Affordability
-
Where to get food resources in Texas as SNAP benefits are set to pause for November
This article was last updated Nov. 2 at 3:50 p.m. As the federal government shutdown drags on, the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) is set to pause its benefits for the month of November, leaving million of low-income Texans unsure about where they’ll get their next meals. The government shutdown started on Oct. 1, due…
-
Houston Food Bank partners with local agencies to help those losing food assistance due to government shutdown
As the federal government shutdown drags on, the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) is set to pause its benefits for the month of November, leaving hundreds of thousands of low-income families and individuals in the Houston area without valuable resources to purchase food.
-
All aboard the Silver Line! Ride free between Plano and DFW airport through Nov. 8
DART’s Silver Line is officially up and running. Here’s what you need to know about its 10 station stops.
-
Part-time jobs, loans and worry: Texas federal workers contend with government shutdown
Since the federal government shutdown began this month, San Antonio resident Imelda Avila-Thomas has canceled her daughter’s tutoring and removed her from after-school care.
-
8 delightful things to do in Denton, Texas
There are so many fun things to do in Denton, Texas, from exploring a unique bookstore to attending a local festival.
-
A new car vs. health insurance? Average family job-based coverage hits $27K
With the federal shutdown entering its fourth week, spurred by a stalemate over the cost of health insurance for 22 million Americans on Affordable Care Act plans, a new report shows that over 154 million people with coverage through an employer also face steep price hikes — and that the situation is likely to get…
-
Fort Worth Stockyards: 16 events to look forward to in the rest of 2025
Celebrate the end of 2025 in style with 16 exciting events happening at the Fort Worth Stockyards. From country music to ghost tours, there is something for everyone.
-
New Texas energy package could help older adults in long-term care facilities during extreme weather
A growing body of research warns that climate disasters are disproportionately dangerous for older adults, especially those in long-term care settings who rely on others for essential support. Those risks are often compounded in rural areas, where resources are scarce and emergency support is slower to arrive.
-
Get ready to Empty the Shelters in Houston at BARC Animal Shelter
That’s what BARC Animal Shelter hopes will happen at the Empty the Shelters event. From Oct. 1-15, BARC Animal Shelter, along with 300+ shelters across 38 states, will be offering reduced adoptions fees through a partnership with BISSELL Pet Foundation.
-
Rate of uninsured children in TX tops list
Texas has the highest uninsured rate for children in the nation. That’s according to a report from Georgetown University’s Center for Children and Families.
-
How affordable is senior care in Texas? Find out
When older Americans contemplate retirement, and they consider whether to retire in another state, the regional costs of senior care might not cross their minds. Yet more than 80% of Americans will need long-term care at some point, according to the Center for Retirement Research at Boston College. Long-term care delivers help with everyday activities,…
-
Fighting a health insurance denial? Here are 7 tips to help
To control costs, nearly all health insurers use a system called prior authorization, which requires patients or their providers to seek approval before they can get certain procedures, tests, and prescriptions.
-
Houston residents to see increased electricity bill due to CenterPoint Energy cost adjustments
The last thing most Houston residents want to hear is that an already potentially high electric bill could be even higher.
-
Free Fare Fridays encourage public transit for the month of September in the Houston area
Houston public transit users can expect to see a little extra change in their pockets this month, as multiple transit agencies take part in Free Fare Fridays.
-
Houston housing affordability improves but certain ZIP codes continue to see sky-high prices
While the housing market might be looking up for some, certain Houston ZIP codes are still seeing sky-high prices.
-
Houston aims to improve water billing issues by replacing thousands of faulty meters
In Houston, long periods of heat often mean higher water use. But for some residents, the real shock comes in the mail—faulty meters have been misreading their water for years.
-
Classroom doors open, but wallets stay empty for Texas teachers
A study found that Texas teachers spend about $100 of their own money on school supplies.
-
Teachers and parents face record-breaking back-to-school costs in 2025
Another back-to-school season has arrived, bringing with it the familiar scramble of supply lists, clothes shopping, and, of course, financial stress. But this year hits different. There’s an elephant in the classroom that’s becoming impossible to ignore, and its crushing financial pressure is squeezing teachers and parents alike.
-
3 back to school drives to help Houston-area families get prepared for the year
Back to school can be a tough time for any household. As summer break winds to a close, early mornings, homework, and the tedium of packing lunches loom over parents’ heads.
-
Texans who rely on safety net programs encouraged to prepare for cuts
Nonprofit organizations across Texas serving disadvantaged and low-income groups are restructuring after the Trump administration’s budget reconciliation bill was signed into law.
-
Harris County leader wants voters to extend child care efforts as pandemic funding runs out
Harris County leader wants voters to extend child care efforts as pandemic funding runs out By Jess Huff, The Texas Tribune Aug. 4, 2025 “Harris County leader wants voters to extend child care efforts as pandemic funding runs out” was first published by The Texas Tribune, a nonprofit, nonpartisan media organization that informs Texans —…
-
Houston drivers to see some cheaper toll rates starting in September
Toll payments can quickly add up on Houston roads—but drivers will soon see lower rates along SH 288. Starting Sept. 1, through the Texas Department of Transportation, rates will be lowered on SH 288 by almost half. “When TxDOT made the historic move to buy back this roadway, we promised drivers toll relief and that…
-
Federal DEI funding cuts threaten the work of the few remaining Black farmers in East Texas
It has embroiled the federal government in disputes with colleges and universities. Big cities are reevaluating programs to ensure they don’t lose grants. And Fortune 500 companies seeking favor from the new administration have ended their DEI practices. And it has frozen cash flow for Black farmers, many of whom live in East Texas.
-
-
Op-Ed: Congressional cuts feed corporate greed at expense of young people
Through a budget reconciliation process, Congress is working on extending major tax cuts originally passed in 2017 that would primarily benefit corporations and billionaires over young people.
-
15 of the best Senior Discounts in Houston
These 15 senior discounts in Houston will save you money on various activities throughout the city, from museums and restaurants to transportation.
-
Making it in DFW: Dallas concert photographer faked it until she made it & it worked
From Greyhound buses, Costco cameras, and getting paid in beer—to photographing Taylor Swift at the Eras Tour—Madison Truscan has proven she can make it as a concert photographer in Dallas.
-
Op-Ed: A third of parents putting career plans on hold due to cost of childcare — even in Texas
We treat childcare as a personal problem that deserves private suffering, instead of political action. I spent years thinking that it was my fault. As another mom said to me: “It feels like I’m the one doing something wrong.”
-
House GOP fast-tracks budget bill that would cut off Medicaid funding to Planned Parenthood
Abortion is already excluded from coverage—the new bill is going after all health care services the clinics provide for low-income Americans.
-
Average Texas mortgage debt increased to $239,783 in 2024
Nationally, median home prices over the past five years have increased by nearly 50%, 30-year mortgage rates have nearly doubled, and the number of homes available for purchase have fallen by a third.
