Public Hearing to Discuss Poverty Reduction in Massachusetts

SPRINGFIELD — In Massachusetts, poverty rates range from 7.6% to 19.9% among different racial and ethnic groups. Why the wide range in numbers? Because current policies and systems impact people differently — and disproportionately — based on race, age, and gender, among other things. Poverty is a root cause of health inequities.

The Massachusetts Legislature recently established the Massachusetts Poverty Commission to study “ways to promote opportunity, address inequality, and reduce poverty in the Commonwealth and make recommendations that, if implemented, would significantly reduce poverty in the Commonwealth over the next 10 years.”

To that end, the commission, co-chaired by state Rep. Marjorie Decker and state Sen. Sal DiDomenico, will hold its first hybrid public hearing on Thursday, May 30 from 3 to 6 p.m. at the Schwartz Campus Center Auditorium at American International College, 1000 State St., Springfield.

If you would like to provide oral testimony or participate remotely, click here to pre-register by noon on May 29. If you would like to submit written testimony or have questions, contact Decker’s staff director, Kerwin Amo, at (617) 722-2130. The public is encourages to share ideas to reduce poverty in Massachusetts.