Tag: social science

Third Spaces: The Building Blocks of A Healthy Community and Social Life
Third spaces are public, informal gathering spots — like cafes, parks, or community centers — where people can relax, socialize, and build connections outside of home and work. In a world increasingly dominated by digital interactions, these spaces play a vital role in fostering community and countering loneliness.

“Third spaces” refer to social environments that are separate from the two primary places where people spend most of their time: home (the first space) and work (the second space). These third spaces are informal, public gathering spots where people can socialize, relax, and build a sense of community.

Sociologist Ray Oldenburg first introduced the concept in his book The Great Good Place. He argued that third spaces are crucial for fostering social cohesion, civic engagement, and a sense of belonging. They serve as “neutral grounds” where people can engage in casual conversations and form social connections that they might not in other settings. Places like main streets, libraries, cafes, pubs, and community centers are essential to a functional society and can provide avenues for grassroots activism, community involvement, charity and volunteer work, and social support.

One of the most important features of “third spaces” is that they involve interacting with people outside of our typical social circle of family, friends, and coworkers. They introduce the possibility of new connections and new relationships. Other important qualities include easy accessibility, low cost, and an inviting atmosphere that encourages mingling and conversation.

As modern life has shifted more towards digital interaction, the role of physical third spaces has become a topic of renewed interest among psychologists and social scientists, especially in discussions about loneliness and community fragmentation. People are spending less time in third spaces than ever before; and with remote work becoming more common, many people don’t have much of a life outside of home anymore.

This general tendency has led to an increase in atomization, where individuals feel less and less connected to their local communities and society at large. This has far reaching consequences on health and well-being, as well as social trust, cooperation, and group cohesion.

Third spaces play an integral role when it comes to happiness and well-being on both an individual and social level. Let’s mention a few common examples and then explore more on what makes these spaces so important to a healthy social life.

Common examples of third spaces include:
- Main streets and public squares
- Cafes and coffee shops
- Public libraries
- Parks, nature preserves, beaches
- Bars or pubs
- Community centers
- Bookstores
- Churches and religious organizations
- Local food markets
- Music venues or dance clubs
- Local sports leagues (bowling, basketball, baseball, etc.)
- Shopping malls
- Co-working spaces
Can you think of any other examples? What are some neutral places where various people can go to meet new people?

Ray Oldenburg argues that the increase of suburbanization and a “car-centric” society has decreased the use of third spaces and is one major cause behind our more atomized and individualistic world. Many adults living in suburbs have a long commute and a busy work schedule, so they rarely have time to spend outside of home or work. They live and sleep in their suburban homes, but they aren’t involved in their local communities in any meaningful way.

Modern living creates a fundamental disconnect between home, work, and community, which can lead to feelings of alienation and loneliness. Third spaces can be a social glue that ties these different aspects of our lives together into a meaningful whole.

As someone who grew up in Levittown, New York – one of the first mass-produced suburbs – I can relate to the feelings of atomization and not having many third spaces to hang out with friends during my childhood. The most frequent spots were typically shopping malls, bowling alleys, or parking lots, but there weren’t many other “public square”-type places where everyone could go on a weekend night. This made it difficult to build social connections or a sense of community outside of school.

In Robert Putnam’s classic book Bowling Alone: The Collapse and Revival of the American Community, he documents the downfall of community feeling and social cohesion since the 1960s. Key factors behind this decline include changes in mobility and sprawl, family structure and time schedules, as well as technology and mass media. The rise of home entertainment including TVs, internet, and video games has made people less motivated to go to physical third spaces for leisure, socializing, or relaxation.

There are many factors that have led to the decline in community and the use of third spaces. It’s tempting to want to blame only one thing, but the problems we face in today’s world are complicated and multifaceted. There’s no quick or easy fix for improving the use of third spaces, but we can be more aware of the role they play in our daily lives.

Are Buses and Trains Third Spaces?

Public transportation such as buses and trains share some qualities with “third spaces,” such as being neutral ground that anyone in the community can access, a shared experience of commuting together, and the possibility of social connection with locals and strangers. However, these places are typically not seen as “third spaces” because their primary function is transportation and not social connection. The average person on commutes tends to withdraw and mind their own business, so these spaces aren’t very conducive to new conversation or forming new friendships (although it’s definitely possible).

Building Social Capital and Weak Ties

When you frequent any third space (such as a cafe, bar, church, or library), you naturally start to see familiar faces and build light social connections there.

This is what sociologists refer to as social capital, which is just an economic-centric term for relationships that we value, trust, and provide social support.

Third spaces help form casual relationships (or “weak ties”) that can lead to huge benefits. One common example is learning about a new job opportunity or a possible romantic interest through an acquaintance or friend of a friend.

Social capital can manifest itself in many small and hidden ways too.

When I lived in Brooklyn, I would go to the same bodega every morning for my coffee and breakfast sandwich. There were a couple times I was in a rush and forgot my wallet, but since the store owner knew me well and recognized me, he trusted me enough to let me pay next time. That may seem like a trivial thing, but it’s something that can only be accomplished with a minimal level of trust or social capital. If I were a completely random stranger I wouldn’t get that benefit.

