Los neoyorquinos hablan más de 800 idiomas y más de 350.000 hogares de la ciudad participan en los programas del HUD. Sin embargo, los defensores afirman que muchos inquilinos locales no se verán muy afectados por el cambio, ya que las agencias municipales y estatales que administran los programas del HUD cuentan con sólidas opciones en  distintos idiomas.

Scott Turner, el secretario del HUD, en una rueda de prensa en julio. (Flickr/U.S. Dept. of Housing and Urban Development)

Este artículo se publicó originalmente en inglés el 18 de septiembre. Traducido por Daniel Parra. Read the English version here.

En marzo, el presidente Donald Trump designó el inglés como idioma oficial del país mediante una orden ejecutiva.

Si bien la orden de Trump no exige que las agencias del gobierno federal dejen de ofrecer documentos traducidos y servicios de traducción, esta sí abrió la puerta para que las agencias decidan si prestan o no estos servicios.

El 19 de agosto, el Departamento de Vivienda y Desarrollo Urbano de los Estados Unidos (HUD por sus siglas en inglés) se convirtió en uno de los primeros en aplicar una política de uso exclusivo del inglés para todas las actividades y servicios del departamento, eliminando gradualmente sus materiales en otros idiomas.

Cuando se le pidió que especificara qué materiales están cubiertos por la nueva política, un portavoz del HUD dijo que todos los materiales que no están en inglés están siendo sustituidos por versiones en inglés.

Además, el departamento dejará de prestar servicios de traducción para las comunicaciones, y se retirarán todos los materiales impresos y en línea que no estén en inglés.

“Se ha ordenado a todas las instalaciones financiadas por el HUD que retiren todo el material impreso o digital”, dijo un portavoz del HUD. “A septiembre de 2025, se han retirado más de 3.200 páginas web, documentos y vídeos en idiomas extranjeros de todos los sitios web del HUD”.

Según el HUD, la decisión contribuirá a crear un “sentido de unidad en las instalaciones financiadas por el HUD y a redirigir los recursos” hacia otras necesidades del departamento.

AFGE Local 476, el sindicato que representa a los trabajadores del HUD, criticó duramente la medida en un comunicado publicado en las redes sociales, calificando el cambio de “discriminatorio” e “ilegal”.

“Para las personas a las que atiende el HUD, esto es devastador. Millones de inquilinos, solicitantes y sobrevivientes de violencia necesitan acceso en otros idiomas”, escribió el sindicato en el sitio web X. “Negárselo podría privar a las personas de vivienda y servicios a los que tienen derecho por ley”.

En la ciudad de Nueva York, donde los residentes hablan más de 800 idiomas además del inglés, más de 350.000 hogares participan en los programas de vivienda del HUD. Esto incluye a quienes utilizan los vales de vivienda de la Sección 8, la ayuda al alquiler basada en proyectos o quienes viven en viviendas públicas de la Autoridad de la Vivienda de la ciudad de Nueva York (NYCHA por sus siglas en inglés) en virtud de la Sección 9.

Los defensores locales han observado la transición que se ha producido en el sitio web del HUD durante las últimas semanas.

Ellos aseguraron que muchos inquilinos locales no se verán muy afectados por el cambio, ya que las agencias de Nueva York que administran la mayoría de los programas del HUD cuentan con sólidas opciones para el manejo de diferentes idiomas.

“Esta política afecta a las comunicaciones del HUD y, por lo general, nuestros clientes dependen de las comunicaciones, los formularios, etc. de las agencias locales, no directamente del HUD”, afirmó Anna Luft, directora del proyecto de justicia en materia de vivienda pública del New York Legal Assistance Group. 

Sin embargo, “las personas que se verán directamente afectadas por esto son aquellas que viven en edificios subvencionados directamente por el HUD, como los del programa Section 8 basado en edificios”, señaló Luft. 

A diferencia de los vales tradicionales que van al inquilino, en un edificio subvencionado, la ayuda está vinculada a la propiedad, no al residente. Desgraciadamente, explicó Luft, el cambio de política del HUD supone una carga innecesaria para quienes viven en esos edificios o solicitan plaza en ellos.

“Les resultará más difícil cumplir con las normas del HUD y provocará inestabilidad en las viviendas de familias que, de otro modo, no la sufrirían”, afirmó ella.

Oficinas del HUD en el edificio federal Robert C. Weaver en Washington, D.C. (Flickr/U.S. Dept. of Housing and Urban Development)

Este cambio se produce tras otros cambios en la agencia federal de vivienda durante la administración de Trump, que está llevando a cabo importantes recortes en los programas de ayuda a la vivienda.

