hunger and poverty in texas: causes and solutions food insecurity: the hunger epidemic witte museum...
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![Page 1: Hunger and Poverty in Texas: Causes and Solutions Food Insecurity: The Hunger Epidemic Witte Museum San Antonio, Texas February 18, 2010 Celia Hagert Senior](https://reader036.vdocuments.site/reader036/viewer/2022062518/5697bf731a28abf838c7f23d/html5/thumbnails/1.jpg)
Hunger and Poverty in Texas:Causes and Solutions
Food Insecurity: The Hunger EpidemicWitte Museum
San Antonio, Texas February 18, 2010
Celia Hagert
Senior Policy Analyst
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Overview
• Hunger and poverty: causes and consequences
• Solutions– Expand economic opportunity
– Ensure a strong federal nutrition safety net (SNAP, school meals, WIC, senior meals, etc.)
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The Economic Context
• Hunger is a symptom of poverty• Poverty is deep and widespread in
Texas• Root causes are structural, not
individual• Increasing economic opportunity and
earnings is the long-term solution
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How many people are officially poor in Texas?
Who are the poor?
The Numbers
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Texas Hunger Rate Linked to Poverty
Sources: Poverty data are one-year estimates from American Community Survey, U.S. Census Bureau. Food Insecurity data are three-year averages from USDA’s Economic Research Service.
15.6%
16.3%16.6%
17.6%
16.9%
16.3%
14.8% 14.9%
16.4%
16.0% 15.9%
14.8%
15.8%
16.3%
2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008
Poverty
Food Insecurity
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Poverty and Unemployment(with recession impact simulated)
16.9%
7.0%
0
3
6
9
12
15
18
1995 1997 1999 2001 2003 2005 2007 2009 2011
Texas rate (%)
Poverty (Census CPS)
Unemployment
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics; Comptroller Winter 08-09 Forecast; Census Bureau CPS.
Forecast
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Hispanics and African Americans Much More Likely to Live In Poverty as Whites in Texas
14.1%
24.0%22.9%
10.7%
18.3%
White, NotHispanic
Hispanic (anyrace)
AfricanAmerican
Asian AmericanIndian/Alaska
Native
Source: 2008 American Community Survey, U.S. Census Bureau
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Vast Majority of Poor Texans are Citizens
U.S. Citizens,
3.1 million (82%)
Non-citizens, 679,700 (18%)
Source: 2008 American Community Survey, U.S. Census Bureau
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Poverty Rates by Citizenship
15.8% 14.6%
25.9%
Total Poverty Citizens only Non-Citizens
Po
vert
y ra
te w
ith
in g
rou
p
679,700
3,080,7313,760,431
Source: 2008 American Community Survey, U.S. Census Bureau
Born-in-U.S.citizen poverty rate: 41st worst among states
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Texas 43rd Worst Rate of Total Population in Poverty TX = 15.8%; U.S. = 13.2%
Source: 2008 American Community Survey, map from KIDS COUNT Data Center, www.kidscount.org/datacenter
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Why can’t families escape poverty?
• The cost of living has outpaced earnings• Lack of education, economic opportunity limits
earnings, upward mobility
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Full-time Work at Minimum Wage ($14,500) Doesn’t Lift Texas Families Above Poverty Line
66%
FP
L
79%
FP
L
99%
FP
L
$22,050
$18,310
$14,570
Family of 2 Family of 3 Family of 4
100% FPL
Minimum Wage
Minimum wage = $7.25 per hour as of July 24, 2009. Full-time work = 2,000 hours per year.
