The pitfalls of poverty

from The Echo Press

By Al Edenloff, Editor
Alexandria Echo Press

People living in seedy, falling-down homes or cardboard boxes in a garbage-strewn alley are popular images of poverty.

But it’s not always so obvious.

For more people, even those with steady jobs, poverty is an ongoing struggle to pay for basic needs – housing, food, heat, electricity.


It’s more common that many think. In fact, an estimated one in 10 children in Douglas County is living in poverty.

It’s a pressing enough issue that the United Way of Douglas and Pope Counties has made poverty its priority issue.

“It is crucial that we start to address the poverty that exists throughout Douglas and Pope County,” noted Jessica Boyer, community impact director. “That is why United Way of Douglas and Pope Counties is focusing its efforts on poverty.

The basic cost of living for a family of four in Douglas County (Region 4) is $42,162, according to the “Jobs Now” 2006 Cost of Living in Minnesota report.

This budget is based on a “no-frills” standard of living. No money is included for debt payments or skills training.

Nothing is included for entertainment, restaurant meals, vacations, gifts for children, emergencies, retirement, or children’s education, Boyer noted.

Only one community in Douglas County – Carlos – has a median income above $42,162. As the accompanying table shows, the other cities are anywhere from 5.7 to 15.3 percent below the median.

Interestingly, Boyer said, the Federal Poverty Guideline for 2007 is $20,650; therefore there are more individuals struggling to make ends meet than just those individuals that qualify as “living in poverty.”

U.S. Census data figures released on August 28, 2007 report that five years into economic recovery, little progress has been made in the areas of poverty and median income since the 2001 recession, according to the United Way.

As noted by the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, 2006 is the first time on record that five years into a recovery from a recession, poverty remains higher than it was during the recession, Boyer pointed out.

“It is true that poverty declined from 12.6 percent in 2005 to 12.3 percent in 2006, and that median income rose slightly. Unfortunately, little of the economic growth in 2006 was shared by people at or below the median income,” Boyer said.

The Minnesota State Demographic Center found that from 2000-2005 only the richest 10 percent of households saw their incomes increase more than inflation.

According to Coalition on Human Needs, during the recession year of 2001, 11.5 percent of all Americans were poor.

In 2006, the number grew to 12.3 percent. Median income rose slightly, but it is still lower than it was in 1999, and for the past three years both men and women's earnings have been declining, Boyer said.

Only more workers per household have kept the overall income from declining, she added.

United Way hopes to bring together community members from all entities to address the issue – those that have professionally been dealing with the issue for years, those that understand this is a community effort and those that personally understand the struggles of living in poverty.

“United Way wants to bring more resources to the table and, together with the community, start sustained change for the future,” Boyer said.

For more information or to become involved, contact United Way of Douglas and Pope Counties at (320) 763-4840 or visit the Web site www.uwdp.org.