Through third spaces, you begin to run into the same people, build a sense of familiarity and comfort, and start connecting with them on a level beyond random stranger, even just the act of seeing a familiar face and saying “Hi” can give a nice boost to your day (learn the power of “10 second” relationships).

Find a Healthy Dose of Third Spaces

No matter how introverted or extraverted you are, everyone needs a healthy dose of social interaction. Third spaces provide opportunities to meet new people, connect with a broader community, and expand our social circle. Often just finding one third space where you feel comfortable and connect with like-minded people can make a big difference in the quality of your social life. Find a third space that works best for you and make it a part of your daily, weekly, or monthly routine.

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Steven Handel

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September 19, 2024
Panel shows the power of nonprofits in Gloucester

No matter what you hear, nobody’s gotten to where they are totally on their own.

That’s what Cape Ann nonprofit leaders said during a panel discussion held Friday on the state of local social justice work following the COVID-19 pandemic. and it’s why their nonprofits are so important, they added.

“Even being able to get to work, you didn’t do that alone,” said Jill Brown, a SNAP advocate for The Open Door and panelist at the event. “You did that because there’s an infrastructure in place, which happened because of a whole bunch of people working together.”

Held at the Backyard Growers headquarters off Maplewood Avenue, the panel was largely attended by students of moderator Shoshana Madmoni-Gerber, a Suffolk University professor and Gloucester resident.

It’s been an uphill battle to help locals in need since the start of the pandemic, panelists said. Prior to 2020, 44% of Gloucester residents were low-income and 66% were cost-burdened, meaning more than 30% of their income goes toward housing, Brown said.

“Things before the pandemic were not good, and a lot of people who were teetering on the edge just got pushed off it,” said panelist Leah Briere, a client services coordinator for The Open Door.

“People were not affected equally,” she said. “Those who were already experiencing inequalities, that got even worse.”

Poverty disproportionately affected people of color during the pandemic, and more than half a million women left the workforce at the time, mostly to care for children during online schooling and missing out on career advancement as a result. Children in poverty experienced higher learning losses than their more well-to-do classmates, Briere said.

Creating food pathways

The Open Door reported a dramatic increase in its number of clients during the pandemic. Requests for help are still far from pre-pandemic levels, but there’s more opportunities for those in need, Brown said.

The Open Door started an online grocery ordering system during the pandemic that allows clients to choose what food they want from the organization, instead of receiving pre-packed bags that might include food they don’t like or can’t eat.

There’s a new translating service that connects clients with someone who speaks their language when placing an order or requesting other types of assistance from The Open Door, rather than relying on Google Translate as the nonprofit did in the past, Briere said.

Backyard Growers is starting a farmers market at Burnham’s Field this year that’s focused on providing healthy, affordable food from local farmers. The new spot is easier to walk to for many of the area’s low-income residents, and the market will accept SNAP benefits, said Alison DiFiore, executive director of the organization.

Valuing skillsets

Nonprofits have placed a larger emphasis on fostering equity since the pandemic. But creating equity doesn’t just mean promoting diversity, said Andy Allen, director of education and career pathways for Wellspring House in Gloucester.

Equity is about valuing the skillsets of those with different backgrounds — including immigrants who are learning English, a fair share of Wellspring’s clients who take part in its housing, education and job training assistance programs.

These clients often feel ashamed of their budding English skills even when they have degrees or worked as lawyers, doctors, engineers or in other high-paying careers back in their old countries.

“I turn it and say, ‘You know more than one language already. You’re a valuable entity — your qualities are far beyond mine’,” Allen said.

“You can get a much better job. Yeah, you need to have some English to help you get there, but as soon as (employers) find out that you know eight languages or three, you might be making $50 an hour,” he said.

Being the change

The last few years have been overwhelming for the nonprofit sector, even in Gloucester. Yet, as Allen said during the panel, “If you want to make a change, you have to be the one to make change, and you can’t do it by yourself. You need a group of people to stand up.”

That’s what Susan Erony did when Seham Awad and her family, all Syrian refugees, arrived in Gloucester in 2016. Having fled dictator Hafez al-Assad’s regime prior to staying in overcrowded refugee camps in Turkey, the Awads came to America with next to nothing.

Erony brought together her friends and other Gloucester residents to raise $35,000 for the Awads and a family of Afghani refugees at the time. The effort turned into The Friends of Cape Ann Refugees, and “friends” is the best way to describe what the unofficial group has become.

Members celebrate birthdays together and bond over Seham Awad’s delicious cooking, which she’s taught to local schoolchildren through the group. Madmoni-Gerber acts as a translator, speaking both Arabic and English.

“She loves all the people that helped her along the way,” Madmoni-Gerber said Friday, translating for Awad. “This is beyond an organization. We really love each other and it’s just a wonderful friendship.”

Contact Caroline E nos at CEnos@northofboston.com.

By Caroline Enos | Staff Writer

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April 8, 2024
SENIOR LOOKOUT: A few health decisions to make before you get sick

April is Health Care Decisions Month. A couple years ago, when I heard of this month-long awareness campaign, I thought it was odd. I didn’t understand the importance of having an official health care proxy and discussing how I want my medical care to be handled if I become unable to make decisions on my own. I did not know that my family would not automatically be making these decisions. To ensure that my wishes are known, it was important to set up a health care proxy.

