1. Families & Poverty Introduction to Family Studies

2. Thinking about Poverty What percentage of the population is poor? What percentage of the population is poor? What percentage of children are poor? What percentage of children are poor? What are poor children’s lives like? What are poor children’s lives like?

3. Terminology Poverty: Income below the federal poverty level (FPL) Poverty: Income below the federal poverty level (FPL) $ $22,050 per year for a family of four $ $22,050 per year for a family of four Low-income: Income below 200 percent of the federal poverty level (FPL) Low-income: Income below 200 percent of the federal poverty level (FPL) $44,100 per year for a family of four $44,100 per year for a family of four Source: http://www.childstats.gov/americaschildren/eco1.asp

4. Poverty in the U.S. Every year the Census Bureau publishes Every year the Census Bureau publishes the number of people in poverty the number of people in poverty the number without health insurance the number without health insurance the median family income the median family income The bad economy has led to an increase in poverty and a decrease in median family income The bad economy has led to an increase in poverty and a decrease in median family income 15.0 percent of Americans fall below the poverty line (46.5 million people) 15.0 percent of Americans fall below the poverty line (46.5 million people) Real median household income in the United States in 2010 was $51,000 Real median household income in the United States in 2010 was $51,000 Household income has declined by 8.3 percent since 2008 Household income has declined by 8.3 percent since 2008 The number of people without health insurance in the U.S. was 48 million in 2012, while the percentage without coverage was 15.7 percent The number of people without health insurance in the U.S. was 48 million in 2012, while the percentage without coverage was 15.7 percent Source: http://www.census.gov/newsroom/releases/archives/income_wealth/cb13-165.html

5. Families & Poverty YearPercent 196913.7 197912.4 198913.1 199812.7 200111.7 200712.5 200914.3 201215.0 201314.0 Source: U.S. Bureau of the Census Despite many initiatives and billions of dollars over the past 40 years: Note how LITTLE CHANGE in the % of people living below poverty Poverty rate did go down from 2012- 2013

6. Families, Public Policy, & Poverty How do we define poverty? How do we define poverty? How would you calculate the line that separates the poor from the nonpoor? How would you calculate the line that separates the poor from the nonpoor?  Who are the deserving poor and why has the definition changed?  Who is more likely to be in poverty today – children or the elderly?

7. How Do We Define Poverty? The official poverty level established by the United States Government. The official poverty level established by the United States Government. How would you go about calculating or estimating who is poor an who isn’t? How would you go about calculating or estimating who is poor an who isn’t? Where would you draw the line? Where would you draw the line?

8. How Do We Define Poverty? Poverty thresholds were developed in 1963-1964 by Mollie Orshansky, a home economist at the Social Security Administration. Poverty thresholds were developed in 1963-1964 by Mollie Orshansky, a home economist at the Social Security Administration. Based on the estimated cost of an “economy food budget” multiplied by 3 (assuming that food constitutes 1/3 of a family’s budget). Based on the estimated cost of an “economy food budget” multiplied by 3 (assuming that food constitutes 1/3 of a family’s budget). The economy food budget was “designed for temporary or emergency use when funds are low.” The economy food budget was “designed for temporary or emergency use when funds are low.”

9. How Do We Define Poverty? Poverty thresholds define the poverty level Poverty thresholds define the poverty level Used for statistical purposes – to show poverty over time Used for statistical purposes – to show poverty over time Adjusted for: Adjusted for: family size family size number of children under 18 years of age number of children under 18 years of age annually based on changes in the cost of living annually based on changes in the cost of living Problems with this definition Problems with this definition Families living below poverty have inadequate incomes Families living below poverty have inadequate incomes Families just above line still teetering on the edge Families just above line still teetering on the edge

10. How Do We Define Poverty? Poverty guidelines Poverty guidelines Issued each year by the Dept. of Health and Human Services (HHS). Issued each year by the Dept. of Health and Human Services (HHS). Used for administrative purposes-- for instance determining who is eligible for federal programs like: Used for administrative purposes-- for instance determining who is eligible for federal programs like: Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF) or welfare. Food stamps

11. Poverty Guidelines for Recent Years * YearFirstFour Person Each Add’l Person Family Person 1996$7,740$15,600$2,620 1998$8,050$16,450$2,800 2000$8,350$17,050$2,900 2004$9,310$18,850 $3,180 2010$10,830$22,050$3,740 * for the 48 contiguous states and D.C. Source: Department of Health and Human Services http://aspe.hhs.gov/poverty/10poverty.shtml

