With each passing week, the COVID-19 pandemic is making it harder for an ever-growing share of families to  afford basic needs. State and local governments were  quick to recognize that job and income losses have hit low-income renters hard, and many are already racing to stabilize housing by providing direct rental assistance through new programs or by retooling existing ones.  But we know little about rental assistance programs designed to respond to COVID-19, including how they are structured, who they serve, how they could inform new programs in other states and localities, and how they could  shape future federal relief .

To help fill these knowledge gaps, we examined 43 state and local rental assistance programs-from  big cities to  small towns and in states with leadership that  spans the political spectrum-that were created or repurposed to help keep renters stably housed through the pandemic.

With  more than 20 million people filing for unemployment recently, paying the bills is a struggle for many. And if you don't have an  emergency fund, you may be turning to other options to make ends meet.

If you've lost a source of income or are otherwise unable to pay off your accounts, the opportunity to take out a cash advance on your credit card could also seem like a viable option. But is it? Here's what you need to think about before you turn to your plastic.