Charleston Gazette-Mail – Since the pandemic began, America’s billionaires have grown their wealth by a staggering $1 trillion. At the same time, families in West Virginia and across the country are facing increasing hardship and difficulty meeting their basic needs as the health and economic effects of COVID-19 drag on. Read the full article.
In November, 27% of all West Virginia households, and 45% of households with children, reported difficulty paying for basic household expenses.
In addition to longstanding poverty and need in West Virginia, the pandemic has had a disproportionate effect on low-wage workers. Those making less than $27,000 a year were much more likely to lose their jobs than those making over $60,000 a year earlier this spring. And now low-wage workers (those making $27,000 or less per year) are the least likely to have seen their jobs return.