Minimum wage $70 shy of FPL for Family
of 2
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Texas Median Income Increases Slightly, But Purchasing Power on
General Decline $47,900
$45,500
$44,600$44,200$43,600
$44,900$44,100$44,200
$39,781$38,865$39,325
$40,292$40,803
$42,978$42,879
$38,000
$40,000
$42,000
$44,000
$46,000
$48,000
2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007
Median Income
Median Income Adjusted to Purchasing Power in 2000
Source: KIDS COUNT Data Center, Families with Related Children, American Community Survey, Census Bureau; Data adjusted using inflation calculator from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
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The Consequences
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Over Half of Texas’ 4.7M Public School Kids Are Considered Economically Disadvantaged
Not Economically
Disadvantaged 2.06 million
(43%)
Economically Disadvantaged
2.68 million (57%)
Source: 2008-2009 Enrollment Data, Texas Education Agency
Economically Disadvantaged =
Kids who are eligible for free (below 130% of poverty) or reduced-price lunch (130%-185% of poverty)
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“Early disadvantage, if leftuntouched, leads to academic
and social difficulties later in life. Early advantages accumulate,
just as early disadvantages do.”
Heckman & Masterov, as cited in “Early Childhood Education for All: A Wise
Investment”
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GAPS IN ACHIEVEMENT:
Fewer Economically Disadvantaged Kids Pass the TAKS Tests
78%89
%
89%
68%
71%
82% 90
%95%
96%
86%
86%94
%
Reading Math Science SocialStudies
Writing AveragePassing Rate
Economically Disadvantaged Non-Economically Disadvantaged
Source: Percent Students Passing Across Grades Within Each Test, 2009 TAKS data, Texas Education Agency
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GAPS IN ATTAINMENT:
Economically Disadvantaged and Minority Students Drop Out at Higher Rates
10.5
%
15.7
%
16.1
%
14.4
%
5.1%
3.6%
Overall Rate Econ. Disadv. AfricanAmerican
Hispanic White Asian/ PacificIslander
Source: Class of 2008 four-year longitudinal dropout rate within group, Texas Education Agency
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GAPS IN EARNINGS:
More than One of Every Three Texas Dropouts Lives in Poverty
36%
14%
9%4%
Less than H.S. H.S. Grad (includesequivalency)
Somecollege/Associate's
degree
Bachelor's degree orhigher
Pe
rce
nta
ge
wit
hin
ea
ch
ed
uc
ati
on
lev
el
Source: Table C17003, 2008 American Community Survey, U.S. Census Bureau
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Long-term solution to poverty & hunger:
Increase economic opportunity so people can learn more, earn more
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Short-Term Solution to Hunger: Improve Nutrition Safety Net
Make sure everyone who needs food assistance receives this help
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Gaps in the Nutrition Safety Net
#1 Many eligible families aren’t getting federal food assistance*
– Flaws in the poverty measure prevent needy families from getting assistance
#2 Many needy families don’t qualify for federal food assistance
– Barriers limit access for eligible families
*Federal food assistance = SNAP/Food Stamps, School Lunch/Breakfast, Afterschool/Childcare, Summer Food, WIC, Commodities
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#1: Many Texans Qualify for Food Assistance But Do Not Receive It
Source: Bridging the Gaps Project, Center for Economic and Policy Research
• Limited awareness• Stigma• Inadequate funding • Enrollment barriers (staff shortages,
red tape, outdated rules) make the benefits hard to access
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Many Texans Qualify for Assistance But Do Not Receive It
10%
23%
9%
16%
4%
26%
2%
11%
2%
12%
1%
24%
Housing Food Stamps Child Care Children'sMedicaid/CHIP
TANF EITC
Eligible Receive Assistance
Source: Bridging the Gaps Project, Center for Economic and Policy Research
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Too Many Families Relying on Food Banks Not Getting Federal Food
Assistance
Source: Bridging the Gaps Project, Center for Economic and Policy Research
SOURCE: Hunger in America: 2010 Survey, Feeding America
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Texas Failing to Process More and More SNAP (aka Food Stamp) Applications on Time
Source: Texas Health and Human Services Commission, 2009 Monthly Timeliness Reports
Percentage processed late (after 30 days)
10%
15%17%
19%
38%
Jan-06 Jan-07 Jan-08 Jan-09 Jan-10
Federal standard = 95% processed w iithin 30 days 56,328
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SNAP Not Reaching Its Target Population
Source: Bridging the Gaps Project, Center for Economic and Policy Research
• Almost half (45.4%) of food bank clients believe they are not eligible for SNAP, yet almost one-quarter (24.2%) have income low enough to qualify (<130% FPL).= lack of awareness of SNAP rules.
