Officials split on local poverty rate increase

from the Longview News Journal

Gregg County levels rise 3% in five years

By MIKE ELSWICK

Gregg County's poverty level jumped from 14.9 percent in 2000 to 17.9 percent in 2005, according to U.S. Census Bureau figures released Wednesday.

Those percentages translate into more than 3,700 additional county residents living at or below poverty levels in the five-year period. That jump took place despite Longview and East Texas economic indicators, such as unemployment rates and taxable sales, which have improved in recent years.

John Stroud, executive director of Longview Economic Development Corp., said he questioned the federal government's poverty estimates.

"There's just no way — all the facts and figures we have point in just the opposite direction," Stroud said. "Our per capita income is growing faster than both the state and national averages, and we have more jobs than we have people to fill them."

According to census estimates, Gregg County had 16,202 residents living in poverty in 2000. By 2005, that figure had risen by 3,778 — to 19,980 — census figures indicate.

Representatives involved in providing food, health care and other services for the area's needy say the figures were not unexpected, despite an overall improving local economy.

Mark Young, executive director of Longview Wellness Center, said that facility is having trouble keeping up with the demand for medical services it provides.

"Those figures don't surprise me at all," Young said. "They are pretty consistent with all the information I've seen."

The clinic provides medical care on a sliding fee scale for people who are not eligible for Medicaid, Medicare or other federal assistance, according to the clinic's Web site. Self-pay and sliding fee scale patients are offered lab services at greatly reduced cost.

An 11-county area, including and surrounding Gregg County, had poverty rates that were well above national averages, according to figures. While income and other criteria changed over those years, the criteria is standard across the nation, bureau officials said.

The national poverty rate in 2005 was 13.3 percent of the population, while for Texas the rate was 17.5 percent.

For Gregg County residents younger than 18, there was an even larger jump in poverty for the population as a whole in the five years. More than 8,100 residents younger than 18 were in poverty in 2005.

Sharon Kale, executive director of Longview Community Ministries, said she also was not surprised at the numbers.

"We've almost tripled our services in number of families served between 1999 and 2007," Kale said. The nonprofit organization, which provides food, coordinates the local Meals On Wheels program and provides other services to people in need, served 3,862 families in 1999, she said.

By 2007, Longview Community Ministries tallied 10,314 families served, representing 28,520 people, Kale said. The organization helps with utility bills, shelter and needs for gasoline, medical and dental services.

"We've just been overwhelmed — our resources, volunteers, facilities, finances and time are all stretched to the max," Kale said.

While many economic indicators in recent years have been positive with local unemployment rates at historically low levels and retail sales setting new records, Kale said many local families are suffering and struggling.

Income levels are not keeping up with rising costs for basic needs like shelter, utilities, transportation and food, she said.

"Our board, staff and volunteers have had many discussions about why the need is growing when the economy is apparently so strong," she said. "Most all of the clients we serve have jobs and many have two jobs, but they're still having a hard time.

"The cost of nearly everything, from groceries and gas to utilities, has gone up substantially," Kale said. "As a result, our client base is being pinched."

Young said the numbers do not reflect the reality of the struggles many residents meet in providing for their family's basic needs such as health care. For example, he said for a family of two, the federal government's poverty income level is about $13,600, while for a family of five, the income level is about $24,000 annually.

"If someone is living at 100 percent of the poverty level they are really poor," he said. Even with an household income at 200 percent of poverty, most families will have trouble paying for health insurance premiums, Young said.

"Recent figures I've seen indicate that between 23 and 27 percent of Gregg County families are without health insurance," Young said.

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'05 poverty rates

Gregg: 17.9%

Camp: 19.6%

Cass: 19.2%

Harrison: 18.5%

Marion: 22.8%

Morris: 20.5%

Panola: 15.8%

Rusk: 15.5%

Smith: 16.1%

Upshur: 16.4%

Wood: 17.1%

Texas: 17.5%

U.S.: 13.3%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau

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Gregg County poverty

— 2000 rate, 2000 numbers, 2005 rate, 2005 numbers

— 14.9%, 16,202, 17.9%, 19,980

Source: U.S. Census Bureau; numbers represent number of county residents estimated to be living at or below federal poverty guidelines.

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Gregg County poverty numbers for residents younger than 18

— 2000 rate, 2000 number, 2005 rate, 2005 numbers

— 22.0%, 6,481, 27.1%, 8,147

Source: U.S. Census Bureau; numbers represent number of county residents estimated to be living at or below federal poverty guidelines.

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What is poverty based upon?

— Poverty thresholds used by the U.S. Census Bureau change based on income and living expenses. In 2000, for example, for a single person younger than 65, with an annual household income of $8,959 or less was considered in poverty; for a family of four with two people younger than 18, the annual income figure was $17,463. In 2005, the poverty income level for a single person younger than 65 was $10,160 a year; for a family of four with two members younger than 18, the threshold was $19,806. While the poverty threshold changes from year to year, it is the same used nationally in determining poverty, officials said.