without poverty. We are ready to defend what matters, deliver real solutions, and build the case for policies that help families thrive. GCPI is leveraging its deep policy expertise to partner with movement leaders and policymakers in pursuit of bold change.
- Protecting and defending income supports and public benefits programs, like SNAP, WIC, TANF, and guaranteed income programs.
- Charting a new economic security index to track economic well-being and guide future policymaking.
- Building the evidence for a federal job guarantee and expanding subsidized employment programs.
- Strengthening digital benefits infrastructure to modernize public benefits administration.
- Supporting the care economy movement, including by providing research and technical assistance, and elevating lived experience.
- Investing in housing as a social good including solutions that secure stable, affordable housing for all families.