A health care proxy is a document in which an individual appoints an agent to legally make health care decisions on behalf of the patient when they are incapable of making and executing health care decisions. While a health care proxy can be setup with a lawyer when you prepare your will and other estate documents, it is not necessary to involve a lawyer in this specific document. A health care proxy can be completed at home and only needs your signature with two witnesses. (Note: you should work with a reputable attorney that specializes in estate planning when you prepare your estate documents.)

I downloaded my health care proxy form from the Honoring Choices Massachusetts website (www.honoringchoicesmass.com). This website will help you explore how to make care choices that are best for you. It has a step-by-step process that helps you to consider the various aspects of choosing an agent and discussing your wishes with them. It also has instructions on voiding a health care proxy, if your circumstances change.

Once you have chosen a health care agent, you should discuss your feelings on various health care situations with your agent and your doctor(s). The Honoring Choices website has various scenarios that it suggests discussing. Copies of your signed and witnessed document should be placed in your personal files and given to your health care agent and your doctor.

Once you have your health care proxy in place, there are other written plans you should consider (you can find these documents on www.honoringchoicesmass.com).

Personal directive. This is a living will. It provides the person you name in your Health Care Proxy with detailed instructions as to how you would like to be cared for. This is not a legal document in Massachusetts, so you want to choose someone who will respect your wishes, even if it is emotionally difficult for them to do so.

Durable power of attorney. This is assigning a person you trust to handle your money, property and financial matters. It does not have to be the same person you name in your health care proxy. It is recommended, but not required under law, that you complete a durable power of attorney with a lawyer who can advise you given your personal financial matters.

Medical orders for life-sustaining treatment (MOLST). This document communicates your choices regarding life-sustaining treatments should you become seriously ill. You and your family do not complete this form unless you become seriously ill, but there is a sample document on the website.

Comfort care/Do Not Resuscitate Order (CC/DNR).This form indicates you do not want resuscitation efforts in the case your heart or breathing stops. It is completed by you or your health care agent should the circumstances for making this decision arise.

I was very nervous about asking my daughter to be my health care agent. I was afraid that she would panic and worry that I was ill right now. My fears were unfounded. We were able to have a conversation about how I feel about treatment options and a variety of situations. It wasn’t hard and it was a relief to know that this important task has been completed.

Tracy Arabian is the communications officer at SeniorCare Inc., a local agency on aging that serves Gloucester, Beverly, Essex, Hamilton, Ipswich, Manchester-by-the-Sea, Rockport, Topsfield and Wenham.

Tracy Arabian is the communications officer at SeniorCare Inc., a local agency on aging that serves Gloucester, Beverly, Essex, Hamilton, Ipswich, Manchester-by-the-Sea, Rockport, Topsfield and Wenham.

Senior Lookout | Tracy Arabian

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April 5, 2024
2024 World Happiness Rankings: USA Falls Out of Top 20, Youngest Hit Hardest
What are the top 20 happiest countries in the world? How do mental health and well-being trends look in the United States and Canada? The 2024 World Happiness Report is in!

The World Happiness Report is a research initiative to compare happiness levels between different countries.

The project first launched in 2012, surveying more than 350,000 people in 95 countries asking them to rate their happiness on a 10-point scale.

Each year they release a new report and the 2024 full report was just published a few weeks ago. There are some interesting findings in it that are worth highlighting.

First let’s look at the happiness rankings by country.

Top 20 Happiest Countries

Here are the top 20 happiest countries in 2024 according to the report.

The scores are on a scale of 1-10. Each participant was asked to think of a ladder, with the best possible life for them being a “10” and the worst possible life being a “0.” They were then asked to rate their current lives. The final rankings are the average score for each country.

(By the way, this simple test for measuring subjective well-being is known as the “Cantril Ladder,” it’s a common tool used in public polling especially the Gallup World Poll.)

The results:
The top 10 countries have remained stable over the years. As of March 2024, Finland has been ranked the happiest country in the world seven times in a row.

There was more movement in the top 20 rankings. Most notably, this is the first year that the United States dropped out of the top 20 (from rank 15 to 23 – an 8 place drop).

More alarming are the age gaps in happiness reports. In both the U.S. and Canada, those above the age of 60 report significantly higher rates of happiness than those below 30.

Above age 60, the U.S. ranks 10 overall on the world happiness rankings. Below age 30, the U.S. falls to rank 62, just beating out Peru, Malaysia, and Vietnam.

Could this be a sign of a continuing downward trend in places like the U.S. and Canada?

Potential Factors Behind Life Evaluation

How to measure happiness is always a controversial topic.

To this day, psychologists and social scientists don’t really have a reliable way to determine happiness besides simply asking someone, “How happy are you?”

However, the World Happiness Report attempts to take the above findings and break them down into six main factors that contribute to overall life evaluation on a societal level.

