Those who have consistent work and fall above the national poverty guideline, but do not earn enough to afford a decent quality of life. They often have low or minimum wage jobs that do not offer benefits and “little opportunity for advancement and economic security."
Dr. Anderson, assistant professor of sociology at Ohio University, specializes in low-wage work.
She explained:
“[This group has] it very tough because they’re working, and they still just earn right above poverty level. And they do not have the same access to social support services because they’re considered to be okay. Our poverty line is set in a way that that particular group does not receive benefits but yet, they’re still not living a decent life. And that’s the group that is growing. That’s the group where the middle class is dropping down into the working poor group. That’s causing the problems, and we’re realizing that something needs to happen with these people.”
Cost of Living in Athens County
According to the 2006 Poverty Report compiled by the Athens County Department of Job & Family Services. Based on annual averages.
Rent
-$5,628
Food
-$3,422
Utilities
-$2,640
Transportation
-$1,604
Health Care (for a family)
-$1,834
Full-Time Childcare (one child)
-$4,784
Total Cost of Living
-$19,912
Annual Wage (Full-Time Minimum Wage Worker)
$10,712
-$9,200
Answers
Anderson said that “even a fifty cent raise” would help the working poor. Some counter that this will lead to shortened hours and layoffs. However, she does not believe that raising minimum wage will have the feared repercussions. “If the business is doing well, hopefully they can pay the workers more and raise the minimum wage.” Food pantries and other efforts solve momentary hunger, but “in terms of dealing with the systematic problem [of hunger—that] is only going to be alleviated by having good jobs that pay decent wages and offer good benefits.”
“One small thing happens and suddenly you can’t pay for food.”
Nick Claussen of the Athens County Department of Job and Family Services, summarizing the plight of the working poor.
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Nice find on the podcast, and I'm digging the breakdown of yearly costs.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Jill! Yeah I had a little trouble initially with the podcast. I wasn't sure whether to download/upload/etc., but linking turned out to be the easest route! And like I mentioned, I *did not* figure out those annual costs - that was all the work of Job and Family Services.
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