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Alabama is fat and hungry? Yes, it is.

Monday, September 24th, 2012

On Saturday September 22, the Wetumpka Herald posted a column from Managing Editor Peggy Blackburn with the headline “Alabama is Fat and Hungry?” Here’s an excerpt:

One report, published by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, ranks Alabama as fourth in adult obesity rate at 32 percent of the population.

That seems like a reasonable estimate, especially given the charts used in determining if a person’s weight is under, over or in the normal range. I know some muscular folks the charts actually gauge as overweight.

Contrarily, a report published by the Food Research and Action Center said 23.4 percent of the state’s residents reported that they couldn’t afford enough food for their families and also reported going hungry. That is the second highest percentage in the country.

It is difficult for me to reconcile the state being the fourth most obese while at the same time being the second hungriest.

The categories are so specific it seems unlikely any of the people in one group could qualify for the other. If the respondents are all different, that would mean only 45 percent of Alabamians are neither overeating nor starving.

I don’t say it’s impossible, but it seems odd.

Although we applaud the managing editor’s efforts to educate herself about obesity and poverty in Alabama, we felt her article mischaracterized the data. We sent this letter in response:

Dear Ms. Blackburn:

This email is in response to your column “Alabama is fat and hungry?” which was posted on Saturday.

Today it is quite common to be both hungry and obese.

Poverty causes hunger, and nearly 1 in 5 Alabamians live in poverty. Poor families contend with challenges like low wages, part-time work, and unemployment – factors that make it difficult to afford food.

Conversely, obesity impacts Alabamians of all walks of life. The Center for Disease Control estimates that in 2011, 31 percent of Alabama adults were obese.

The Food Research and Action Center cites some reasons why low-income people are especially prone to obesity, including:

• Many low-income communities lack full-service grocery stores but have a proliferation of convenience stores that do not stock fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and low-fat dairy products.

• Healthy, low fat food is more expensive than low cost, high calorie options.

• Low-income communities have fewer recreation options and higher rates of crime. These higher crime rates (or fear of crime) cause many families to keep their children indoors. Poor kids also do not have the same access to afterschool and summertime recreational activities and sports.

• Being poor is often stressful, which can result in disordered eating, reduced physical activity, and depression – all factors related to weight gain. In addition, hunger and/or poverty can cause production of a stress hormone that is associated with obesity.

The Alabama Poverty Project is a nonprofit resource center dedicated to reducing systemic poverty and its root causes across Alabama. APP educates citizens about poverty, motivates colleges and faith-based institutions to engage in poverty-reduction activities, and advocates for fact-based policy decisions statewide.

We invite Alabamians who are interested in learning more to visit our web site at www.alabamapossible.org.

Kristina Scott

Executive Director, Alabama Poverty Project

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Posted in Advocacy, Census Stats on Poverty, health, Health Care, Hunger and Food Insecurity, Hunger and Food Security, Making A Difference | No Comments »

Poverty Flat in Alabama, Median Income Makes Slight Gain

Thursday, September 20th, 2012

Child Poverty Also Flat at 27.6 percent

BIRMINGHAM – Contrary to reports prematurely circulated last week, poverty in Alabama remained flat at 19 percent from 2010 to 2011, according to the American Community Survey (ACS) 1-year estimates released today by the US Census Bureau.

Alabamians did see a small spike in median household income, which increased from $40,474 in 2010 to $41,415 in 2011, a gain of $941.

“Alabamians have suffered during this recession. I am glad to see that poverty has leveled off and that Alabama families are seeing some gains in household income,” said Kristina Scott, executive director of the Alabama Poverty Project.

Alabama is tied with Arizona for the seventh highest rate of poverty amongst the 50 states, according to ACS estimates.  States ranking higher than Alabama are Mississippi (22.6 percent), New Mexico (21.5 percent), Louisiana (20.4 percent), Arkansas (19.5 percent), Kentucky (19.1 percent) and Georgia (also 19.1 percent).

Children continue to be more impoverished than any other segment of the population. In 2011, 27.6 percent of Alabama’s children lived in poverty, as compared to 21.9 percent of children nationwide.

According to the Center for American Progress, this level of child poverty today cripples our long-term economic competitiveness. Research has proven that childhood poverty impacts an individual’s educational outcomes, worker productivity, and even long-term healthcare costs.

“I urge Alabamians to learn about why more than 1 in 4 children live in poor families and to engage in solutions. Our future depends on it,” said Scott.

The 2011 poverty threshold is $17,916 per year for a family of three and $23,021 per year for a family of four.