• 17.1% report not receiving SNAP benefits because “it is too much hassle." = problems in the eligibility system.
SOURCE: Hunger in America: 2010 Survey, Feeding America
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#2: Many Needy Families Don’t Qualify for Food Assistance
• Eligibility for food (and other public) assistance is tied to Federal Poverty Measure
• The Federal Poverty Measure is flawed: Poverty = 3 x cost of food per family size (methodology from the 1960s)
• Fails to take into account today’s cost of living
• Child care
• Medical costs
• Housing
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Federal Poverty Guidelines
Family Size 2007 2008 2009
2 $13,690 $14,000 $14,570
3 17,170 17,600 18,310
4 20,650 21,200 22,050
Source: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
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Monthly Costs for Single-Parent, 2-Child Family in Fort Worth-Arlington
Total Monthly Expenses = $3,042 - $3,540Source: Family Budget Estimator, CPPP, www.cppp.org/fbe
$212-$1,100 $745 $1,034
$356 $339 $356
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Necessary Income for Single-Parent, 2-Child Family in Fort
Worth-Arlington
• Hourly = $19 - $23/hour
• Annual = $38,737 - $46,709– 226% to 272% of poverty line
Source: Family Budget Estimator, CPPP, www.cppp.org/fbe
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Total Monthly Expenses for Families in Dallas-Plano-Irving as Percentage of the Federal
Poverty Level
Note: These budgets are for families where the employer pays 100% of one parent’s health insurance and 50% of premium for spouse and/or
dependents. The poverty line is the maximum amount a family can make in a month and still be considered below the 2007 federal poverty level
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Texas Eligibility for Family Support Programs, 2009
185% 185%
130% 130%
243%
150%
12%
WIC Reduced-PriceSchool Meals
Free SchoolMeals
Food Stamps(SNAP)
Max. Child Care Typical ChildCare
TANF CashAssistance*
Dollar amounts: Annual income levels for a family of three
$23,803
$42,703
$2,256
$33,874
* Income limit show n is for applicants. Once on TANF, some families w ith earnings disregards and other allow ances for w ork-related expenses can have higher incomes yet continue to receive some cash assistance.
$23,803$27,465
$33,874
Public Assistance Programs Not an Option for Many Working Families
Sources: U.S. Department of Agriculture; Texas Workforce Commission; Texas HHSC
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Public Health Insurance More of an Option for Children, Elderly, Disabled
Sources: Texas HHSC
Income Caps for Texas Medicaid & CHIP, 2009
74
200
12.3
133
133
100
20.2
222
185Pregnant Women &
Ages 1 to 5
Ages 6 to 18
TANF Parent of 2,
Working Parent of 2
SSI (aged ordisabled)
Long-Term Care
CHIP
Federal Minimum State Option
Percent of federal poverty line ( % )
No Income
Newborns$33,874
$24,352
$18,310
$2,256
$3,696
$7,884
$24,264
$36,620
Annual income limits:
For a family of three in child & parent categories;
for SSI & Long-Term Care, income cap is for one person.
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Texas Low-Income Children vs. Served by “Safety Net”
Children below 100% of poverty
Children living from 100 to 200% of
poverty
-
0.5
1.0
1.5
2.0
2.5
3.0
3.5
1995 1997 1999 2001 2003 2005 2007
Medicaid orCHIP
Medicaid
Food Stamps
AFDC/TANF
SSI
Millions of Texas children under 19
Source: Texas Kids Count; Texas Health and Human Services Commission; March CPS (FERRET)
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Family Budget Estimator (FBE)
www.cppp.org/fbe
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Our Shared Challenge
• Make sure everyone eligible for food assistance is getting it– Less than half of eligible population gets SNAP– Fewer than one in five eligible children get free
summer meals
• Make sure everyone who needs food assistance is getting it – Since eligibility is tied to the official poverty measure,
many needy families don’t qualify for federal food assistance
– Need to revise poverty measure or income limits for food programs
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Contact InformationContact Information
Celia Hagert
(512) 320-0222 ext. 110
Sign up to receive notice of our work at: www.cppp.org