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| Economic Justice & Empowerment in Appalachia |
 
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| Safe, affordable housing and better jobs empower people who have long suffered in rural poverty. |
West Virginia is a mountainous rural state with one of the most depressed economies in the United States. According to the US Census Bureau, West Virginia is the third lowest in per capita income, and it ranks last in median household income. Along with hunger and malnutrition, limited access to health care, education, public transportation, and jobs are critical issues facing the residents of West Virginia.
Since the 1920’s, AMERICAN FRIENDS SERVICE COMMITTEE (AFSC) has worked in the region to initiate changes that give people new hope through advocacy and education. Low-income families are able to achieve greater stability through safe, affordable housing, equal access to higher education, and jobs that pay living wages.
AFSC’s new projects include mentoring programs for at-risk students, home repair projects to reduce homelessness, advocacy for improved health care and racial harmony, and sponsorship of public forums.

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