Pittsburgh Economic report final.fc

______________________________________________________________________________ Making Us Whole: Understanding and Addressing COVID-19 Related Economic Insecurity in Jewish Pittsburgh Fern Chertok Matthew A. Brookner February 2022

© 2022 Brandeis University Maurice and Marilyn Cohen Center for Modern Jewish Studies www.brandeis.edu/cmjs The Cohen Center for Modern Jewish Studies (CMJS), founded in 1980, is dedicated to providing independent, high-quality research on issues related to contemporary Jewish life. The Cohen Center is also the home of the Steinhardt Social Research Institute (SSRI). Established in 2005, SSRI uses innovative research methods to collect and analyze sociodemographic data on the Jewish community.

Acknowledgments We gratefully acknowledge Jewish Federation of Greater Pittsburgh for initiating this research. Manager of the Community Scorecard Raimy Rubin’s thoughtful direction and advice aided us throughout the project. Our advisory panel, Chris Smith, Mara Leff, Aviva Lubowsky, Matthew Bolton, Cindy Goodman-Lieb, Matt Keller, Rabbi Doris Dyen, Ami Weintraub, Dana Himmel, and Lily Wein, provided crucial feedback and assistance. We appreciate the many congregations, synagogues, and individuals who posted our recruitment information on their social media platforms. We also wish to thank our colleagues at the Maurice and Marilyn Cohen Center for Modern Jewish Studies who helped in the implementation of the study. In particular, Harry Aaronson and Rebecca Rose assisted in our data collection and Deborah Grant provided editorial and production assistance. Our appreciation also extends to Ilana Friedman for managing day-to-day operations of the Center. Finally, we want to thank all of the individuals and professionals whose insights into this topic inspired us and helped form the core of the research.

Table of Contents Introduction........................................................................................................................................................1 Methodology.......................................................................................................................................................3 Findings ...............................................................................................................................................................5 The profile of families in economic jeopardy expanded .........................................................................5 COVID-19 led to direct and indirect sources of financial strain ...........................................................6 Working mothers faced impossible choices..............................................................................................7 Early financial strategies posed problems over time................................................................................7 Shame and guilt were barriers to seeking help..........................................................................................8 Navigating secular services was daunting ..................................................................................................9 Jewish communal agencies were responsive and respectful ...................................................................9 The recovery is expected to be slow and require new approaches ......................................................10 Summary and Recommendations..................................................................................................................12 References .........................................................................................................................................................16 ii

Introduction More than two years after the first cases were reported in the United States, the COVID-19 pandemic continues to have devastating health consequences and cause unprecedented disruption to our personal, professional, and communal lives. Although federal assistance has somewhat moderated the economic impact of the crisis, many individuals and families continue to suffer the economic fallout. Jewish communal organizations continue to consider how best to deploy their programs and resources to meet the needs of affected Jewish households. To assist the Jewish Federation of Greater Pittsburgh in this process, the Cohen Center for Modern Jewish Studies (CMJS) conducted a multipronged study to examine the evolving economic impact of the pandemic and the changing face of economic vulnerability in its catchment communities. Our goal was to enable the Federation and other Jewish agencies to make data-driven decisions to address the immediate and potential long-term economic fallout from the pandemic on Jewish households in the Pittsburgh area, with attention to both those that were vulnerable prior to COVID-19 as well as those with little or no previous experience navigating economic insecurity. The 2017 Greater Pittsburgh Jewish Community Study found that 8% of Jewish households considered themselves “poor” or “nearly poor” (Boxer et al., 2018). Research on economic instability in Jewish households in other communities suggests that a much larger group may be in an economically precarious position (Chertok & Parmer, 2013). For example, even families earning the median income often have to “stretch” to meet their basic expenses for housing, food, transportation, childcare, and health. These basic costs do not include property taxes, student loans, prescription medicines, medical co-pays, clothing, or synagogue dues. The Greater Pittsburgh community study reported that 15% of Jewish households described themselves as “just getting along” economically, and 13% indicated that they did not have the resources to cover an emergency cost, such as a car repair or medical bill of $400. Even before the COVID-19 pandemic, these households had very little surplus from their monthly income and, as a result, were economically vulnerable. The recent Building Resilient Jewish Communities survey of Pittsburgh indicated that the pandemic has had particularly pernicious effects on these households who were just managing to make ends meet prior to the crisis (Aronson et al., 2020). As the pandemic and its economic impact continues to unfold, the specific effects on individuals and households will also continue to evolve. This study was designed to identify the areas where assistance and intervention from the Jewish Federation of Greater Pittsburgh and other Jewish agencies is most needed and can make the most difference. The study addressed the following questions: ● What does COVID-19 related economic insecurity look like in Jewish households in Pittsburgh? What is the situation of families that were economically vulnerable prior to COVID-19 and those households experiencing, perhaps for the first time, a drastically diminished economic situation? ● Do economically vulnerable families know where they can turn for help inside and outside the Jewish communal arena? ● What factors encourage or prevent households from seeking help from the Jewish community? 1

