Michigan Area faces rising poverty

from The Gaylord Herald Times

By James Martinez, Staff Writer

OTSEGO COUNTY - Despite a decrease in county poverty from 1989 to 1999, officials believe rates are on the rise due to tough economic times.

According to numbers from a county profile released by Michigan State University Extension in November, poverty rates for families and individuals both decreased from 1989 to 1999 (see sidebar).

"What we need to remember is that was 1999, that was seven years ago. I think seven years ago things were looking good," said MSU Extension Director Phil Alexander, who expects poverty rates following the next census to be higher.

Otsego Human Services coordinator Pete Amar agrees with Alexander's assessment and points to both recent estimates by the U.S. Census Bureau and traffic through local aid agencies like the Otsego County Food Pantry as indicators of increased poverty rates.

"The gains have clearly slipped away," said Amar. "I think that as you look at Otsego County there is much in terms of positive growth and development that all of us have witnessed over the last five or six years, but all that positive growth hides the reality that for a significant portion of our community, families and individuals continue to live from paycheck to paycheck."

Estimates from the Census Bureau indicate current rates may have surpassed the poverty rates back in 1989 and 1999. The current estimates suggest the percentage of people of all ages in the county in poverty is at 9.8, an increase of 3 percent from 1999 numbers. That increase could be larger or smaller as the statistic comes with a 90-percent confidence interval that shows a percentage range of 7.4 to 12.1.

While Amar said it's important to remember that the Otsego County Profile is based on numbers from the 2000 Census and the 2004 figures are merely estimates, he believes the newer numbers should be taken seriously and do represent an increase in poverty.

Amar singled out what he believes to be a trend of many workers locally and nationwide moving to part-time jobs lacking health benefits, as part of the tough economic times spurring on the estimated increases.

"One of the things you'll see is significant increase in the use of community services, both in terms of local community service efforts and state and national programs meant to be a safety net," Amar said.

Judi Doan of the Otsego County Food Pantry says her numbers are consistent with statistics showing a spike in poverty (see chart).

"We're seeing a huge increase of the people that we've served," said Doan.

Recently, the pantry has seen more "blended-families," which Doan defined as families consisting of several generations from grandparents to grandchildren, who come and appear to be living together.

Both Alexander and Amar highlight that there is a lot of good being done in the community to combat the issue, but believe efforts need to continue.

"There's a spirit there but it's one we all need to constantly work on and it's that of being a family supportive community," said Amar. "It all comes down to, as we all know, enough good adequate jobs and affordable housing."