February 27, 2012 Let’s Look at the Data—is there poverty in the paradise we call home?

February 27, 2012 Let’s Look at the Data—is there poverty in the paradise we call home?

How Do We Describe or Define Poverty?

#1 “The Federal Poverty Level”

2012 HHS Poverty Guidelines for the Contiguous States and the District of Columbia: The-- “Federal Poverty Level” * Published Annually by the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS)

The Annual Federal Poverty Guideline is used to determine eligibility for: • Head Start • Food Stamps (SNAP) • Free/Reduced School Lunch Program (NSLP) • Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program • Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP)

From the 2010 U.S. Census Bureau Report • National Poverty Rate = 15.1% (46.2 million) up from 14.3% in 2009 • Number of people Without Health Insurance = 49.9 million (16.3%), up from 49 million in 2009 • Household Median Income declined to $49,445 in 2010; a 2.3% decline from 2009 • Child Poverty (under age 18) increased from 20.7% to 22% in 2010

Poverty Data from 2008 for Virginia, Bedford and Franklin Counties – using Federal Poverty Level for 2008

#2 “Living Wage”

Living Wage Calculation for Franklin County* Assumes one working adult. If two work at poverty wages, hourly amount becomes $19.66. If two work for minimum wage, hourly amount becomes $15.50 In both cases, the combined income of two household members still puts their income below the living wage level *From Penn State University

Typical Expenses for Living Wage Calculations • Food = $676 • Child Care = $827 • Medical = $386 • Housing = $535 • Transportation = $794 • Other = $592 *Expenses estimated for two adults & two children Monthly after-tax income required = $3,810 Franklin County

Living Wage Calculation for Bedford County* Assumes one working adult. If two work at poverty wages, hourly amount becomes $19.66. If two work for minimum wage, hourly amount becomes $15.50 In both cases, the combined income of two household members still puts their income below the living wage level *From Penn State University

Typical Expenses for Living Wage Calculations • Food = $756 • Child Care = $1,104 • Medical = $372 • Housing = $595 • Transportation = $958 • Other = $786 *Expenses estimated for two adults and two children Monthly after-tax income required = $4,571 Bedford County

#3 “Food Insecurity”

Data about Bedford & Franklin Counties • Food Insecurity Rates (from Feed America report) • - lack of access to enough food to fully meet basic needs at all times… • Franklin County – • 13.5% • 23.5% for Children – 75% of these are eligible for Federal Nutrition Programs, BUT – 25% are ineligible!!! - Household income above 185% of poverty level.

Food Insecurity Rates - continued • Bedford County – • 17.6% • 19.0% for children – 53% eligible for Federal Nutrition Programs, BUT – 47% ineligible (above 185% of Federal Poverty Level)

#4 “Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program” (SNAP) Used to be called the Food Stamp Program

Data about SNAP • funded entirely by the federal government • to be eligible—total monthly income at or below 130% of the federal poverty line • In Virginia—760,000 people used SNAP in 2010 • Average Household benefit = $253.50/month • Over $1 billion provided to Virginians in 2010 • In Bedford Cnty—9,462 people used SNAP (2010) • In Franklin Cnty—10,815 people used SNAP (2010)

#5 National School Lunch Program “the Free or Reduced-Price Lunch Pgm.”

The Free/Reduced Lunch Program • provided lunches to 31 million kids each day in 2010 • Schools get cash subsidies and food from the USDA for each meal they serve • income below 130% of poverty level = free lunch. • incomes between 130 and 185% of poverty = reduced-price lunch; cost to child no more than 40 cents. • in 2012, 130% of poverty line for family of four is $29,055; 185% is $41,348 • Cost of program in FY 2010 = $10.8 billion

Data for Children Served by SML Good Neighbors – Three Schools in Franklin County and Three in Bedford County (revised 2/26/2012)

The total number of children in these six (6) schools who are eligible for the National School Lunch Program (free/reduced) is: 743 819 and this is just for children below 185% of the federal poverty level – SML Good Neighbors worked with 161children in 2011… there is much left to do.

Summary – Percentage of Children and Schools—K-12—on Free/Reduced Meals Program in Bedford and Franklin Counties. Data from Virginia Dept. of Education; 1/26/2012

Other assistance programs for low-income people: • TANF—Temporary Assistance for Needy Families • Joint Federal & State • In Virginia (2010) Fed = $70,241,583; State = $59,279,668 • 79,499 recipients in 2010 • Goal is assisting with move to employment

FAMIS – Family Access to Medical Insurance Security (children only) • Virginia’s version of CHIP (Children’s Health Insurance Program) • affordable health care for children of eligible families • Federal govt. pays 65% = $132,819,331 in 2010 (Virginia) • In January 2011, 564,000 VA children were enrolled • Family income <200% of poverty level

WIC provides Federal grants to States for supplemental foods, health care referrals, and nutrition education for low-income (below 185% of poverty level) pregnant, breastfeeding, and non-breastfeeding postpartum women, and to infants and children up to age five who are found to be at nutritional risk. Children have always been the largest category of WIC participants. Of the 9.17 million people who received WIC benefits each month in FY 2010, approximately 4.86 million were children, 2.17 millionwere infants, and 2.14 million were women.

Help close to home- these agencies provide charity. The challenge is to plant seeds that lead to reduction in the need for charity, • LCM • Helping Hands • Heavenly Manna • Agape • STEP • DSS in both counties • Rescue Mission of Roanoke • Free Clinics

Personal Experiences with • Good Neighbors • LCM • The Poverty Diet

February 27, 2012 Let’s Look at the Data—is there poverty in the paradise we call home?