These factors don’t influence the final rankings, they are just a way to make sense of the results:
- GDP per capita – A general measure of a country’s overall wealth.
- Life expectancy – A general measure of a country’s overall health.
- Generosity – The level of a country’s trust and kindness through charity and volunteering.
- Social support – The level of a country’s social cohesion and community.
- Freedom – The level of a country’s freedom to live life as a person sees fit.
- Corruption – A general measure of government competence and political accountability.
Each factor helps explain the differences in overall happiness between countries, with some countries performing better in certain areas over others.

One benefit of this model is that it looks beyond GDP (or “Gross Domestic Product”) which has long been the overall benchmark for comparing countries in the social sciences. The U.S. has the highest GDP in the world and frequently ranks in the top 10 per capita, but the happiness rankings show there is more to the picture.

Conclusion

The World Happiness Report is a good guideline for comparing happiness and well-being between different countries. How does your country rank? It will be interesting to see how these rankings change over the next few years, do you have any predictions?

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Steven Handel

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April 4, 2024
Marblehead High graduates become community’s first female Eagle Scouts

Marblehead High School graduates Zoe Gast and Katie Jenkins were recently honored as the first female Eagle Scouts from Troop 79G.

The Marblehead Boy Scout troop held a Court of Honor ceremony on March 16 to celebrate Gast’s and Jenkins’ achievement of the highest rank attainable in the Boy Scouts program.

“Today marks a historic milestone for BSA Troop 79G as we celebrate our first Eagle Scouts, Katie Jenkins and Zoe Gast,” said Jen Stoddard, the Troop 79G Scoutmaster. “Their achievement is a testament to the resilience, dedication, and leadership that define the spirit of scouting.

“It’s a proud moment that underscores the importance of inclusivity as well as the vital importance of empowering young women, providing them with opportunities for leadership, personal growth, and outdoor adventure.”

The girl’s division of Troop 79, which was started back in 2019 by Jenkins and others, has become home to over 20 young women under Stoddard’s leadership. Since then, Gast, Jenkins, and other Scouts have been camping across New England, led backpacking trips to intensive hiking and camping destinations such as Philmont Scout Reservation in New Mexico, and have given back to the community through service projects.

Gast’s Eagle Project focused on contributing to the Prison Book Program of Quincy, which provides books for the 2 million people in the nation’s prisons and jails to expand education materials for the incarcerated. She officially received the designation of Eagle Scout upon the completion of this project in April last year, but chose to delay the ceremony to be recognized at the same time as Jenkins, as they had traveled their journey together.

Gast graduated from Marblehead High School last June. She is a Florida State University freshman focusing on international affairs. She is also the second Eagle Scout in the Gast family. Her great-grandfather, Stanley Vanderbeck, received his Eagle Scout rank on Dec. 26, 1932, in St. Joseph, Michigan.

Jenkins’ Eagle Project was a drive collecting supplies and preparing gift bags for the transitional housing residents at the Centerboard Salem State Shelter, which has been housing families since 2022.

Jenkins also graduated from Marblehead High last June. She is currently a freshman at Scripps College in California, where she is studying psychology.

Today, in Boston’s Spirit of Adventure Council, there are 47 female troops made up of just over 900 Scouts. To date, just over 50 have achieved the rank of Eagle Scout. Across all of the BSA, only 6% of all Scouts achieve BSA’s highest rank. Scouts must earn 21 merit badges, which require mastering basic skills in areas such as first aid and environmental science.

In 2021, Masconomet Regional High School graduate Mira Plante, of Middleton’s Troop 19, was among the first female Scouts on the North Shore to earn the rank of Eagle Scout.

Troop 79G meets Tuesday nights at 7 p.m. at The Clifton Lutheran Church, 150 Humphrey St. in Marblehead. For more information, contact Del Babineau at dmbabineau@verizon.net.

Michael McHugh can be contacted at mmchugh@northofboston.com or at 781-799-5202

By Michael McHugh | Staff Writer

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March 27, 2024
State eyes simplification of college aid process

With an array of more than 50 state financial aid programs available to college students, public higher education officials are embarking on an effort to simplify those offerings by 2026.

The Department of Higher Education plans to evaluate gaps in financial support as officials consider redesigning the mix of tuition reimbursement, grant, loan forgiveness and tax programs. The overhaul is meant to expand education access, improve affordability, and ensure that aid delivery is reliable and predictable, Deputy Commissioner of Policy Michael Dannenberg said.

“So part of our analysis will look at the ultimate unmet need or need of students, whether they are in state or out of state, whether they’re receiving financial aid programs from the state or not from the state,” he said during a virtual Board of Higher Education meeting Tuesday. ”We’ll try and simplify, and highlight, (and) prioritize those for needy families and socioeconomic mobility.”

Developing a “more coherent financial aid system” would also focus on ensuring students complete their degrees and certificates, Dannenberg said.

Earlier this year, DHE launched its Massachusetts Application for State Financial Aid (MASFA), a portal that’s meant to mimic the federal FAFSA form and allow undocumented students to unlock the millions of dollars available in state aid programs.

Nearly 400 MASFA applications have been submitted or are in progress for the 2023-2024 academic year, with another 230 applications in the pipeline so far for the next academic year, a DHE spokesperson said Monday.

