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
The U.S. Census bureau will release 2009 census data this Thursday, including poverty statistics. According to “US poverty on track to post record gain in 2009,” some analysts forecast the largest increase in U.S. poverty in 50 years.
The national poverty rate, which was 13.2 percent in 2008, may jump to over 15 percent when Thursday’s numbers come in.
Below: U.S. poverty, 1959-2006
The article speculates that politicians are more focused on middle-class unemployment than on the plight of those in poverty. This seems to set up an either/or proposition: help the struggling middle class, or reduce poverty. However, we think that that policymakers can and should be doing both.
America’s middle class – which has always been the basis of our economic strength – has fallen behind. Even before the Great Recession hit in 2008, we saw that many middle class families were looking off the cliff of economic security as they juggled rising housing and health care costs along with declining assets. And now many of those folks find themselves unable to find work that pays a decent wage.
As a result, people who wouldn’t normally fall below the poverty line are struggling more than ever. Homeless shelters are seeing an increase in the number of families, many who once considered themselves middle class, seeking assistance.
What can we do? Now is the time to focus on policy changes that will create economic opportunity and restore a stable middle class. Reducing poverty increases economic security for all of us – and vice-versa.
What are your ideas for creating economic stability? The Alabama Commission to Reduce Poverty wants your feedback. Visit this page for more information.
Posted by Robyn Hyden
Alabama’s poverty rate dropped more than any other state’s in 2008 – but this improvement is likely to be temporary, given the state’s high rates of unemployment.
Here’s a rundown from the Associated Press via the Tuscaloosa News:
The numbers gathered by the U.S. Census reported that the number of people below the poverty line fell by 47,000 to 712,835. The drop was larger than any other state.
“The news in 2008 shows that Alabama was doing the right things,” said Kimble Forrister, director of Alabama Arise. “We were creating jobs.”
However, according to Forrister, the figures collected in 2008 reflected the poverty level before the recession hit.
“At the time our unemployment rate was better than the rest of the nation.”
Due to the recession, poverty levels will likely follow the rise in unemployment rates, resulting in a significant increase in poverty for 2009. Nationwide unemployment currently stands at 10.4 percent this September with Wilcox County being 25.4 percent.
