UUnited nited SServices ervices CCommunity ommunity AAction ction

AAgencygency

UUnited nited SServices ervices CCommunity ommunity AAction ction

AAgencygency

The Face of PovertyThe Face of PovertyThe Face of PovertyThe Face of Poverty

““The curse of poverty has no justification in our age.”The curse of poverty has no justification in our age.”

Martin Luther King, Jr.Martin Luther King, Jr.

In the year 2000, 31 million people were poor in In the year 2000, 31 million people were poor in the United States…the United States…that is, 11.3% of the populationthat is, 11.3% of the population

Blacks and Blacks and Hispanics Hispanics have have poverty poverty rates that rates that greatly greatly exceed the exceed the averageaverage

0

5

10

15

20

25

% in Poverty

Black

Hispanic

White/Non-Hispanic

Among black and Among black and Hispanic families headed Hispanic families headed by women, poverty rates by women, poverty rates approached 35%approached 35%

……Racism’s Racism’s ImpactImpact

““When the economy stumbles, the working poor fall…”When the economy stumbles, the working poor fall…”

“Among the greatest dangers in the recent strategy of doing more to support low-income working families…

and less for those without work… is that the employed—but still

poor… will become the unemployed and destitute in bad times…”

David T. Ellwood

The Plight of the Working Poor

For the “working poor” (125% of the poverty level), the percentage of uninsured rose significantly from 1999 to 2000: from 24.7% to 26.9%--that is—3.3 million people

“The financial stability of most low-wage working families remains precarious, and much remains to be done to provide real security for those in the lower income tier who

follow the rules but often lose out anyway.”

David T. Ellwood, The Plight of the Working Poor

Among the entire population 18 to 64

years old, workers were more likely to have

health insurance (83.8%) than non-workers (76.4%)—

however, among the poor, workers were

LESS likely to be covered (54.5%) than non-workers (63.4%)

Having a job, even a full-time job, does not guarantee an escape from poverty… In 2000, a greater

percentage of the poor had a full-time worker in the family than in 1993 (44.5% compared to 36.0%)Working Poor – A Long Way from Self-Sufficiency…Working Poor – A Long Way from Self-Sufficiency…

……Always Close to Always Close to the Edgethe Edge

The uninsured poor comprised 23.8% of all uninsured people in the United States11.6% of

children have no medical insurance

29.5% of low-income people are uninsured

9.2 million of our nation’s poor had no medical insurance in the year 2000

Whites are most Whites are most likely to be insured: likely to be insured: 90.3%90.3%

Young adults (18 to 24 years old) were less likely than any other age group to have health insurance coverage—(72.7% are uninsured)

Among poor children, 21.5% (2.5 million children) had no health insurance during the year 2000

The Uninsured

Hispanics are Hispanics are the least the least likely to have likely to have any type of any type of medical medical insurance: insurance: 67.2%67.2%

Blacks are less likely Blacks are less likely to have medical to have medical insurance: 81.5%insurance: 81.5%

At Risk…

$5.00$6.00$7.00$8.00$9.00

$10.00$11.00$12.00$13.00$14.00$15.00$16.00$17.00$18.00$19.00$20.00

Platte Median

Jackson Median

Clay Median

Poverty-Level

Self-SufficiencyStandard

Income …

The Missouri Self-Sufficiency Standard has determined that an average family composition of 4 individuals must have at least $17.39 in hourly wages to be completely self-sufficient

The Great Divide

Median actual dollar amounts are: Platte, $25.46; Jackson, $19.17; Clay, $22.40

Poverty-level wages for a family of four are $8.46 an hour

Dollar amounts represent the hourly wages supporting a family of four

$25.

46

$19.

17$2

2.40

$8.4

6 $17 .

39

TThehe U Urban rban CCore…ore… Challenges for Kansas CityChallenges for Kansas City

“What we’re talking about is Relative Deprivation: The Urban Poor are literally surrounded by Suburban Affluence… Imagine living day after day with that reality…then ask why there is more crime, more substance abuse and more anger in the ghettos of the city.”

Ronald A. Hardert

Urban, Rural and Suburban Poverty… Urban, Rural and Suburban Poverty… a differencea difference

Confronting Social Problems

Missouri Kansas City(Jackson Only)

Median Income $37,347 $32,086

Individuals in Poverty 12% 19%

Families in Poverty 8% 13%

Households Receiving Public Assistance

16% 23%

No Access to a Car 7% 17%

Paying 30% or more in Rent

38% 45%

16 to 19 year old HS Drop-Outs

11% 19%

The metropolitan poverty rate differs greatly between suburbs and the inner city—The urban core has about twice the rate of poverty than the suburbs…

The poverty rate for small towns and the countryside is usually several percentage points lower than the urban rate as well.