At least 34 state financial aid programs serve less than 10,000 students, and more than 20 programs reach less than 2,000 recipients. At least two dozen state financial aid programs are not based on economic need, and at least 16 programs have a median award value under $200, Dannenberg said.

Officials do not want to harm current financial aid recipients, and some programs may need to be adjusted with a grandfather clause to protect them, he said.

The deputy commissioner showed board members a list of the programs, with some serving categories of students, including athletes, children of Sept. 11 victims, foster and adopted children, and aspiring educators, paraprofessionals and nurses. Also on the list were recent major expansions of financial aid, including making community college free for adults ages 25 and older and covering tuition costs and fees for Pell-Grant eligible students.

“So we’ve got a lot of programs, a lot of very small small programs, and a lot of programs that are not linked to economic need,” he said.

As the redesign continues, the plan is to conduct analyses this spring and summer, and review redesign options with the board in the fall. Officials would then seek input from advocates, experts and others at the start of 2025, share recommendations by spring 2025, and prepare to implement the changes for the fall 2026, Dannenberg said.

Beyond the state’s financial aid portfolio, higher education officials are grappling with the ripple effects of the severely delayed launch of the updated Free Application for Federal Student Aid.

The form only became available in January, compared to its typical fall rollout, after the system experienced multiple glitches with new funding formulas. During Tuesday’s board meeting, state officials urged students, including those frustrated by the FAFSA’s challenges this year, to still complete the form.

Students need to submit the FASFA by May 1 for “priority consideration,” though officials are considering extending that deadline due to the form’s delay, said Clantha McCurdy, senior deputy commissioner of access and student financial assistance.

The DHE is spending $1 million on “strategies” to boost FAFSA completion rates, said Robert Dais, director of GEAR UP, or Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs. Dais did not offer examples, and said the department has partnered with the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education on ideas to “excite and incentivize students.” The funding, outlined in the fiscal 2024 budget, can be used on public awareness campaigns and FAFSA “completion clinics.”

“We are targeting Gateway Cities and students from historically underserved populations,” Dais said. “There’s more to come soon, but essentially we just wanted folks to know know that the Department of Higher Education is clearly focused on improving FAFSA and MASFA completion rates, and doing everything that we can to ensure that the neediest students are doing so.”

By Alison Kuznitz | State House News Service

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March 23, 2024
Senate approves bill to expand early education

BOSTON — The state Senate has approved a plan aimed at expanding access to child care and early education for parents while attracting and retaining new workers to ease persistent labor shortages in the industry.

The measure, which was unanimously approved on Thursday, calls for boosting financial assistance for families seeking child care, establishing new funding for child care providers and higher pay and benefits for early educators.

Backers of the plan said the changes are needed to help lower the cost of child care and early education programs with parents paying as much as 20% to 40% of their household incomes on child care, often making it their second-highest expense after housing costs.

“Besides the high costs, families also face other barriers including a lack of available slots at their preferred providers, the hours of available care, transportation challenges and more,” Jason Lewis, D-Winchester, a primary sponsor of the bill, said in remarks on Thursday. “All this hurts families’ economic well-being.”

It’s not clear how much the changes, if implemented, would cost and the bill doesn’t include additional funds.

Senate leaders note that $1.5 billion is already earmarked for early education and care in the current state budget, but that new funding will be dependent on future budgets.

Lewis said the “substantial” price tag for the plan is “justified” given the money that many families, businesses and the state are losing as a result of the spiraling early education costs.

“The status quo is already costing us a lot of money,” he said. “We have already demonstrated that we can indeed prioritize investments in early education and child care and follow through on those commitments.”

Senate Minority Leader Bruce Tarr, a Gloucester Republican, said it’s critical that the state take steps to improve the affordability of early education and child care in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. He said the rising cost of early education has major implications for the state’s post-pandemic economy.

“It is an essential part of the fabric of our state,” Tarr said in remarks. “If we do not act, it will continue to be in serious jeopardy. We cannot allow that to happen.”

A key plank of the proposal calls for expanding eligibility for subsidized child care by raising the income level to qualify for state-backed programs.

The current threshold is 50% of state median income for a family of four — which is about $73,000. The plan calls for “gradually” increasing that level to 85% of state median income, or $124,000 for a four-member family.

“That means we will be opening up access to assistance to not just low-income families, but middle income families,” Lewis said in remarks.

It would also make state funding for the Commonwealth Cares for Children program, which has provided grants to nearly 7,500 child care providers since 2021, a permanent line item in the annual state budget. Other policy changes include setting new patient-staff ratios.

During Thursday’s debate, Tarr sought to add safeguards on spending to the bill after raising concerns about the costs and how the state will pay for it going forward.

“Lest we make a promise that can’t be fulfilled,” Tarr said. “My concern is that making sure that … we can say with confidence that the initiatives that are proposed here are things we can afford and sustain.”

Many child care centers are financially strained and advocates say low compensation and the rising costs of caring for children are putting some providers out of business.

Meanwhile, care providers are struggling to retain workers in an industry where the pay is traditionally low and the risk of getting sick is now elevated as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, advocates say.

