Families & Poverty Introduction to Family Studies

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 15.1 percent of Americans fall below the poverty line 15.1 percent of Americans fall below the poverty line Real median household income in the United States in 2010 was $49,445, a 2.3 percent decline from the 2009 median family income Real median household income in the United States in 2010 was $49,445, a 2.3 percent decline from the 2009 median family income The number of people without health insurance in the U.S. was 49.9 million in 2010, while the percentage without coverage was 16.3 percent The number of people without health insurance in the U.S. was 49.9 million in 2010, while the percentage without coverage was 16.3 percent

Families & Poverty YearPercent 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

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?

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?

How Do We Define Poverty? Poverty thresholds were developed in by Mollie Orshansky, a home economist at the Social Security Administration. Poverty thresholds were developed in 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.”

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

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

Poverty Guidelines for Recent Years * YearFirstFour Person Each Add’l Person Family Person 1996$7,740$15,600$2, $8,050$16,450$2, $8,350$17,050$2, $9,310$18,850 $3, $10,830$22,050$3,740 * for the 48 contiguous states and D.C. Source: Department of Health and Human Services

The Geography of Poverty in the U. S.

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)

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

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

Poverty in the U.S. in 2010 There were 46.2 million people in poverty in 2010, up from 43.6 million in 2009 There were 46.2 million people in poverty in 2010, up from 43.6 million in 2009 This was the fourth consecutive annual increase in the poverty rate This was the fourth consecutive annual increase in the poverty rate We know have the largest number of poor in the U. S. in the 52 years for which poverty estimates have been published. We know 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 Your likelihood of being poor and of receiving welfare is associated with your race and ethnicity Source: html

11/19/ TANF Population by Race/ethnicity 2008

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

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

Many are concerned with welfare fraud? How common is welfare fraud? How common is welfare fraud? It is similar to false rape accusations It is similar to false rape accusations More people need and don’t get any or enough assistance compared to those who abuse the system More people need and don’t get any or enough assistance compared to those who abuse the system MANY more women are raped and don’t report the rape compared to women who falsely accuse MANY more women are raped and don’t report the rape compared to women who falsely accuse What gets more media attention? What gets more media attention? Many more people are poor and don’t get assistance compared to those who abuse the system to get welfare Many more people are poor and don’t get assistance compared to those who abuse the system to get welfare st_how_common_is_welfare_fra.shtml st_how_common_is_welfare_fra.shtml st_how_common_is_welfare_fra.shtml st_how_common_is_welfare_fra.shtml

Poverty in Brazil: One Answer How does a country with an money surplus use social policy to fight poverty How does a country with an money surplus use social policy to fight poverty Is food a human right? Is food a human right? billion/brazil-delivers-hunger-promise billion/brazil-delivers-hunger-promise

Summary Poverty has been increasing Poverty has been increasing 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 percent of Americans are poor in percent of Americans are poor in 2010 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