El New York Times también informó esta semana de que la administración está reduciendo la aplicación de la Ley de Vivienda Justa, que prohíbe la discriminación por parte de los propietarios y los agentes inmobiliarios por motivos de raza, religión y otros factores. 

Aunque la nueva política del HUD no exige a las autoridades de vivienda pública que eliminen sus propias políticas de traducción, les da la opción de hacerlo si la legislación local no exige que los materiales se traduzcan a otros idiomas además del inglés.

El Departamento de Conservación y Desarrollo de la Vivienda (HPD por sus siglas en inglés) de la ciudad de Nueva York, que administra un programa de la Sección 8, declaró que seguirá ofreciendo acceso multilingüe.

“En cumplimiento con la ley local, el HPD proporciona servicios de acceso y asistencia en otros idiomas a todos los neoyorquinos”, declaró un portavoz del HPD.

Los defensores aconsejaron a los neoyorquinos que llamen al 311 para presentar una queja si se encuentran con algún problema.

“Cualquier cosa que reduzca la capacidad de acceso lingüístico tendrá, como mínimo, un impacto negativo marginal en las comunidades de inmigrantes y en el ecosistema de vivienda de la ciudad para conectar eficazmente entre sí”, afirmó John Mollenkopf, director del Centro de Investigación Urbana de CUNY. 

En 2007, el Centro estudió cómo las barreras lingüísticas excluían a los neoyorquinos inmigrantes de los servicios de vivienda esenciales de la ciudad.

“Que el HUD solo utilice el inglés es ridículo en una ciudad en la que, según las últimas cifras del censo, la mitad de la población habla un idioma distinto del inglés en casa y algo más de uno de cada diez no habla inglés en absoluto o lo habla mal”, añadió Mollenkopf.

Para ponerse en contacto con el reportero de esta noticia, escriba a Daniel@citylimits.org. Para ponerse en contacto con la editora, escriba a Jeanmarie@citylimits.org.

The post ¿Qué significa para los neoyorquinos la nueva política de inglés exclusivamente del HUD? appeared first on City Limits.

Life insurance is designed to protect against a loss of income if a loved one should die. However, this safeguard isn’t just for traditionally employed adults. The value stay-at-home parents provide should also be part of calculating how much life insurance a family needs.

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In America, 18% of parents don’t work for pay, according to a Pew Research Center analysis of the most recent U.S. Census Bureau data. But that doesn’t mean they’re not adding to the household balance sheet. In fact, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) suggests the work of stay-at-home parents could be the financial equivalent of an administrative services and facilities manager plus a teacher all rolled into one.

Not just for wage earners

For many years, life insurance focused on replacing the income of breadwinners, says Chris Mouzon, an independent insurance agent based in Pennsylvania and co-founder of financial services firm United Agency. But increasingly, the invaluable support a stay-at-home parent provides is becoming part of life insurance conversations.

“They bring an economic value to the household,” Mouzon says. If a stay-at-home parent dies, “you’re going to need a financial bump to just make sure household things, your children, and your lifestyle still get taken care of.”

It can be uncomfortable to put a dollar value on anyone’s life, but it’s also an important conversation families should have to make certain there’s enough money after a loss. Ensuring life insurance takes into account what a stay-at-home parent provides can protect your family’s financial future.

Considering the value stay-at-home parents provide

Assessing the financial effects of losing a stay-at-home parent can be tricky, says Angela Moore, an Orlando-based certified financial planner and a financial guide at Fruitful. “If you are a stay-at-home parent or primary caregiver and something happens to you, that would cause a ripple effect over many years.”

While much of what a parent provides is hard to quantify, most household responsibilities have a price tag. And depending on where you live, it can be a steep one. Let’s break down what your family might need help with — and how much it would cost — if a stay-at-home parent is no longer there picking up the slack.

Caretaking

Many stay-at-home parents provide care for members of the family, specifically children. And while it is a labor of love, it can be a demanding and expensive job. U.S. Department of Labor data shows families spend from $6,552 to $15,600 per year for full-time child care for just one child.

Household management

Stay-at-home parents wear a lot of hats, and running a household is often one of them. Here are a few tasks that could fall by the wayside without an extra hand to help.

Cleaning

Wiping down surfaces and picking up the toys might be all in a day’s work for a stay-at-home parent, but don’t underestimate how much time these chores occupy and what it might cost to hire help. The rate for housekeeping services hovers around $16 per hour, according to the most recent BLS estimate.

Laundry

Keeping a steady supply of clean clothes is a challenge, but outsourcing that labor also comes at a cost. For instance, weekly wash-and-fold service in New York City costs about $1.99 per pound, with larger items like bedding demanding additional fees.

