Brought to you by: Mercy Hospital

Toolsview all


Poverty in Oklahoma: a ‘challenging’ forecast

 
By Bryan Painter | Published: January 8, 2009    Comment on this article Leave a comment

Neither used the terms "shocked” or "surprised.”

The U.S. Census Bureau recently released the "2005-2007 American Community Survey 3-Year Estimates.” Among other things, it showed increases in Oklahoma since the 2000 Census in the percentage of families and individuals below poverty level.

Multimedia

More Info

AT A GLANCE
BY THE NUMBERS


• The Census Bureau’s "2005-07 American Community Survey 3-Year Estimates” report showed 12.5 percent of Oklahoma families are below the poverty level, up from 11.2 percent in 2000.


• The report showed 16.6 percent of individuals in Oklahoma are below the poverty level, up from 14.7 percent in 2000.

The poverty threshold

• The Census Bureau’s poverty threshold includes nearly all income, before taxes, but does not include capital gains or noncash benefits such at food stamps and housing subsidies.


• Thresholds vary according to size of the family and ages of the members. As examples, for 2008, the poverty threshold is $10,590 for a single person, $13,540 for a couple, and a little more than $21,000 for a family of four.


• The same thresholds are used throughout the U.S. and do not vary by geographical area.


• The Census Bureau thresholds are intended for use as a statistical yardstick, not as a complete description of what people and families need to live.


• Each government aid program may define eligibility differently.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau

Add to that the fact that the recent survey ended before the current economic crisis.

But Rodney Bivens, executive director of the Regional Food Bank of Oklahoma, and Heide Brandes, community relations and development director for The Salvation Army Oklahoma City Area Command, weren’t surprised.

"We’ve seen a steady increase in clients coming to The Salvation Army for the past two years,” Brandes said.

In fiscal year 2007, The Salvation Army provided aid to 121,000 people. In fiscal year 2008, that number jumped up to 125,977. The group has seen increases in people needing help with groceries, meals and general assistance. For instance, in 2007 the organization provided 118,261 meals; in 2008, it served about 133,000 meals.

Bivens called the poverty situation "extremely challenging.”

"The Food Bank is operating in uncharted territory, since we have never experienced this level of demand for food or the difficult market conditions that exist,” Bivens said.

Page 1 of 2

Toolsview all



Related Topics: Culture and Lifestyle, Science and Technology, Social Issues, Food and Cooking, Social and Behavioral Sciences, Food Security and Hunger, Ethnic and Regional Cuisines, Demography, Government and Politics, U.S. Census



Leave a Comment

Thank you for joining our conversation on NewsOK.com. We encourage your discussion but ask that you stay within the bounds of our commenting and posting policy. Please help by flagging comments that violate these guidelines. Posts that contain obscene or vulgar language will be immediately flagged and not posted.

If you prefer your thoughts to appear in The Oklahoman, we encourage you to submit a letter to the editor.

Would you like to leave a comment?

Log in or sign up (it's free).

comments powered by Disqus

Ads by Yahoo!

5 Growth Stocks for 2012
Discover Your Best Opportunities For Safe Portfolio Growth.
www.insideinvestingdaily.com
Today's Top MMA Rates
Browse Top 25 Money Market Rates. Sort by APY,Reviews, Banks.
www.Bankaholic.com

News Photo Galleriesview all