The data also emphasizes the link between educational attainment and income. The median individual income for Alabama working age adults with a bachelors degree was $44,800, while the median individual income for those with just a high school diploma was $25,069.

“Educational attainment is the single biggest predictor of economic well-being. Alabama is making great strides in improving outcomes for our primary and secondary students.  However, postsecondary education is essential for long-term economic well being,” said Scott.

Detailed charts are available here.

ABOUT THE ALABAMA POVERTY PROJECT:

The Alabama Poverty Project (APP) is a statewide nonprofit organization dedicated to reducing systemic poverty and its root causes across Alabama. APP educates Alabamians about poverty, motivates colleges and faith-based institutions to engage in poverty-reduction activities and advocates for fact-based policy decisions. APP was founded in 1993 and is based in Birmingham, AL. For more information visit www.alabamapossible.org.

 

ABOUT THE AMERICAN COMMUNITY SURVEY:

Starting in 2006, the Census Bureau began releasing annual estimates of income and poverty for all places, counties, and metropolitan areas with a population of at least 65,000 as well as the nation and the states. Estimates based on a single year of ACS data are available only for areas with total populations of at least 65,000.

 

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Reports of reduced poverty premature; Census to release conclusive data next week

Thursday, September 13th, 2012

Despite news published across the state claiming that Alabama’s poverty rate dropped from 17.2 percent in 2010 to 15.4 percent in 2011, the available data is not conclusive.  The Census data released yesterday, Income, Poverty and Health Insurance Coverage in the United States: 2011, reported that poverty nationwide remained static at 15 percent.

In addition, new tables show that the percentage of Alabamians living in poverty increased from 15.4 percent to 16.3 percent from 2008 to 2011. Another table showing average state-by-state poverty rates from 2009 to 2011 has Alabama at a 16.4 percent.

The Census Bureau will release results from the 2011 American Community Survey on Thursday, September 20, with reliable one-year state-specific poverty estimates.

Yesterday’s report did confirm a harsh reality – children are more impoverished than any other segment of the population. Nationally, 21.9 percent of children under age 18, 25.1 percent under age 5, and 47.6 percent of related children with a female householder live below the poverty line.

According to the Center for American Progress, this level of child poverty today cripples our long-term economic competitiveness. Research has proven that childhood poverty impacts an individual’s educational outcomes, worker productivity, and even long-term healthcare costs.

Want to learn more about yesterday’s poverty data release? Check out the 5 Things You Need to Know About the 2011 Poverty Data.

 

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Press Release: Nearly 1/3 of Alabama households with children unable to afford enough food during 2009-10

Thursday, August 11th, 2011

Hunger impacts children’s ability to concentrate, learn in school

Nearly one-third, or 32 percent, of households with children in Alabama reported not having enough money to buy food that they or their family needed at some point during the prior twelve months, according to a new report released by the Food Research and Action Center (FRAC), Food Hardship in America 2010: Households with and without Children.

This report provides data on food hardship – the inability to afford enough food. During 2009-10:

  • 32 percent of Alabama households with children said they were unable to afford enough food, the second highest among the 50 states.
  • The Birmingham-Hoover Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA) households with children had a food hardship rate of 23.4 percent in 2010, the 10th highest rate among the nation’s 100 largest MSAs.
  • In the 7th Congressional District, 45.0 percent of households with children reported food hardship, the highest in the state and the 3rd highest in the nation.
  • In the 1st Congressional District, 34.8 percent of households with children reported food hardship, the 2nd highest in the state and the 19th highest in the nation.
  • In the 2nd Congressional District, 33.1 percent of households with children reported food hardship, 3rd highest in the state and the 32nd highest in the nation.

“When children don’t have enough to eat, they have a harder time concentrating and performing well in school,” said Kristina Scott, Executive Director of the Alabama Poverty Project.  “Research indicates that for young children, even mild undernutrition negatively impacts their behavior, their school performance, and their overall cognitive development.”

The data were gathered as part of the Gallup-Healthways Well-Being Index. Specific to this analysis, people were asked, “Have there been times in the past twelve months when you did not have enough money to buy food that you or your family needed?” The data gathered by Gallup were analyzed by FRAC.

“Hunger is not always visible, and thus people may be skeptical that it exists in their communities.  This report bears witness to the fact that Alabamians struggle to feed their families,” said Scott.

The full report is available at www.frac.org

Posted in Census Stats on Poverty, community, education, environment, health, Hunger and Food Insecurity, Hunger and Food Security, Making A Difference, Uncategorized | No Comments »

REVISED-HIGH POVERTY AREAS HIT HARD BY TORNADOES: 36 of 42 Counties on disaster list have above-average poverty

Tuesday, May 3rd, 2011

BIRMINGHAM – 36 of the 42 Alabama counties that the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has declared eligible for individual disaster assistance have poverty rates higher than the national average.

