Rising economic inequality is in the air. People from all walks of life are losing their grip on the American middle class life. They’re on the edge.
A woman who once earned six figures deals with the scary employment economy.
A young man supports himself, his parents, and his family back in Africa.
A part-time job can lead to a loss of public assistance—and staying on the edge in the process.
Rachel Martin has to cope with shoulder surgery and arthritis as she tries to start a second career at the age of 62.
Public assistance and charity helps, but sometimes it isn’t enough.
A 61-year-old grandmother fights to rebuild a family nest after Sandy flooded her Far Rockaway home.
A mother strives to provide for her family and fulfill her dream of helping others out of poverty.
He knew the road would never be easy, but he never anticipated it would be as rocky as it has been.
Pilots make big bucks, right? Wrong. Many regional airline pilots survive on little more than the minimum wage.
How one student navigates the prohibitive cost of a privileged education—on her own.
A student on financial assistance can barely keep up with expenses.
Graduates, like this journalism student, face piles of debt as they jump into a job market.
A disabled veteran figures out a way to move forward with his own business: a food cart.
Even when they need help, the stigma can seem like too much.
Greyston Bakery provides a second chance for the most disenfranchised members of our community with brownies.
Workers say raising the minimum wage is meaningless if it cannot be enforced.
A roundup of local and national economic debates on how to support the American middle class.