Poverty focus of community breakfast

from The Herald and Review

By SHEILA SMITH

DECATUR - Macon County is no longer on the warning list, but it remains on a poverty watch.

Macon County's poverty rate is 14.3 percent - or 15,361 people, and 85 percent of the counties in Illinois have shown increases in poverty between 2006 and 2007.

This according to a report released in February by the Heartland Alliance for Human Needs & Human Rights in Chicago.

On Tuesday, poverty was the topic of discussion, "From Poverty to Opportunity," during the seventh annual community breakfast at Grace United Methodist Church, sponsored by the Decatur-Macon County Homeless Council Continuum of Care.

Representatives from agencies, groups, businesses and churches discussed the trail of problems that poverty leaves behind.

"The majority of people living in poverty are working two and three jobs just to make ends meet," said Lore Baker, director of Homeward Bound. "Poverty is not a dirty word, and it is something people are experiencing."

Patti Faughn and Ruby Lingle with University of Illinois Extension talked about the hidden rules within the social classes.

For example, those who live in poverty quickly spend money on every day necessities. Those of middle class tend to manage and save some money. Those of wealth are more conservative and invest.

Those who live in poverty see education as something feared and rather focus on surviving. Those of middle class see education as way to climb the ladder of success. Those of wealth see education as a necessary means for maintaining connections and status.

Rachel Joy with the Decatur Housing Authority talked about community supportive services that help those struggling maintain self-sufficiency.

Ray Batman, executive director of Dove Inc., talked about the needs of impoverished children, but he also credited Decatur School Superintendent Gloria Davis for working with those children and the community.

Kathleen Taylor, director of Good Samaritan Inn, which helps feed the homeless, got to the point.

"The city needs to step up and recognize that this is a serious issue. It takes a $17.50 hourly wage to survive in Decatur. How many people in Decatur are making that kind of money?" she said.

"The city uses tax-base cuts to bring companies in ? but when jobs come here, they don't provide a livable wage for people," she added.

Sheila Smith can be reached at sheilas@herald-review.com or 421-7963.