In response to the COVID-19 crisis, the federal government authorized a new emergency program, Pandemic EBT (P-EBT), to replace school meals with money for groceries while schools are closed. Code for America describes its efforts to launch an accessible, online P-EBT application under an accelerated timeline due to to immense demand caused by the pandemic.
This HuffPost article investigates the widespread failures of state unemployment websites during the COVID-19 pandemic, highlighting outdated technology, accessibility issues, and the human impact of these systemic breakdowns.
Innovators inside and outside of government are working to improve access to the social safety net using data, technology, and design. This report highlights innovations carried out by The Rockefeller Foundation’s Data and Technology grantees from 2018 to 2021, including extraordinary efforts to meet the challenges of the pandemic. Those grantees are: Benefits Data Trust, Code for America, Georgetown University’s Beeck Center for Social Impact and Innovation, U.S. Digital Response, and the Digital Innovation and Governance Initiative at New America. In 2020, these projects secured more than $200 million in benefits for close to 100,000 people across at least 36 states, and helped millions more through policy change, training, and guidance.
The Improving Service Delivery in EITC for New Yorkers initiative explores ways to enhance access to the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) through improved outreach, application processes, and service delivery.
A structured spreadsheet template designed to audit, compare, and standardize government forms by breaking them down into individual fields, guidance, and general instructions.
A free online tool that helps renters identify housing code violations and property conditions before signing a lease by allowing users to search rental properties and view inspection history.
The Montgomery County Public Libraries (MCPL) website redesign plan outlines how to improve user access to resources through inclusive design and better navigation. It also shares goals of best practices in UX design with the public library community to promote digital equity. The project involves collaboration with the MCPL Digital Strategies Team and other partners, focusing on redesigning content for early literacy, teens, and children.