● What is the current landscape of services available from Jewish agencies and what additional services are needed to ameliorate or lessen COVID-19 related economic vulnerability within the Jewish community? 2

Methodology The study made use of several streams of information about the economic condition of Jewish households in the Greater Pittsburgh area. These included key informant discussions with lay and professional communal leaders, in-depth interviews with individuals currently experiencing economic hardship, surveys conducted with synagogue clergy about the number and types of requests for aid they received, and the collection of data on the economic impact on local Jewish communal institutions. As described below, each of these elements of the project added to our understanding of the COVID-19 related economic challenges facing Jewish households. Key Informant Interviews: We conducted over one dozen interviews with key informants from the Pittsburgh area who are knowledgeable about the perspectives and needs of economically vulnerable Jewish households. This group included local clergy, synagogue administrators, and Jewish professional and lay leaders of social service agencies, financial assistance organizations, and foundations that provide services and resources to families facing economic jeopardy. Interview protocols for this group also inquired about the larger landscape of services currently available within and outside of the Jewish community, and the gaps in and barriers to accessing those networks of assistance. H ousehold Interviews: To develop a fuller picture of the nature of financial insecurity in Jewish households and to understand how these families think about their situation, the research team conducted interviews with 12 households. Some of these households were economically vulnerable prior to the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, and others were newly experiencing economic vulnerability due to the pandemic. To reach households that did not already have extensive connections to Jewish institutions in the Pittsburgh area, we employed a variety of recruitment channels. Members of an advisory panel of communal professionals distributed recruitment messages through their personal, organizational, and neighborhood networks. Recruitment also included dissemination of invitations to potential interviewees through key informants, programs and institutions geared toward those experiencing economic vulnerability as well as through synagogues and secular social media channels. Interviews were conducted by Zoom, recorded, and transcribed. Household interview participants received an incentive in the form of a $25 Amazon.com gift card. Jewish Institutional Data Collection: The research team gathered two forms of information from Jewish institutions: surveys of congregational clergy and interviews with synagogue, Jewish preschool, and day school administrators. • Clergy data collection: For four weeks during June 2021, congregational clergy received weekly surveys asking them to describe the number and types of requests made to them for financial or material assistance. The surveys did not ask for any identifying information about the households requesting assistance but did ask about select demographic characteristics. Fourteen clergy and one temple administrator responded to the surveys. • Administrator data collection: The research team reached out through email and follow- up phone calls to collect data from synagogues, Jewish preschools, and day schools. Congregation administrators were asked how many member units, during the previous year, requested dues abatements or dropped membership for financial reasons. We also asked full- and part-time schools how many students required additional scholarship support or if any 3

households had to remove their children because of financial reasons. In both cases, we also sought information on the 2019-20 year to serve as a baseline, to assess if the requests during the first full year of the COVID-19 pandemic were atypical. One quarter of the congregations and schools in Greater Pittsburgh responded to our requests for information. 4

