On March 22nd, Children’s HealthWatch and over 70 organizations led by the Economic Security Project signed a letter to support emergency money to the people.

During an economic slowdown, Americans lose jobs and income. With a coronavirus-triggered contraction, those losses will likely hit low-income workers hardest as the travel and service industries contract, schools close, and people self-isolate for health reasons. Low-income Americans are the least likely to have a financial cushion, and even without a recession, nearly 4 in 10 Americans can’t afford an unexpected $400 expense. As hours are reduced or jobs get cut, these families will have no money available to pay for basic needs like rent, groceries, or medicine. We need to move quickly to provide cash to those who will be hardest hit economically.