Amanda Barnes at home in Laramie (photo: wyomingrenegadeimages.com)

Profile of a hard-working Wyoming woman barely getting by — STATE OF INSECURITY

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Meet Amanda. She's a typical low-wage worker in Wyoming. Like tens of thousands of others she's doing her best with a crummy hand made worse by the Wyoming State Legislature.
The Wyoming State Legislature discusses not passing a minimum wage increase—maybe ever. (photo: brosher.com)

A brief history of the Wyoming Legislature’s not raising the minimum wage — STATE OF INSECURITY

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An economist, a small business owner, and a waitress—all serving in the Wyoming Legislature—have been lonesome voices advocating for a higher minimum wage.
Tens of thousands of Wyoming workers would benefit from an increased minimum wage. So would the state's economy.

Want to improve Wyoming’s economy? Raise the minimum wage — STATE OF INSECURITY

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Tens of thousands of Wyoming workers earn poverty wages or less. More money for them would mean more for their local economies, plus a decreased need for welfare and, of course, better lives.
Fruit stacks up at the Wyoming Food Bank of the Rockies warehouse in Casper. If distribution problems arise, it will likely rot.

Food meant to feed Wyoming’s hungry often goes to waste — STATE OF INSECURITY

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Big anti-hunger organizations have trouble distributing food across Wyoming's vast spaces before it sours or rots. But the problem might have local solutions.

Wyoming’s food stamp problem — STATE OF INSECURITY

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Wyoming has fewer of its hungry residents signed up for SNAP benefits than any other state, meaning we lose out on millions of dollars in federal food aid.

Wyoming is the only state without a “food policy council” to fight hunger and improve food access — STATE OF INSECURITY

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Unlike everywhere else, Wyoming lacks a mechanism to coordinate its fight against hunger. Thankfully, some activists are working to change that.

Wyoming’s lack of mental health and substance abuse services fuels homelessness — STATE OF INSECURITY

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Many homeless people suffer from mental illness and addiction. Wyoming's lack of resources to treat these underlying problems contributes to more and more people on the streets.
"Ed" (Illustration by Robert Bryans)

Give Ed a place to live: “Housing First” works in Wyoming — STATE OF INSECURITY

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Casper's "Housing First" program is among the most effective anti-homelessness effort in the state. Its secret? Folks get a place to live—no strings attached.

Uncoordinated, underfunded, and inadequate: Wyoming’s approach to homelessness — STATE OF INSECURITY

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There are plenty of well-meaning people in Wyoming trying to make sure their neighbors have roofs over their heads. But the state has neglected to fund or develop infrastructure to ensure everyone is effectively working together.

Better Wyoming launches new series: STATE OF INSECURITY

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Over the next several weeks, Better Wyoming will publish a series of articles, “State of Insecurity,” that examines shortcomings in the ways Wyoming deals with homelessness, hunger, and low wages. This is the series introduction.