The average cost of child care is more than $20,000 a year in Massachusetts, the most expensive state in the nation, only behind Washington, D.C., and well above the national average of $15,888, according to a recent report from the Massachusetts Taxpayers Foundation.

Working families are losing an estimated $1.7 billion a year in wages from not being able to show up for work because they can’t find or afford child care services, the report noted.

Meanwhile, employers are losing an estimated $812 million a year in productivity and worker turnover because of the shortage of child care options, according to the report, while the state government is missing out on $188 million a year in tax revenue.

Compounding the lack of options are changes in the workforce and other factors that have seen fewer people looking to work in the child care industry.

Gov. Maura Healey has made expanding child care options for parents a key plank of her agenda in her first term, tying the issue to a broader effort to make the state more affordable.

Earlier this year, the state Board of Early Education and Care recently approved a plan to tap into $65 million from this year’s budget to reimburse child care providers that serve families receiving financial assistance, including a 5.5% cost of living adjustment for providers to help offset increased operating costs.

The Senate bill must be approved by the House of Representative before heading to Healey’s desk for consideration.

Christian M. Wade covers the Massachusetts Statehouse for North of Boston Media Group’s newspapers and websites. Email him at cwade@cnhinews.com

By Christian M. Wade | Statehouse Reporter

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March 15, 2024
Senate approves bill to expand early education

BOSTON — The state Senate has approved a plan aimed at expanding access to child care and early education for parents while attracting and retaining new workers to ease persistent labor shortages in the industry.

The measure, which was unanimously approved Thursday, calls for boosting financial assistance for families seeking child care, establishing new funding for child care providers, and higher pay and benefits for early educators.

Backers of the plan said the changes are needed to help lower the cost of child care and early education programs with parents paying as much as 20% to 40% of their household incomes on child care, often making it their second-highest expense after housing costs.

“Besides the high costs, families also face other barriers, including a lack of available slots at their preferred providers, the hours of available care, transportation challenges and more,” Jason Lewis, D-Winchester, a primary sponsor of the bill, said in remarks Thursday. “All this hurts families’ economic well-being.”

It’s not clear how much the changes, if implemented, would cost and the bill does not include additional funding.

Senate leaders note that $1.5 billion is already earmarked for early education and care in the current state budget, but that new funding will be dependent on future budgets.

Lewis said the “substantial” price tag for the plan is “justified” given the money that many families, businesses and the state are losing as a result of the spiraling early education costs.

“The status quo is already costing us a lot of money,” he said. “We have already demonstrated that we can indeed prioritize investments in early education and child care and follow through on those commitments.”

Senate Minority Leader Bruce Tarr, a Gloucester Republican, said it’s critical that the state take steps to improve the affordability of early education and child care in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. He said the rising cost of early education has major implications for the state’s post-pandemic economy.

“It is an essential part of the fabric of our state,” Tarr said in remarks. “If we do not act, it will continue to be in serious jeopardy. We cannot allow that to happen.”

A key plank of the proposal calls for expanding eligibility for subsidized child care by raising the income level to qualify for state-backed programs.

The current threshold is 50% of state median income for a family of four – which is about $73,000. The plan calls for “gradually” increasing that level to 85% of state median income, or $124,000 for a four-member family.

“That means we will be opening up access to assistance to not just low-income families, but middle-income families,” Lewis said in remarks.

It would also make state funding for the Commonwealth Cares for Children program, which has provided grants to nearly 7,500 child care providers since 2021, a permanent line item in the annual state budget. Other policy changes include setting new patient-staff ratios.

During the debate Thursday, Tarr sought to add safeguards on spending to the bill after raising concerns about the costs and how the state would pay for it going forward.

“Lest we make a promise that can’t be fulfilled,” Tarr said. “My concern is that making sure that … we can say with confidence that the initiatives that are proposed here are things we can afford and sustain.”

Many child care centers are financially strained and advocates say low compensation and the rising costs of caring for children are putting some providers out of business.

Meanwhile, care providers are struggling to retain workers in an industry where the pay is traditionally low and the risk of getting sick is now elevated as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, advocates say.

The average cost of child care is more than $20,000 a year in Massachusetts, the most expensive state in the nation, only behind Washington, D.C., and well above the national average of $15,888, according to a recent report from the Massachusetts Taxpayers Foundation.

Working families are losing an estimated $1.7 billion a year in wages from not being able to show up for work because they cannot find or afford child care services, the report noted.

Meanwhile, employers are losing an estimated $812 million a year in productivity and worker turnover because of the shortage of child care options, according to the report, while the state government is missing out on $188 million a year in tax revenue.

Compounding the lack of options are changes in the workforce and other factors that have seen fewer people looking to work in the child care industry.

Gov. Maura Healey has made expanding child care options for parents a key plank of her agenda in her first term, tying the issue to a broader effort to make the state more affordable.

Earlier this year, the state Board of Early Education and Care recently approved a plan to tap into $65 million from this year’s budget to reimburse child care providers that serve families receiving financial assistance, including a 5.5% cost-of-living adjustment for providers to help offset increased operating costs.

