Five years into an economic recovery the country is still not seeing poverty decline. Nationally, 37 million people live below the poverty level ($20,600 for a family of four) 13 million of whom are children. Here in Massachusetts 615,000 people – fully 10 percent of the population – live in poverty. Even more chilling, this year the national rate of “deep poverty,” or families living 50 percent below the poverty level, is at 43 percent. That’s the highest on record.

ABCD is committed to reversing this trend, and a little help from you can go a long way. Here are just a few programs that could use your help:

Asset Development – To permanently escape poverty, people need to develop assets through home ownership, higher education and entrepreneurship. ABCD's Asset Development Program provides that pathway to self-sufficiency and economic security. Learn More

Child Development – Head Start in Boston has been around almost as long as ABCD has – since 1964. But it’s not the only child development program under the ABCD umbrella. Full Day Child Care Services maintains a fully staffed department of education and disability specialists who hold workshops and training sessions for parents and daycare providers. These trainings focus on how to get special needs children into daycare, and how to keep them there.  The staff is there but the funds are not. You could help by sponsoring a training session in your area. Learn More

Housing – ABCD’s Housing and Homeless Department works to keep a roof over people’s heads and provides them the tools, skills and resources to maintain their housing.  Through landlord-tenant mediation, housing court advocacy, rental assistance and other means,  ABCD housing counselors prevent homelessness, a huge savings to taxpayers.  These programs desperately need your assistance.
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Youth programs – When you think ABCD and teens, you probably think SummerWorks. But did you know some of our job training programs for youth run year round? Summer jobs may get the headlines, but these year-long programs really keep kids in a line of work that will one day help them climb out of the cycle of poverty. Learn More