Poverty in the

United States
Kayleigh Kornher

Explanation of the problem

How the US measures poverty

Thresholds for different family types

Ex, Single parent with two children = $17,568
Method developed in the 1960s, not updated
Accounts for inflation

Doesnt consider change in proportions (ex less money on food and more on
housing)
Pretax income determines whether or not a family is in poverty

Rates

Lowest in the 70s at 11.1

80s up to 15.3%
Back to 11.3% in 2000, but now at 15%

Explanation continued

In 2014

14.8% of people in the US below the poverty line

27% average for Hispanic, African American, Native American people and people with
disabilities compared to 10% white people
21% children

Women and Single Mothers

32% more likely to be in poverty than men

About 40% of single mothers live below poverty line

Minimum wage

Federal:$7.25, some states have raised it

Debate on raising it
Argument on its effect on poverty

Explanation continued

Low-wage jobs and Unemployment

Many jobs do not pay enough to support a family

Most affects single parents (mothers more than fathers)
Unemployment rate has dropped 0.6% in the past year
Currently at 4.9%

Children living in poverty are more likely to end up in poverty

Whats being done?

Programs like Social Security and Food Stamps keep 40 million people out of poverty. . .
. . . but 15% of the population still lives in poverty.

Example

Civil Legal Aid and Eradicating Poverty

Involves providing protection from and aid with wrongful evictions, domes

medical conditions
New York Task Force Study: $1 invested in civil legal aid = $6 for state economy
Example of this working:
Former Navy officer discharged for misconduct
She had unaddressed PTSD from sexual assault while serving
Ended up homeless, without access to veterans benefits

Civil legal aid allowed her to prove the assault and get the benefit
deserves

Example

Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC)

Money back to low-income and middle wage-earning families

Shown to improve health, education, and eventually income for children
Problem: workers without children or under 25 receive little or no help from this program
Some work full time for minimum wage
Earning $9 an hour or less = earn less than $20,000 per year
Taxes can push further into poverty

Local Connection

Poverty Rate in San Diego is Increasing

Between 2000 and 2014

Carlsbad up by 4%
El Cajon up by 9%
Escondido up by 14%
Roots of the issue
Rally for $15 minimum wage at
Low wages
city hall
$1 increase in minimum wage would impact the economy by $200 million
Poor transportation infrastructure
Costs for transportation and childcare impact low-income areas
Housing options

California is ranked last in housing affordability and spends second highest

percent of income on housing

UN Declaration of Human Rights Articles

Article 7: All people are entitled to equal protection before the law

People in poverty are less likely to get the help they need
Civil legal aid shown to help!

Article 22, section 3: All working people deserve a salary that can support
their families and the aid necessary to do so.

Many families are unable to support themselves despite aid

Sources/More Information
http://talkpoverty.org/category/justice/

http://www.npc.umich.edu/poverty/#1

http://www.results.org/issues/poverty_in_the_united_states/
https://www.minimumwage.com/
http://www.nytimes.com/2012/07/29/opinion/sunday/why-cant-we-end-poverty-in-america.html?
_r=0
http://www.tradingeconomics.com/united-states/unemployment-rate
http://www.nber.org/digest/jun06/w11681.html
http://www.kpbs.org/news/2016/jan/14/poverty-san-diego-suburbs-increasing-study-finds/
http://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/news/2016/mar/06/housing-costs-too-high-california/