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How Much is Really Enough? Understanding Self-Sufficiency in the Border Region. Diana Pearce, Senior Lecturer & Director, Center for Woman's Welfare University of Washington, School of Social Work pearce@u.washington.edu. Overview. The Self-Sufficiency Standard: The Why The What The How
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How Much is Really Enough?Understanding Self-Sufficiencyin the Border Region Diana Pearce, Senior Lecturer & Director, Center for Woman's Welfare University of Washington, School of Social Work pearce@u.washington.edu
Overview • The Self-Sufficiency Standard: • The Why • The What • The How • The Where
Median Income Compared toFederal Poverty Level Family of 4, 1963-2010 Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Current Population Survey, Annual Social and Economic Supplements, http://www.census.gov/hhes/www/income/data/historical/families/index.html, U.S. Social Security Administration, Annual Statistical Supplemental, Table 3.E8—Poverty guidelines for families of specified size, 1965–2010 (in dollars), http://www.ssa.gov/policy/docs/statcomps/supplement/2010/3e.html#table3.e8, and Gordon Fisher, U.S. Social Security Administration, The Development and History of the Poverty Thresholds, http://www.ssa.gov/history/fisheronpoverty.html.
The Federal Poverty Level does not vary by Family Composition The Federal Poverty Level is $23,050 for all 3 of these families
The Federal Poverty Level does not Vary by Place Is the cost of living the same in these counties?
How is the Standard Calculated? Monthly SSS= $5,889 Monthly SSS = $4,494
Laura Penny Executive Director
Users of the Self-Sufficiency Standard in Arizona include: • Non-profit organizations - for public policy advocacy • Government entities - for evaluating economic development proposals • Individual businesses and business groups - to address childcare costs for their workers
The “Crunch”: The SSS reveals how Earnings & the CPI Are Not Keeping up with Real Costs
Using the Standard • Online tools help with: • Financial literacy & basic budgeting • Accessing benefits • Exploring strategies to achieve financial, educational, and career goals
Standard Shows Impact of Works Supports Total Wage Needed to Meet Basic Needs Without Work Supports: $3,901 per month Pima County, AZ 2012One Adult, One Preschooler, One School-age Child Total Wage Needed to Meet Basic Needs With Work Supports: $1,167 per month
Standard is Used to Analyze Wages $23.60 per hourHourly Self-Sufficiency Wage: One Adult, One Preschooler, and One School-age Child in Pinal County, AZ
Making Progress Toward Self-Sufficiency • Seattle-King County: • Using the Self-Sufficiency Standard & the online calculator with clients, 2004-2008, 69% of customers had wages at 100% or above their specific Standard at exit
Self-Sufficiency Standard www.selfsufficiencystandard.org Diana Pearce, Senior Lecturer & Director Center for Woman's Welfare University of Washington School of Social Work pearce@u.washington.edu