North Carolina has been ranked last on a list that compared the support each state is providing to its residents.
According to an article on WalletHub, North Carolina came in at the bottom of the list with a total score of 17.68, whereas the No. 1 state was Massachusetts, which scored 69.94.
WalletHub compared the 50 states and the District of Columbia across 17 key metrics. The information used included factors such as whether the state will offer a free coronavirus vaccine once one exists and whether it has adopted long-distance healthcare technology.
It also included metrics such as the coronavirus relief fund per capita and the share of households in poverty receiving social assistance.
The list compared topics such as coronavirus relief and medical services, food and housing assistance and unemployment rankings.
The state of North Carolina came in 49th place for coronavirus relief and medical services, only ranking higher than Wisconsin at No. 50 and Texas at No. 51.
Under food and housing services, the state came in closer to the middle at 34 right alongside Tennessee and Maryland, which came in at 33 and 35, respectively.
“Here at the Laurinburg Housing Authority, we are not state funded, we are federally funded,” said Karen Laviner, the executive director. “We are income based and are still taking applications for units.
“We are about to begin orientation for new tenants,” continued Laviner. “However, we are only allowing eight people to attend at a time. “We are also constantly trying to reach out to the elderly population to check in with them and see how they are doing. We actually started a program today where we are sending out coloring books and crayons to the children.”
The last column on the list was unemployment rankings for each state and North Carolina was once again back at the bottom with a rank of 47th, just ahead of Mississippi at 48.
No one from the Scotland County unemployment office or the Scotland Memorial Hosipital were available for comment.
Where it is the job of politicians and scientist to try and determine the best course of action, individuals can also help make a difference by reaching out to those in charge and expressing their concerns and questions.
“Individuals should be writing to their local and state politicians, to request the effective allocation of resources/policies to at-risk populations and to demand mail-in voting for the upcoming elections to ensure all have access to safe voting participation,” said Assistant Professor 0f Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Texas A&M University, Melissa J. DuPont-Reyes
“Individuals can also look for volunteer and donation opportunities to local charities and nonprofits who work with at-risk populations,” continued Reyes. “The local food bank is a great start but make sure to maintain all advised safety precautions such as physical distancing, hand washing, and mask-wearing during any kind of volunteer effort. The cardinal rule is to cause no additional harm.
Charities and Food banks are a very important during this time, more so than before due to the higher demand with more residents out of work and in need of assistance.
“Charities and nonprofits play an important role during this pandemic as they work directly with vulnerable populations,” said Reyes. “Above all else, people must stay safe and healthy and implement all advised precautions in their daily activities.
“People working in or among charities and nonprofits are not an exception to this advice. Just like essential businesses and healthcare, they need to be creative and flexible in their approach and adjust as needed for all to stay safe and healthy.
JJ Melton can be reached at jmelton@laurinburgexch.wpenginepowered.com.