Cooking

Food preparation for a family is serious business. The average American household already spends $3,933 per year on eating outside the home, according to BLS data, but that bill could quickly balloon without someone to help put dinner on the table.

Shopping

Although most families can get most goods or groceries delivered, shopping is still a mundane but necessary task. Without someone to run those errands, you might need to hire a personal shopper or rack up extra fees for delivery services.

Managing finances and more

This is by no means an exhaustive list of the many household responsibilities parents juggle. Your family might have a stay-at-home parent who also takes charge of yard work, home repairs, pet care or balancing the household budget. Make sure to factor that work into your calculation.

Deciding how much coverage your family needs

When trying to decide how much life insurance stay-at-home parents should have, you should also consider including these additional costs:

Funeral expenses. The median cost of a funeral with a viewing and burial tops $8,300, according to the National Funeral Directors Association.
Education costs. Decide what you’d need to cover educational expenses like college or private school tuition.
Temporary income replacement. After the death of a stay-at-home parent, time off from work to grieve and to set up alternative arrangements for care is essential.
Debt payoff. Include any credit card debt or loans the stay-at-home parent holds that might need to be repaid.
Additional financial support for children. Think about how you might like to support children financially not just in childhood but also early adulthood.

If calculating these expenses feels overwhelming, Moore says family life insurance policies usually end up in the same ballpark. “After I ask these questions, I add it all up and it usually falls somewhere between $1.5 million to $2 million for most regular young families.”

Life insurance options for stay-at-home parents

Securing life insurance for a stay-at-home parent doesn’t have to be expensive or complicated. In fact, for most families, term life insurance —the most affordable type of life insurance—will be sufficient.

This is especially true if you’re young and healthy. For example, a healthy 30-year-old non-smoker might pay $18 a month, on average, for a 20-year, $500,000 term life policy, according to life insurance brokerage Policygenius.

Mouzon advises stay-at-home parents to consider an individual term policy of 20 to 30 years with living benefits, a policy feature that lets you access your death benefit early if you’re diagnosed with a serious illness. “That living benefit will take care of the sickness side and in the event someone gets cancer, stroke, a heart attack, or some type of chronic or critical illness, this policy will pay out.”

If you have a relatively young family, getting coverage sooner rather than later may also save money in the long run, because young, healthy people qualify for the lowest life insurance rates.

“You’re the youngest and healthiest you’re gonna be,” Mouzon says. “So you might as well just pay attention to it now while it’s the cheapest.”

Kaz Weida writes for NerdWallet. Email: kweida@nerdwallet.com.

The article Why Stay-at-Home Parents Need Life Insurance originally appeared on NerdWallet.

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By PAUL WISEMAN, Associated Press Economics Writer

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Federal Reserve’s favored inflation gauge accelerated slightly in August from a year earlier.

The Commerce Department reported Friday that its personal consumption expenditures (PCE) price index was up 2.7% in August from a year earlier, a tick higher from a 2.6% year-over-year increase in July and most since February.

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Excluding volatile food and energy prices, so-called core PCE inflation showed a 2.9% increase in prices from August 2024, same as in July. The increases were what forecasters had expected.

Prices rose 0.3% from July, compared to a 0.2% increase the month before. Core prices rose 0.2%, same as in July.

Separately, the report showed that consumer spending rose 0.4% from July, largely on a 0.7% increase in spending for goods; spending on services such as travel and dining out rose just 0.2%.

Incomes rose 0.4%, same as the month before. Income for the self-employed and business owners rose 0.9% for the second straight month. Wages and salaries rose 0.3% from July, dipping from a 0.5% increase the month before.

Inflation has come down since rising prices prompted the Fed to raise its benchmark interest rate 11 times in 2022 and 2023. But annual price gains remain stubbornly above the central bank’s 2% target.

Last week, the Fed went ahead and reduced the rate for the first time this year, lowering borrowing costs to help a deteriorating U.S. job market. But it’s been cautious about cutting, waiting to see what impact President Donald Trump’s sweeping taxes on imports have on inflation and the broader economy.

For months, Trump has relentlessly pushed the Fed to lower rates more aggressively, calling Fed Chair Jerome Powell “Too Late” and a “moron” and arguing that there is “no inflation.”

Last month, Trump sought to fire Lisa Cook, a member of the Fed’s governing board, in an effort to gain greater control over the central bank. She has challenged her dismissal in court, and the Supreme Court will decide whether she can stay on the job while the case goes through the judicial system.

The Fed tends to favor the PCE inflation gauge that the government issued Friday over the better-known consumer price index. The PCE index tries to account for changes in how people shop when inflation jumps. It can capture, for example, when consumers switch from pricier national brands to cheaper store brands.