12. The Geography of Poverty in the U. S.

13. The Deserving Poor Historian, Michael Katz, studies the history of poverty in the U.S. He argues that there have always been a group of people called the deserving poor – they deserve to get assistance from the government They are poor through no fault of their own Prior to the 1970s, this group included the: Aged Children Female headed families (through widowhood)

14. The Deserving Poor Now the deserving poor are only: Aged Children Disabled/mentally challenged The deserving poor no longer includes single mothers because they came to be perceived as poor because they made bad choices – i.e. had a child outside of marriage Shift from single motherhood due to widowhood vs. single motherhood due to nonmarital birth

15. How do Families “Make Ends Meet?” Think about trying to live on $22,050 dollars per year as a single Mom and three children: Rent Food Child care Utilities Electricity/Gas Phone Water Cable Clothing

16. Poverty in the U.S. in 2013 The poverty rate finanalyy decrease by 1.0 from 2012 to 2013 – but not stat. significant The poverty rate finanalyy decrease by 1.0 from 2012 to 2013 – but not stat. significant We now have the largest number of poor in the U. S. in the 52 years for which poverty estimates have been published. We now have the largest number of poor in the U. S. in the 52 years for which poverty estimates have been published. Your likelihood of being poor and of receiving welfare is associated with your race and ethnicity Source: http://www.census.gov/newsroom/releases/archives/income_wealth/cb11- 157.html

17. 10/3/2015 TANF Population by Race/Ethnicity 2008

18. U.S. Population by Race and Ethnicity In the U. S. In the U. S. 75% of the Total U.S. population are Non Hispanic white 75% of the Total U.S. population are Non Hispanic white 12.6 % are Non Hispanic African American 12.6 % are Non Hispanic African American 16.3 % are Hispanic 16.3 % are Hispanic 6.3 % are Asian 6.3 % are Asian

19. But compare the total percentage of each race/ethnic group to the percentage on TANF 75% of the TOTAL U.S. population in Non Hispanic white but only 35% of the TANF population is white 75% of the TOTAL U.S. population in Non Hispanic white but only 35% of the TANF population is white So whites are underrepresented in the TANF population compared to the % in TOTAL U.S. population So whites are underrepresented in the TANF population compared to the % in TOTAL U.S. population 12.6 % of the U.S. population is Non Hispanic African American, but African Americans make up 35% of the TANF populations 12.6 % of the U.S. population is Non Hispanic African American, but African Americans make up 35% of the TANF populations So African Americans are OVER represented in the TANF population So African Americans are OVER represented in the TANF population

20. Child Poverty How many children live in poverty? How many children live in poverty? Children represent a disproportionate share of the poor in the United States Children represent a disproportionate share of the poor in the United States 25 percent of the total population, are children in the U.S. 25 percent of the total population, are children in the U.S. but but 35 percent of the poor population are children 35 percent of the poor population are children In 2011, 21 percent, were poor. In 2011, 21 percent, were poor.

21. Child Poverty Rates in the U.S. from 2006-2010 Source: Kids Count retrieved from http://datacenter.kidscount.org/data/acrossstates/NationalProfile.aspx?cat=16&group=Category&loc= 1&dt=1%2c3%2c2%2c4

23. Elderly are LESS poor today Note on the previous chart that the elderly (age 65 and over) were the poorest in 1959 Note on the previous chart that the elderly (age 65 and over) were the poorest in 1959 Over time, the poverty rate for 65+ age group declines Over time, the poverty rate for 65+ age group declines In 1974 the elderly poverty rate dips below child poverty rate (note that lines cross) In 1974 the elderly poverty rate dips below child poverty rate (note that lines cross) In 2011 children (18 and under) have the highest poverty rate of three age groups on graph In 2011 children (18 and under) have the highest poverty rate of three age groups on graph

24. http://datacenter.kidscount.org/data/tables/43-children-in- poverty?loc=1&loct=2#ranking/6/any/true/38/any/322http: //datacenter.kidscount.org/data/acrossstates/NationalProfil e.aspx?cat=16&group=Category&loc=1&dt=1%2c3%2c2 %2c4 http://datacenter.kidscount.org/data/tables/43-children-in- poverty?loc=1&loct=2#ranking/6/any/true/38/any/322http: //datacenter.kidscount.org/data/acrossstates/NationalProfil e.aspx?cat=16&group=Category&loc=1&dt=1%2c3%2c2 %2c4 http://www.npc.umich.edu/poverty/ http://www.npc.umich.edu/poverty/ Sources for Statistics on Child Poverty