Findings The profile of families in economic jeopardy expanded According to our key informants, prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, those who sought out Jewish resources for financial assistance primarily consisted of households dealing with chronic mental or physical health issues and disabilities, older individuals, and those living on limited fixed incomes. The COVID-19 pandemic dramatically changed and expanded the face of economic insecurity in the Greater Pittsburgh Jewish community. The Building Resilient Communities Study (Aronson et al., 2020) of ten Jewish communities (including Pittsburgh) noted that, among Jewish households that were struggling financially prior to the pandemic, 44% experienced a worsened economic situation due to COVID-19, and 23% lost jobs or were furloughed. Even among households that reported adequate or surplus financial resources prior to COVID-19, a substantial portion (24%- 31%) experienced more economic insecurity associated with the pandemic. Our key informant and household interviews echoed and expanded on this finding. Those that were economically struggling, as well as many of those that were doing fine financially prior to the pandemic, were now experiencing economic insecurity. One key informant described those that were new to financial vulnerability as the “middle class poor.” These families often owned homes and cars. Frequently, their finances relied on income from two wage earners. With the advent of the pandemic, one and often both wage earners experienced reduced hours or lost employment. Small business owners reported losing a substantial portion of their client base. Key informants were aware of middle class families that were now “scraping” to hold on to their houses and the services and opportunities they viewed as critical to their identities, their quality of life, and the future of their children. Some of our household interviewees fit this profile themselves and/or indicated they had peers in this situation. In many cases, key informants and household interviewees pointed out that the precarious financial situation of these families is typically not obvious to others in their orbit, including their synagogues. It’s not always the people that you think are struggling. Even with our congregation it wasn’t. There’s also other people that you don’t realize they’re struggling and unless you ask or reach out, you won’t know. (Household interview) Among those new to financial insecurity were households that relied on income from industries that were particularly hard hit by the epidemic. These fields included performing arts, and travel, food, and event services. Individuals that had jobs related to business-to-business or therapeutic services were also negatively affected. One key informant told us that their agency was seeing more small business owners experiencing economic instability than prior to the pandemic. I have my own business practice, so the last month because of COVID, I’ve lost a great deal of clients because their income is down, so therefore mine is down. In the past seven months it’s been probably hardest than it’s ever been. (Household interview) According to key informants and household interviewees, many young adults were already in a precarious economic position even before COVID-19. Many had temporary or gig jobs and their financial situation was characterized by a limited reserve of resources. 5

I’m very independent and I have been always trying to find my way. Especially as an artist, it’s really hard when you work show to show. (Household interview) The pandemic thrust many households into a level of economic instability that they had not previously encountered. It is also important to note that among the households interviewed fitting this profile, none thought of themselves as “poor,” but they were not sure what to call their situation. This population of newly struggling households is the current face of economic vulnerability in the Greater Pittsburgh Jewish community. COVID-19 led to direct and indirect sources of financial strain Our interviews with key informants and households made clear that there were multiple factors at play in the declining financial situation of many families. Certainly, the loss of jobs and work hours was an obvious and direct source of economic strain. However, at the same time, there were indirect but no less damaging stresses and drains on the economic resources available to families. ● Households expanded during COVID-19: During the spring of 2020, college campuses across the country closed, and many students returned to their parent’s homes. Many post- college age young adults also lost employment, were struggling to pay rent, and returned to their parents’ homes. This development meant that the number of family members requiring meals and using utilities increased in many households. In the case of families of college students, many had already paid for room and board or rent and did not immediately receive a refund for these expenses. ● Many households lost supplemental sources of income: Many of the households we spoke with, including both those that were already economically insecure and those that saw themselves as more financially stable prior to COVID-19, were used to supplementing their primary incomes with an assortment of part-time and episodic jobs. These included Uber or LYFT driving, dog and house sitting, event photography, representing vendors at fairs and markets, selling items online found at thrift shops and yard sales, and participating as paid subjects in social science and market research. In essence, these supplemental sources of income were “propping up” these households, and their elimination due to COVID-19 brought to the forefront the already precarious financial condition of these households. We both work multiple things to be able to keep everything going. I had my main job, but I lost my side business. I couldn’t drive for Uber. [My husband] couldn’t work [his second job]. (Household interview) ● Childcare costs increased substantially: One of the immediate impacts of the pandemic was the overnight “evaporation” of center-based childcare and in-person schooling. Families moved their preschool-age children from group settings to home-based ones and, in some cases, leaned more heavily on nannies or sitters, a more expensive option. Several key informants told us that in response to the increased demand for individual care, rates for sitters rose from approximately $16 per hour before COVID-19, to upwards of $22 per hour during the height of the pandemic. At the same time, in light of the greater threat of serious 6