“Natural disasters hit high poverty communities the hardest,” says Kristina Scott, Executive Director of the Alabama Poverty Project (APP).  “They are more vulnerable to personal injury and property damage when a storm hits, have fewer financial resources and are more likely to experience severe mental health impacts, including post-traumatic stress disorder.”

According to the US Census Bureau, 14.3 percent of Americans live below the federal poverty threshold.  The poverty threshold is determined by age and number of people in a household and was $21,954 for a two-adult, two-child household in 2009, the most recent year for which poverty data is available.

The Census Bureau also reports that 17.5 percent of Alabamians live in poverty.  Fourteen of the tornado-impacted counties have poverty rates greater than 20 percent, including Chambers (20.7 percent), Choctaw (22.8 percent), Clarke (29.1 percent), DeKalb (21.7 percent), Franklin (21.8 percent), Greene (28.4 percent), Hale (26.6 percent), Marengo (24.9 percent), Marion (21.2 percent), Monroe (23.4 percent), Perry (31 percent), Pickens (28 percent), Sumter (35.1 percent) and Winston Counties (24.9 percent).  A full list of impacted counties with key poverty data is attached.  More information is also available on the APP website at http://alabamapossible.org/datasheet/.

In their 2004 report “Poverty and Disasters in the United States,” Sociologists Alice Fothergill and Lori Peek conclude that while poor individuals are more likely to perceive hazards as risky, they are less likely to prepare for hazards or buy insurance; less likely to respond to warnings; more likely to die, suffer injuries, and have proportionately higher material losses; have more psychological trauma; and face more obstacles during the phases of response, recovery, and reconstruction.

In response to the catastrophic tornadoes, APP is compiling resources for individuals to give, volunteer and advocate for those impacted by the storms.  They are regularly updated and available at http://alabamapossible.org/tornadorelief.

About the Alabama Poverty Project:

Alabama is the sixth poorest state in the nation. The Alabama Poverty Project (APP) mobilizes Alabamians to eliminate poverty through strategic relationships with faith communities, higher education institutions and civic organizations. For information and resources, visit our website, http://alabamapossible.org.

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Poverty Rate
All Persons 1 Children 2 Seniors 2 Female Headed Households 2
United States 14.3% 20.0% 9.7% 37.1%
Alabama 17.5% 24.6% 11.8% 45.1%
Autauga 11.2% 16.2% 7.8% 28.3%
Bibb 18.1% 25.7% 12.8% 49.7%
Blount 14.6% 20.4% 12.1% 39.6%
Calhoun 19.0% 26.7% 10.6% 52.6%
Chambers 20.7% 30.2% 12.1% 44.0%
Cherokee 18.4% 28.1% 7.7% 52.8%
Chilton 18.7% 27.5% 10.0% 38.0%
Choctaw 22.8% 29.8% N/A N/A
Clarke 29.1% 37.9% 19.6% 56.2%
Colbert 16.0% 24.8% 9.2% 48.6%
Coosa 16.7% 25.4% N/A N/A
Cullman 19.3% 25.7% 13.5% 39.4%
DeKalb 21.7% 32.0% 15.5% 41.5%
Elmore 14.2% 19.2% 9.9% 29.6%
Etowah 17.2% 26.6% 12.0% 45.7%
Fayette 19.6% 26.9% N/A N/A
Franklin 21.8% 29.7% 12.6% 50.7%
Greene 28.4% 39.7% N/A N/A
Hale 26.6% 35.4% N/A N/A
Jackson 16.4% 24.3% 15.9% 38.9%
Jefferson 16.5% 22.9% 11.1% 36.2%
Lamar 18.2% 25.8% N/A N/A
Lauderdale 14.5% 21.8% 8.0% 48.9%
Lawrence 16.2% 22.9% 10.9% 44.1%
Limestone 13.5% 19.1% 11.3% 32.4%
Madison 10.3% 14.7% 6.3% 36.4%
Marengo 24.9% 32.3% 15.2% 46.4%
Marion 21.2% 30.9% 14.8% 70.5%
Marshall 19.1% 26.2% 14.2% 54.3%
Monroe 23.4% 33.2% 16.6% 67.8%
Morgan 15.9% 23.2% 12.6% 41.9%
Pickens 28.0% 34.1% N/A N/A
Perry 31.0% 48.9% N/A N/A
Shelby 6.9% 9.9% 4.9% 20.1%
St. Clair 13.8% 19.3% 10.3% 35.0%
Sumter 35.1% 42.3% N/A N/A
Talladega 18.9% 26.5% 15.3% 51.3%
Tallapoosa 17.8% 28.1% 9.2% 48.8%
Tuscaloosa 19.9% 22.6% 10.5% 47.9%
Walker 16.0% 22.9% 13.9% 49.8%
Washington 19.3% 26.5% N/A N/A
Winston 24.9% 36.4% 17.2% 53.8%
1 U.S. Census Bureau, Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates (2009)
2 U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 3-Year Estimates (2007-2009)

 

 

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Why are women more likely to be poor?