Urban Reality

Urban Reality

Poverty in Jackson Poverty in Jackson County…County…In the year 2000, 12% of the population was in povertyIn the year 2000, 12% of the population was in poverty

16% of the households receive public assistance16% of the households receive public assistance

19% of all people over the age of 25 have less than a high school diploma19% of all people over the age of 25 have less than a high school diploma

Among people 16 to 19 years old, 11% were drop-outs in 2000Among people 16 to 19 years old, 11% were drop-outs in 2000

10% do not have access to a car10% do not have access to a car

41% of renters spend 30% or more of their household income on housing41% of renters spend 30% or more of their household income on housing

19% of families with a female head-of-household are in poverty19% of families with a female head-of-household are in poverty

18.4% of children under the age of 18 are in poverty18.4% of children under the age of 18 are in poverty

The unemployment rate, as of January 2002, was 4.9%The unemployment rate, as of January 2002, was 4.9%

……Poverty Poverty inin Clay County Clay County

In the year 2000, 5.9% of the population was in povertyIn the year 2000, 5.9% of the population was in poverty

8.2% of renters spend 30% or more of their household income on housing8.2% of renters spend 30% or more of their household income on housing

15% of all people over the age of 25 have less than a high school diploma15% of all people over the age of 25 have less than a high school diploma

12.4% of children are enrolled in Medicaid12.4% of children are enrolled in Medicaid

5% do not have access to a car5% do not have access to a car

3.2% of the households receive public assistance3.2% of the households receive public assistance

17% of families with a female head-of-household are in poverty17% of families with a female head-of-household are in poverty

7.2% of children under the age of 18 are in poverty7.2% of children under the age of 18 are in poverty

The unemployment rate, as of January 2002, was 3.3%The unemployment rate, as of January 2002, was 3.3%

In the year 2000, 5.7% of the population was in povertyIn the year 2000, 5.7% of the population was in poverty

6.6% of renters spend 30% or more of their household income on housing6.6% of renters spend 30% or more of their household income on housing

12% of all people over the age of 25 have less than a high school diploma12% of all people over the age of 25 have less than a high school diploma

3.4% do not have access to a car3.4% do not have access to a car

3% of the households receive public assistance3% of the households receive public assistance

17.9% of families with a female head-of-household are in poverty17.9% of families with a female head-of-household are in poverty

7.3% of children under the age of 18 are in poverty7.3% of children under the age of 18 are in poverty

Poverty in Platte County…Poverty in Platte County…

The unemployment rate, as of January 2002, is 3.4%The unemployment rate, as of January 2002, is 3.4%

““Together we become stronger and smarter than any Together we become stronger and smarter than any one of us alone could be…one of us alone could be…

Together we work to push the common Together we work to push the common enemy, enemy, Poverty, from our doorsteps, Poverty, from our doorsteps, streets, streets,

We must not let our individual We must not let our individual work and work and

goals… goals…

and and neighborhoods…neighborhoods…

——no matter how no matter how significant—significant—

obscure the mission we pursue obscure the mission we pursue together.”together.”

Dr. Zavon Kanion, Board President Dr. Zavon Kanion, Board President

Tommie Barnett, Executive DirectorTommie Barnett, Executive Director

Referenced Works:Social ProblemsSocial Problems, D. Stanley Eitzen, D. Stanley Eitzen

The Project on Devolution and Urban ChangeThe Project on Devolution and Urban Change, Manpower Demonstration , Manpower Demonstration Research CorporationResearch Corporation

Census 2000Census 2000, US Census Bureau, US Census Bureau

Barriers to the Employment of Welfare RecipientsBarriers to the Employment of Welfare Recipients, University of Michigan, University of Michigan

Kansas City Metropolitan RegionKansas City Metropolitan Region, Missouri Economic Research and , Missouri Economic Research and Information CenterInformation Center

Median Household Income Data SeriesMedian Household Income Data Series, Missouri Economic Research and , Missouri Economic Research and Information CenterInformation Center

The Missouri Self-Sufficiency Standard: Necessary Wages for Essential NeedsThe Missouri Self-Sufficiency Standard: Necessary Wages for Essential Needs , , Missouri Department of Economic DevelopmentMissouri Department of Economic Development

Confronting Social ProblemsConfronting Social Problems, Ronald A. Hardert, Ronald A. Hardert

The Plight of the Working PoorThe Plight of the Working Poor, David T. Ellwood, David T. Ellwood

Before and After Reform: How Have Families on Welfare Changed?,Before and After Reform: How Have Families on Welfare Changed?, Urban Institute Urban Institute

This PowerPoint was made in conjunction with the development of our Strategic Plan and is

dedicated to the people who fight poverty daily…

This PowerPoint was made in conjunction with the development of our Strategic Plan and is

dedicated to the people who fight poverty daily…

The The StaffStaff of of

UUnited nited SServices ervices CCommunity ommunity AAction ction AAgencygency

The The StaffStaff of of

UUnited nited SServices ervices CCommunity ommunity AAction ction AAgencygency

“Helping People. Changing Lives.”“Helping People. Changing Lives.”