illness that these older relatives faced, the option of using older family members to provide childcare was seen as untenable. Even as they paid more for individual childcare or provided it themselves, many families continued to pay their tuition at childcare centers to avoid losing their child’s spot once the pandemic subsided. One of the invisible costs of COVID- 19 was the additional financial burden of paying for more expensive individual care at the same time as continuing to pay for center-based care that was not available for use. Working mothers faced impossible choices Previous research on the concerns of working women in Jewish households described their perception that they face a Sisyphean task: They are motivated to do an excellent job in their workplaces but are still responsible for taking care of the needs of children and managing household tasks (Chertok, Minkin & Brookner, 2019). Even prior to COVID-19, working mothers needed to spend additional time and energy to cover the “second shift” of household, childcare, and family responsibilities (Hochschild & Machung, 1989). Several key informants pointed out that, as a result of the pandemic, Jewish working mothers were “pushed to the breaking point” trying to continue to work while providing child care and/or overseeing the virtual schooling of their children. Some reported doing a full eight hours of work after their childcare responsibilities for the day, regularly staying up late into the night to complete their paid work. Even though most childcare centers have reopened, many are still experiencing staffing difficulties. Unable to reach full staffing, centers are assigning families to shifts that don’t cover a full eight-hour workday, thus continuing to limit the ability of working mothers to fully commit their daytime hours to work. The Center for Women, which provides programs open to all women regardless of their economic situation or religion, reported that by March 2020 they were providing virtual drop-in support groups for working moms, drawing 20-22 participants each week. There was consensus among multiple key informants that the extreme and incompatible demands placed on working mothers during the pandemic resulted in an unknown but substantial number including mothers in Jewish households, to leave the workforce or take less demanding but also less financially lucrative jobs. These choices will continue to have implications for the financial situation of these women over the course of their careers. I got pregnant. I was gonna jump on a job, but they didn’t have the COVID [precautions] so I was like, I can’t do it. (Household interview) Early financial strategies posed problems over time At the outset of the pandemic many of the households with whom we spoke assumed that the situation and the concomitant loss of income would be a temporary situation. Families employed familiar methods of cutting back on their consumption of goods and services to save money. Some sold possessions or made use of local food pantries (both Jewish and secular) to supplement their buying power. 7