25. Child Poverty varies by race and ethnicity The poverty rate for children also varies substantially by race and Hispanic origin, as shown in the table below The poverty rate for children also varies substantially by race and Hispanic origin, as shown in the table below Children Under 18 Living in Poverty, 2011 Children Under 18 Living in Poverty, 2011 All children under 18: 23% All children under 18: 23% White only, non-Hispanic: 12.5% White only, non-Hispanic: 12.5% Black: 37.4 % Black: 37.4 % Hispanic: 34.1 % Hispanic: 34.1 % SOURCE: http://aspe.hhs.gov/hsp/12/povertyandincomeest/ib.shtml

26. Child Poverty Rate by Family Structure Source: http://aspe.hhs.gov/hsp/12/povertyandincomees t/ib.shtml

27. Child Poverty, Race/Ethnicity & Family Structure Latino/a and African American children are disproportionately low income. Latino/a and African American children are disproportionately low income. Nearly one-half of children living in female- headed families live below poverty Nearly one-half of children living in female- headed families live below poverty

28. Effects of Poverty on Children Health Health Mortality Mortality Low birth weight Low birth weight Health problems Health problems Abuse Abuse Educational Outcomes Educational Outcomes High drop out rate High drop out rate Underfunded schools Underfunded schools

29. Kidscount website What are poverty rates for Children in New Jersey? What are poverty rates for Children in New Jersey? http://datacenter.kidscount.org/data/bystate/Default.aspx http://datacenter.kidscount.org/data/bystate/Default.aspx

30. There Are No Children Here The Henry Horner Homes were not always bad The Henry Horner Homes were not always bad In the 1960s there were groups like girl scouts who met regularly In the 1960s there were groups like girl scouts who met regularly And the crime rate was lower And the crime rate was lower But during the 1970s and 1980s drug and gang activity increased But during the 1970s and 1980s drug and gang activity increased

31. There Are No Children Here The local Chicago government officials and the Chicago Housing Authority never wanted the Henry Horner Homes to be built in the first place The local Chicago government officials and the Chicago Housing Authority never wanted the Henry Horner Homes to be built in the first place The buildings were not well funded and were not well built The buildings were not well funded and were not well built So they never put much money into them, even from the beginning So they never put much money into them, even from the beginning Later, in the 1980s, findings of a housing authority tour of facilities revealed terrible conditions…rats, filthy, flooded basements Later, in the 1980s, findings of a housing authority tour of facilities revealed terrible conditions…rats, filthy, flooded basements Chicago’s public housing has a history of neglect Chicago’s public housing has a history of neglect

32. There Are No Children Here In Philadelphia, and Newark -- high-rise public housing is being replaced by: In Philadelphia, and Newark -- high-rise public housing is being replaced by: two-story, low density townhouses two-story, low density townhouses Section 8 vouchers Section 8 vouchers Strategies to increase home ownership: Strategies to increase home ownership: targeted at low to moderate income who can afford to pay a mortgage, but cannot get together enough $$ for a down payment & closing costs targeted at low to moderate income who can afford to pay a mortgage, but cannot get together enough $$ for a down payment & closing costs

33. Summary Poverty has been increasing, while household income is decreasing Poverty has been increasing, while household income is decreasing More people are poor today than in the history of data collected on the poor in the U.S. More people are poor today than in the history of data collected on the poor in the U.S. 15.0 percent of Americans are poor in 2012 15.0 percent of Americans are poor in 2012 Even people living 100 % above the poverty line are poor as the line is set “artificially” low Even people living 100 % above the poverty line are poor as the line is set “artificially” low The line was based on the price of a short-term monthly diet – designed for emergencies…not for long term use The line was based on the price of a short-term monthly diet – designed for emergencies…not for long term use

34. Summary For a rich nation, the U.S. has high rates of child poverty For a rich nation, the U.S. has high rates of child poverty Children are more likely to be in poverty than adults Children are more likely to be in poverty than adults Child poverty varies by race and ethnicity Child poverty varies by race and ethnicity Is this the U.S. we want? Is this the U.S. we want? How can we do better as a society and as individuals to fight child poverty? How can we do better as a society and as individuals to fight child poverty?