The Senate bill must be approved by the House of Representative before heading to Healey’s desk for consideration.

Christian M. Wade covers the Massachusetts Statehouse for North of Boston Media Group’s newspapers and websites. Email him at cwade@cnhinews.com.

By Christian M. Wade | Statehouse Reporter

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March 15, 2024
SENIOR LOOKOUT: Meals on Wheels delivers more than food

Hunger is a very real problem in the United States. The U.S. Department of Agriculture reported in October that 12.8% of all U.S. households — 17 million — were “food insecure” in 2022. Food insecure is defined as uncertain of having, or unable to acquire, enough food to meet the needs of all the members of a household because of insufficient money or other resources for food.

In 2023, The Open Door food pantry, serving Gloucester, Rockport, Manchester, Essex, Ipswich, Rowley, Topsfield, Boxford, Hamilton, and Wenham, provided more than 1.98 million pounds of food to 9,836 individuals. Beverly Bootstraps food pantry distributed more than 613 thousand pounds of food to nearly 4,884 individuals. These numbers do not include smaller food pantries throughout the towns of the North Shore or the other many food assistance programs in action. In the past few years, the need for food pantry services has increased significantly.

One very successful program for food assistance is the Meals on Wheels home-delivered meals program for home-bound elders. In 2023, SeniorCare delivered 192,000 meals via our Meals on Wheels home-delivered meals program and our community dining rooms.

Meals on Wheels began in the United Kingdom during the World War II “Blitz.” As the number of homeless people grew due to bombing, the Women’s Volunteer Service for Civil Defense began preparing and delivering meals — sometimes using old baby carriages to transport the food. This idea was adapted after the war to help elderly people who were having difficulties preparing their own food.

The first home-delivered meal program in the United States began in January 1954 in Philadelphia. Since then, Meals on Wheels has grown to be a nationwide program, feeding approximately 2.4 million elders annually.

Meals on Wheels is not just a nutrition program. In addition to lunch, the Meals on Wheels driver brings companionship and a watchful eye on the health and safety of our seniors. Some lunch recipients tell us that their driver is the only person they see on most days.

In a survey of Meals on Wheels participants and their caregivers, SeniorCare received the following remarks.

“By having Meals on Wheels, I have more money to pay for my medications.”

“This is my only home-cooked meal.”

“Helps me stretch my food stamps each month.”

“It’s nice to have someone visit daily.”

“It’s always nice to see a friendly face.”

“As a caregiver, it gives me peace of mind while I’m working.”

“Sometimes the driver is the only one I talk to all day.”

“As a caregiver, it helps to know someone stops by every day to check.”

“I always look forward to a visit and a meal.”

“Gives me at least one meal per day.”

“Seeing another person breaks up the monotony of a long, lonely day.”

The Meals on Wheels nationwide program is being recognized with #savelunch awareness campaign during March.

Local government officials and business and community leaders are invited to ride along with a Meals on Wheels driver to learn more about this important program.

Yesterday, Gloucester Mayor Greg Verga joined with a volunteer Meals on Wheels driver to deliver meals to local seniors and hear their stories. Representative Kristin Kassner is scheduled to deliver meals in Ipswich next week and other members of our legislative team are likely to participate.

For more information about SeniorCare’s Meals on Wheels or Community Dining nutrition programs, please visit our website at www.seniorcareinc.org or call 978-281-1750 and ask to speak with the Nutrition Department.

Tracy Arabian is the communications officer at SeniorCare Inc., a local agency on aging that serves Gloucester, Beverly, Essex, Hamilton, Ipswich, Manchester-by-the-Sea, Rockport, Topsfield and Wenham.

Tracy Arabian is the communications officer at SeniorCare Inc., a local agency on aging that serves Gloucester, Beverly, Essex, Hamilton, Ipswich, Manchester-by-the-Sea, Rockport, Topsfield and Wenham.

Senior Lookout | Tracy Arabian

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March 15, 2024
Poll: Voters object to right-to-shelter funding

BOSTON — A majority of Massachusetts voters don’t support the use of taxpayer dollars to pay for migrant housing, according to a new poll by a conservative group, which is renewing calls to update the state’s right-to-shelter law.

The poll, commissioned by the Fiscal Alliance Foundation, found that 53% of the 788 registered voters surveyed oppose the use of public funds to provide emergency housing for asylum seekers under the shelter law.

At least 90% of Republicans who responded to the poll said “no” when asked about taxpayer funding for migrant shelter, while 62% of unenrolled or “independent” voters opposed the spending. At least 30% of Democrats also oppose it, according to the poll.

“What is clear from this poll, the migrant crisis is at the forefront of voters’ minds and the solutions to date are not satisfactory,” the Fiscal Alliance’s spokesman Paul Craney said. “While the governor continues to spend valuable taxpayer money on the right to shelter benefits for newly arrived migrants, a majority of the voters disagree with this decision.”

A majority of those surveyed, or 79%, said they wouldn’t accept a migrant family into their home in response to a question about Gov. Maura Healey’s call for homeowners to “sponsor” asylum seekers in need of temporary housing.