It wasn’t as hard to cut back on everything, because nothing was open so basically we were home, we watched TV. We binged more shows than anybody could. We didn’t go anywhere. We went through bills and cut everything we could. (Household interview) I started selling my clothes [online] and then using that money. (Household interview) Some of the families interviewed entered the pandemic with reasonable to excellent access to credit and with some savings. With the expectation that the pandemic would be short-lived, these families made use of credit cards, depleted their savings accounts, or borrowed from retirement funds to cover household costs. As one key informant told us, “people are using credit cards to pay for food.” This response is not unexpected. A study by the Pew Charitable Trusts (Boguslaw et al., 2013) found that when families encounter unexpected expenses they often resort to less desirable forms of self-funding, including credit and loans with high fees and interest rates and use of money put aside for retirement or children’s education. In a similar vein, many families with young children, expecting that their center or group-based care would reopen in a few months, decided to continue to pay for this service. Unfortunately, what households expected to be a three to four month financial shortfall turned into more than 18 months of lost or greatly reduced income paired with previously described additional expenses. The net effect was that many of the households we interviewed were facing significant credit card debt with steep interest rates or had depleted their savings accounts. At the time of our interviews, these families were often still not in a position to meet more than minimum payments meaning that they will be carrying a significant debt load for many years to come. The loss of retirement savings will also compound over time. I do have some savings. I’m working off of that as well. (Household interview) We did minimum payments on cards. We’re down to two cards. One has about a $10,000 balance, and one has about $3,200. (Household interview) Shame and guilt were barriers to seeking help Many key informants told us that historically, the Jewish families in the Pittsburgh area were very successful and that pattern has continued to this day. In the Pittsburgh Jewish community, being economically insecure is seen as the exception. The plight of households struggling financially was described as invisible and facing financial difficulty considered unusual and abnormal. As one key informant put it, “this is a community used to giving but not used to asking for help.” Both shame and the perception that others are in more difficult financial straits were seen as factors keeping many families from seeking sources of assistance for which they were eligible. Households that were new to economic instability felt embarrassed, and several key informants described the challenge of getting people to self-identify and access the services they needed. In particular, middle class women were “surprised” to find themselves unemployed, a situation in which they never expected to be. These women were suddenly eligible for programs (e.g., food stamps, CHIP), but were reluctant to apply. I don’t really tell people that I’m on all this financial assistance. [It’s] kind of embarrassing, you know? (Household interview) Another key informant explained that many Jewish households did not think the available services were intended for them, but rather for some imagined “impoverished other.” As previously noted, 8

many of the households new to economic insecurity did not think of themselves as “poor” and were uncomfortable with the possibility that they would be using services intended for others who were economically worse off. This combination of guilt, shame, and a reticence to adjust their self- definition based on their current economic situation prevented an untold number of households from accessing services. Navigating secular services was daunting As discussed above, many of the families thrust into economic insecurity by the pandemic had not been in this financial situation before COVID-19. They were new to navigating the systems of social and financial supports. Although interviewees indicated that they did not encounter difficulty with applications for services and resources offered through Jewish agencies, they found the paperwork required for secular services to be difficult and cumbersome. They also feared the types of questions that might be asked in the process and wondered if they would feel comfortable sharing the requested information. Some reported that they did not pursue all the services for which they might have been eligible because of the daunting prospect of completing the application process. The idea of having to sit in a room with people and talk about what you need is extremely off-putting to Jews. (Key informant interview) Households were concerned with how applying for and receiving assistance would affect their future economic situation, including their credit scores and their future ability to borrow money for mortgages or car purchases. According to the Center for Women, female workers who were eligible for unemployment benefits were reluctant to apply for them and were concerned that receiving these benefits might negatively influence the decision making of future employers. Jewish communal agencies were responsive and respectful Multiple key informants described the Greater Pittsburgh Jewish community as having a robust array of services and resources to address economic insecurity. Many Jewish agencies including the Jewish Assistance Fund (JAF), Jewish Scholarship Service (JSS), Hebrew Free Loan Association (HFLA), Kosher Pantry, and the Aleph Institute worked proactively and often in a collaborative manner to offer additional assistance to previous and new clients. When the [Jewish Scholarship Service] papers came in the spring of 2020 to [reapply], it had a little note [saying] ‘if your situation is changed in any way please be in contact.’ We replied with our situation, and they awarded [college student] $5,000. They’re like ‘we really hope this helps’ which it did. It was huge. (Household interview) Communal organizations also engaged in efforts to expand awareness of their services and resources. For example, inserts describing available services were included in Shabbat grocery bags distributed by Chabad. To reach households that had not needed help prior to COVID-19, JAF also reached out through non-traditional platforms, such as organizations whose membership included restaurant and arts workers. Data collected from Jewish assistance agencies suggests that efforts to expand their reach were successful. For example, HFLA reported that they approved 57% more loans in 2020 than they did in 2019, with the bulk of this increase occurring in April and May of 2020. 9

