Last week the US Census Bureau released the 2006 Federal Poverty Level (FPL) which reported that the FPL for a family of three to be considered “living in poverty” is $16,079. This is no where near what it takes a family of three in Massachusetts to get by. The application of the FPL is widespread. Food stamps, Section 8 housing vouchers, child care vouchers, WIC, all of these programs are based on the FPL, an antiquated formula created 40 years ago when families spent 1/3 of their income on food. The FPL does not take into consideration housing, transportation, taxes, childcare, or family type nor does it account for regional cost variations.
A more realistic measure of a family’s ability to provide basic goods necessary for survival is the Massachusetts Family Economic Self-Sufficiency (FESS) Standard which does take into account family type and geographic location. According to FESS, an adult with a preschool and a school aged child living in Boston actually needs to earn $58,133 a year to be self-sufficient with NO GOVERNMENT SUPPORTS. $58,000 a year! This is nearly 3 times the FPL and does not include “luxuries” such as clothing, school supplies, entertainment, etc.
The difference between the FPL and FESS shows us that a larger proportion of women and families than poverty figures indicate are living in poverty. To combat this we must continue to advocate for the continuation and expansion of education and workforce training programs so we can prepare women for careers that pay a self-sufficient wage which will lead them to a life of economic independence.
Kelsey McCoy
Public Policy Coordinator
Crittenton Women's Union
3 comments
I agree wholeheartedly with Doris
I agree wholeheartedly with Doris on the need to move beyod ineffective categorical government support programs (such as section 8) to real human asset development. Most women don't want to live on subsidies forever but desparately want to take care of themselves and their families.
Funny, I used the same proverb about teaching a person to fish in a previous blog comment.
I agree!
I agree! It is absolutely heart wrenching to see a single mother struggle to support herself and her children adequately!
It is critical that as a society we begin to invest in our most valuable assets, the people. Given the increasing rise in housing, childcare, transportation and other living expenses, depending solely on programs such as section 8 and WIC to address the poverty issue is not enough. Although these programs are critical in ensuring the stability of low-income families, there also needs to be buy-in from government and society as a whole to invest in asset development.
We need to give low-income individuals and families the resources, education and tools they need to live economically independent. Like the old proverb states, you can either give a hungry person a fish or teach that person how to fish. We have a responsibility to begin to teach every member in our society how to fish!
Doris Brown
Crittenton Women's Union
Assistant Vice President of Housing
I often wonder
I often wonder when we as a city, state, nation are going to get "real" about this and come to terms with the fact that no one (anywhere!) can live on anything near poverty guideline wages. Even with every kind of subsidy, it's still ridiculous. And then there are the huge numbers of people who earn "too much" to qualify for assistance, but not nearly enough to support their families. Obviously, there's no easy answer, but certainly education and training are key components to get there. Our society's systemic poverty, and how it disproportionately affects women and their families is criminal. As the rich get richer and poor get poorer, it can be hard to have hope.