Ninety-six percent of Republicans say they wouldn’t sponsor a migrant family, while 82% of unenrolled voters and 68% of Democrats said they also wouldn’t provide housing to migrants, pollsters said.

Massachusetts has seen an unprecedented influx of thousands of asylum seekers over the past year amid a historic surge of immigration along the U.S.-Mexico border.

Healey declared a state of emergency in August and deployed the National Guard to help deal with the influx of migrants. Her administration also set a 7,500-family cap on the number of people eligible for emergency housing in October.

Under the “right-to-shelter” law, Massachusetts is required to provide emergency housing to homeless families, but critics say the law was never designed to provide for a large migrant population.

To date, the state has opened four large-scale “overflow” sites for families, including one at the Cass Recreational Complex, in Boston’s Roxbury neighborhood. There are also smaller emergency shelter sites in hotels and motels in about 90 communities, including Salem, Methuen and Andover.

But more than 600 families are on a wait list for emergency housing, according to the state Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities.

Healey has estimated that the state will spend up to $2 billion to support emergency shelter for homeless families and migrants through the end of the next fiscal year.

Despite requests from Healey and members of the state’s congressional delegation for federal funding, the Biden administration has only provided about $2 million to the state for emergency shelter and other migrant needs.

But Healey has also refused to consider changes to the right to shelter law, arguing that other states without similar policies are also seeing large numbers of migrants.

Republicans and conservative groups also argue that the state’s hodgepodge of “sanctuary” policies are encouraging migrants to relocate to the state.

The number of people encountered at the U.S.-Mexico border last month was expected to exceed 300,000, a record high, according to the latest Department of Homeland Security figures.

The poll found nearly 65% of voters blame President Joe Biden and Congress for inaction on the migrant crisis. But pollsters say the data also shows that Healey’s favorability has taken a hit as the migrant crisis drags on.

“Voters may blame Washington for the migrant crisis but they are not satisfied with some of the policies being proposed on the state level for how to deal with the issue,” Craney said.

Christian M. Wade covers the Massachusetts Statehouse for North of Boston Media Group’s newspapers and websites. Email him at cwade@cnhinews.com

By Christian M. Wade | Statehouse Reporter

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February 8, 2024
Gift Guide 2023: Ways to give back this holiday season

It’s been a tough year and many families are feeling the pinch. Why not gift something to someone that makes a bigger impact? Here are some unique ways to give back to others this holiday season.

For 23 years now, the Montreal Science Centre’s Foundation’s mission has been crucial: to help future generations discover, understand, and appropriate science and technology to build their future. To continue its work, the Foundation relies on donations from both companies and individuals alike. Over 90% of the funds raised annually by the Foundation are reinvested in the financing and development of permanent exhibitions and school programs at the Montréal Science Centre. They offer free tickets to school groups and organizations in underprivileged areas. For the 2023-24 school year, over 4,000 tickets have already been distributed, allowing more than 1,000 special needs students to experience their Science Centre on the Road program in their classrooms.

As the holiday season approaches, the Montreal SPCA has gift ideas on the shared theme of solidarity with animals. You can help animals in need by purchasing children’s books, a calendar for the whole family, and clothing featuring their star rescue dog, Angie. Your donation could also be matched, in honour of a loved one. “2023 has been a busy year!” said Laurence Massé, executive director of the Montreal SPCA, in a media release. “We rescued animals affected by forest fires, found creative ways of responding to rising numbers of abandoned animals and conducted large-scale public awareness campaigns. From January through October, 12,070 animals came through our shelter and benefited from one of our programs.”

This year’s Collectible Starlight Bear comes just in time for the giving season. In partnership with Toys”R”Us Canada, Starlight Children’s Foundation Canada recently introduced Speedy, the 15th Anniversary Collectible Starlight Bear, which was designed, from the ears to the paws, by 6-year-old Christopher, who was born with arthrogryposis multiplex congenita (AMC). Speedy was inspired by Christopher’s love for race cars and Drive For Smiles – one of his favourite Starlight Canada events where he rides in super cool cars! Knowing that strength can be found in our uniqueness, the rainbow tie represents acceptance of all. Speedy’s dangly limbs symbolize Christopher’s own arms and leg being stuck in extension at birth, while the bright blue eyes are representative of AMC awareness. Proceeds from the sale of Speedy will help Starlight Canada continue to brighten the lives of seriously ill children and their families, just like Christopher’s. You can purchase Speedy at any Toys”R”Us Canada or Babies”R”Us Canada store or online at toysrus.ca.

As the holiday season approaches, Breakfast Club of Canada is launching its new Fuelling The Future with a nutritious breakfast campaign to highlight the importance of nourishing the potential of tomorrow’s adults, especially in a difficult current economic context. The campaign, which will also be broadcast across Rogers Sports & Media’s platforms as part of the ALL IN program, will run until December 31st. With the year drawing to a close, in Canada, one in three children is still at risk of going to school hungry. Demand and need for breakfast programs continue to grow, but for the time being, the Club will have to continue supporting existing programs due to the rising cost of food. To find out more about the campaign and donate, click here.

– JC

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December 8, 2023