Household interviewees told us that the Jewish assistance agencies with whom they came in contact treated them respectfully and were responsive to their needs. These individuals felt that accessing resources through the Jewish community was not an onerous process although the fact of having to ask for help at all was somewhat uncomfortable for most. It should be noted that the experience of the households we interviewed may not fully reflect the impressions of all Jewish families, and especially those that reached out to Jewish assistance organizations and did not follow through with the process of gaining assistance. Some households told us that they chose to avail themselves of food pantries coordinated by secular or non-Jewish faith-based organizations. The reasons given were logistical, with families living outside of Squirrel Hill stating a preference to utilize sources of nutritional support that were closer to their homes than the kosher food pantry. Surveys of congregational clergy indicated that only a small number of rabbis received requests for assistance in June 2021. Most requests were for one-time payments intended to help with summer camp tuition, mortgage payments, food purchases, and health care. Universally, clergy reported being able to meet the requests made to them. When it appeared that families were experiencing additional issues, clergy made referrals to Jewish and secular agencies for other forms of support and assistance. Day schools, synagogues, and Jewish preschools also indicated that everyone who required membership or tuition assistance received it. Furthermore, only a very small number of member units were reported lost for financial reasons. Key informants and household interviewees described the existing system as cohesive and useful for those with knowledge of what is available and a willingness to self-identify as needing help. At the same time, there was concern that some portions of the Jewish population are less aware of what is available. Insiders know what services exist. Jewish services are advertised in the Jewish Chronicle, but many Jewish households do not receive it. Of particular concern were Jewish households that are “on the fringe,” including young adults, and those that are not affiliated with any Jewish organizations. Key informants and our previous research on interfaith families in Pittsburgh (Chertok, Brookner, & Minkin, 2019) suggests that young adults who did not grow up in the Pittsburgh area are not aware of many communal programs and services and do not have the familial networks to inform them of what is available. Echoing this finding, key informants in the current study expressed the concern that Jewish households in the suburbs, especially younger families, may not be knowledgeable about communal services. The recovery is expected to be slow and require new approaches Key informants indicated that households that had financial concerns prior to COVID-19 are expected to continue to experience need, and the existing menu of services and resources they rely on will need to remain in place. However, key informants and household members agreed that the financial recovery for families that were newly thrust into economic insecurity by the pandemic will take an extended period of time, perhaps several years. Those who lost jobs or had their supplemental sources of income curtailed or eliminated report that their work situation is improving slowly. However, as previously noted, many are servicing significant debt and are not sure how they will move back toward financial security in the near future. 10

Families that found themselves on public assistance will need help to move off those sources of support. In particular, household interviewees told us that, as much as they would like to move beyond the need for public assistance, they are fearful of losing their and their children’s health benefits, especially when continued enrollment is predicated on a limited income cap. I just applied to two jobs, and we’ll see how that goes, but it’s really tenuous with Medicaid and making sure that I have insurance. Once you’re in it, you can’t get out. To be truly honest, I’m really scared taking on any jobs that would cause me to lose my assistance right now. As soon as I had a baby, like, all these amazing opportunities that I always wanted, opened up. If I do that, I’m gonna lose what I have for [child]. It’s really nerve wracking actually, constantly thinking like, well if I make this much money how is that going to reflect. (Household interview) 11