Tuesday, March 8th, 2011

This International Women’s Day, we’re highlighting our resources and research on women in poverty.

Did you know:

In Alabama, nearly half of female-headed households with children live in poverty – Alabama Poverty Project 2010 Datasheet

Women earn only 75 percent of what men with similar experience and education earn, and the gender pay gap is even larger for women of color – White House Report on Women in America

42 percent of working mothers in Alabama are the primary breadwinners in their household – Center for American Progress

Women are more economically insecure in retirement – Institute for Women’s Policy Reseach

Young and unmarried women face greater economic insecurity than young and unmarried men – Center for American Progress

Check out more of our resources on women in our Resources and Research database.

Posted by Robyn Hyden

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2009 county-level poverty estimates released

Friday, December 10th, 2010

According to the Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates (SAIPE) data today released by the US Census Bureau, poverty increased in counties across the state.  Selected 2009 county-level estimates are as follows:

Baldwin County – 13.3 percent, up from 9.9 percent in 2008

Blount County – 14.6 percent, up from 13.1 percent in 2008

Calhoun County – 19 percent, up from 17.6 percent in 2008

Cherokee County – 18.4 percent, up from 17.7 percent in 2008

Colbert County – 16 percent, up from 12.7 percent in 2008

Dale County – 16.2 percent, up from 15 percent in 2008

DeKalb County – 21.7 percent, up from 18.7 percent in 2008

Etowah County – 17.2 percent, up from 16.7 percent in 2008

Franklin County – 21.8 percent, up from 19.5 percent in 2008

Hale County – 26.6 percent, up from 26 percent in 2008

Houston County – 17.7 percent, up from 15.1 percent in 2008

Jefferson County – 16.5 percent, up from 13.8 percent in 2008

Lawrence County – 16.2 percent, up from 15 percent in 2008

Limestone County – 13.5 percent, up from 12.1 percent in 2008

Madison County – 10.3 percent, down from 11.3 percent in 2008

Mobile County – 18.7 percent, up from 18.6 percent in 2008

Morgan County – 15.9 percent, up from 12.5 percent in 2008

Pickens County – 28 percent, up from 25.6 percent in 2008

Shelby County – 6.9 percent, up from 5.8 percent in 2008

St. Clair County –13.8 percent, up from 12.6 percent in 2008

Tuscaloosa County – 19.9 percent, up from 17.3 percent in 2008

Walker County – 16 percent, down from 17.4 percent in 2008

The 2009 poverty line is just $22,050 per year for a family of four.

“We knew that the recession hit Alabama hard and deep.  This new data helps us paint a picture of where poverty has increased the most, and where the needs are the greatest,” said Kristina Scott, executive director of the Alabama Poverty Project.

Alabama is the ninth poorest state in the country, with a statewide poverty rate of 16.6 percent, according to Census Bureau estimates.

It is also the hungriest state in the nation, with 6.8 percent of Alabama households experiencing hunger over the past three years because they couldn’t afford enough food, according to U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA).

As of September 2010, 849,785, or approximately 18 percent, of Alabamians participate in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (food stamps), according to the Food Research and Action Center and the USDA.

“Alabamians are hurting this holiday season.  In order to eliminate poverty and hunger, we need to deepen our commitment by both helping meet short-term needs and supporting long-term policy solutions to grow and protect the middle class,” said Scott.

View the detailed county-level data.

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The supplemental measure of poverty (webcasts)

Wednesday, September 29th, 2010

In the wake of new poverty data released last week (“More in Alabama in Poverty, Census data shows” – Birmingham News), the Spotlight on Poverty and Opportunity posted two webcasts about how the supplemental poverty measure may provide a more accurate picture of poverty across America. Check them out below:

Spotlight Webcast—The Poverty Measure from Spotlight on Vimeo.

“Spotlight” Webcast with Congressman Jim McDermott from Spotlight on Vimeo.

Posted by Robyn Hyden

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