Summary and Recommendations I keep picturing all these little kids playing some game in this big field of rye and all. Thousands of little kids, and nobody’s around—nobody big, I mean—except me. And I’m standing on the edge of some crazy cliff. What I have to do, I have to catch everybody if they start to go over the cliff—I mean if they’re running and they don’t look where they’re going I have to come out from somewhere and catch them. That’s all I do all day. I’d just be the catcher in the rye and all.” (J. D. Salinger, 1951) Much like the “catcher in the rye’ described by Salinger, the Pittsburgh Jewish community has a robust and well-resourced safety net of services to meet episodic or sudden needs and prevent Jewish households from going over the economic “cliff.” The underlying assumption of this system is that households typically, will be temporarily “knocked off course” requiring short-term or limited assistance to get back on their feet and move away from the edge. The economic implications of COVID-19 present a very different scenario. Many more households have been thrust into economic insecurity and their financial recovery is expected to unfold over an extended period of time. Returning to Salinger’s metaphor, as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, a substantial portion of Jewish community households took large steps toward the edge and will continue to stand in that precarious position for years to come. The COVID-19 pandemic had far-reaching implications for the financial wellbeing of American households. The overall message in the present study is that these economic strains were also felt in the Jewish community of Greater Pittsburgh. Jewish households expanded at the same time that they were experiencing loss of income from primary or supplementary sources of income. Previously financially secure families built up credit card debt, depleted their savings accounts and borrowed from their retirement savings to make ends meet during the pandemic. Many working parents, in most cases mothers, of preschool- and school-age children left the workforce or took lower paying positions that would allow them to provide child supervision during the workday. These decisions will have financial repercussions for families over a multiple-year timeframe. The network of services and resources available within the Greater Pittsburgh Jewish community will need to adjust accordingly. Below are recommendations for action that emerged from our research. The first recommendations described, raising awareness of economic insecurity, making information about services and resources easily accessible, initiating efforts to help households become financially “whole,” and providing “navigators” and “coaches” to help households find services and move toward greater financial resilience, directly relate to the impact of the pandemic. The final recommendations, increasing affordable childcare, working on issues of gender equity and supporting individuals in the gig economy, address issues that predated COVID-19 but were highlighted by the pandemic. Raise awareness of economic insecurity: The Pittsburgh Jewish community sees itself as economically well off, and economically insecure households are viewed as the exception rather than the rule. The pandemic dramatically enlarged the population of Jewish households that face some form of economic instability but communal perceptions and a better view of economic vulnerability have not changed to match the current reality. Families 12

facing economic insecurity, especially those new to this situation, do not identify themselves as “poor” nor do they appear so to their peers. They may own homes and have children attending public or private colleges and universities. At the same time, these households are keenly aware that their financial situation has changed, that they have diminished financial reserves for meeting unexpected expenses, and they face challenges to rebuild their savings and pay off credit card debt. The Jewish community needs to help raise communal consciousness of the concept of economic insecurity and extent of economic vulnerability. One of our key informants noted that just as the tragic events at Tree of Life Synagogue put mental health needs on the communal agenda, COVID-19 is “a moment in time to explore economic insecurity” in the Pittsburgh Jewish community. In the aftermath of the shootings, key informants observed that people were more willing to talk about mental health issues or to self-identify as having mental health issues. For example, prior to COVID-19, JFCS went through a process of rebranding regarding mental health services, “If you need help, we are here for you.” Several key informants expressed the hope that COVID-19 will have the same catalyzing effect on raising awareness and destigmatization of economic vulnerability. Consistent, concerted, and collaborative efforts at messaging and marketing are needed to recognize the fact that many Jewish households across the denominational spectrum have experienced significant changes in their financial situation. Currently these families often feel invisible, ashamed, and in a diminished social position. One key informant noted that in Judaism there is an obligation to give tzedakah but no explicit obligation for receiving or asking for help. For example, Maimonides describes eight levels of giving and none of receiving assistance. Just as mental health awareness campaigns often include self-assessments that individuals can use to gauge their own or their family members’ need for mental health services, consciousness raising about economic insecurity could include benchmarks that families can use to help determine if they are economically vulnerable. Benchmarks might include the availability of money to cover several months of household expenses, the ability to cover all monthly expenses with primary sources of income, etc. Make information about services/resources widespread and easily accessible: Concomitant with raising awareness about economic insecurity is the need to make information about assistance easily accessible. This might take the form of a one-stop “portal” appearing as a prominent tab on the websites of Federation and other Jewish agencies, synagogues, day schools, and preschools. This portal could link to the full array of communal and secular services with tools to help individuals map out what services they are eligible for and how to access those resources. The implementation of a shared portal across Jewish communal organizations “normalizes” the experience of Jewish households that are facing economic hardship and makes clear that helping those in need locally is core to the mission of the Jewish community. Initiate efforts to help households become financially “whole”: One of the most widely accepted codes of Jewish law, the Shulchan Arukh, addresses how much should be given to a person in need, and the answer is “Sufficient for his need in that which he wanteth” (Deut. 15:8). The text goes on to explain “each and every one should be supplied with what he needs” to make his situation whole and similar to that before being engulfed in poverty (Shulchan Arukh, Yoreh De’ah 250:1). 13

Many of the households we interviewed recounted using their savings, retirement funds, or credit cards to make it through the pandemic. These families are facing years of economic fallout for decisions that seemed reasonable at the time they were made. The Jewish community of Greater Pittsburgh needs to explore bold moves to help these households become financially “whole” sooner rather than later. One suggestion we heard was to explore debt consolidation loans, with an expectation of 50% loan repayment over an extended period of time. The Jewish Assistance Fund indicated that they are already considering creating a fund to give grants in larger dollar amounts in order to “make households whole.” Provide “Navigators” and” Coaches”: The households we interviewed often mentioned that it was daunting to find their way through the secular system of services and resources. These families suddenly needed to be conversant with the eligibility requirements and rules of a host of social service programs. Several interviewees mentioned that it would have been helpful to have someone to guide them as they completed required paperwork and maneuvered through the system. Some of these families will also need help in understanding their options as they move away from public assistance or as programs sunset. We suggest that Federation, working in collaboration with local Jewish assistance agencies, provide knowledgeable “Navigators” to help families, especially those new to economic insecurity, maneuver through the systems of secular and Jewish assistance. To streamline this process within the Jewish communal arena, Jewish assistance agencies might develop a common application form. Households experiencing the full continuum of economic insecurity would also benefit from the services of a financial “coach” to help them think through their options as they face a protracted financial recovery. Although planned prior to the pandemic, JFunds, a consortium of agencies focused on economic need in the Pittsburgh Jewish community, provided financial coaching during COVID-19 to households seeking assistance. This service was described as a “godsend” for families new to economic insecurity. This coaching service, originally offered as part of a one-year grant, should be expanded and made a longer- term part of the assistance menu. Address need for affordable childcare: COVID-19 did not cause the issue of affordable childcare but did bring it to the forefront of public awareness. JCCs, synagogues, and day schools offer high-quality childcare, but there is not sufficient capacity to meet demand, and it is not easily affordable for middle class families. This already “frail system” was further strained by the pandemic. Issues related to the cost of childcare and compensation for childcare workers have substantial repercussions for all families with young children, including Jewish households. The widespread nature of this problem may present an opportunity for the Jewish community to collaborate with other segments of the community to address an issue with broad social justice and work equality implications. Support those in the “gig’ economy: In the aftermath of COVID-19, many individuals are feeling emboldened to move to freelance/consulting work to increase control over their earnings and have greater flexibility to work remotely. Parents appreciated the greater time they had with their children and family and the options of performing household tasks during the workday. At the same time, many of these individuals do not fully understand the financial implications of this move to the gig economy and self-employment. For example, individuals building their own freelance businesses are likely to face lower income in the short run, while at the same time, they must save for self-employment and other taxes, 14

retirement funds, and health insurance. These individuals will need expert guidance, coaching and consultation as they consider entry into the gig economy. Secular organizations including Chatham Center and Catapult already work on preparing women for entrepreneurship and could be enlisted to work with members of Jewish households. Collaborate with organizations working on workplace gender equality: Key informants and household interviewees expressed concern that in the aftermath of COVID- 19, employers will be less inclined to hire women for management and executive positions for fear that in a future pandemic, they will again be responsible for caregiving and unavailable or unreliable to fulfill their roles. In addition, many women do not know what legal protections are available to them in the workplace. Federation and other Jewish organizations might look to expanding their collaboration with secular organizations, including the Center for Women and the Women’s Law Project, that address issues related to workplace gender equality. The Jewish community of Greater Pittsburgh has shown itself to be resilient and able to successfully weather and persevere in the face of daunting events. The COVID-19 pandemic will be no exception, and the strength of the community will manifest in how it supports those households that have experienced diminishing economic security. 15

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