Poverty in the United States2011

Urban Plunge

Orientation & Poverty in the U.S.Catholic Social Teaching & PovertyBuilding Justice in the CitiesImmersion: Urban PlungeReflection & Analysis: Facultyhttp://www.nd.edu/~uplunge

Outline of Course

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9UsZOHb1pJY&feature=related

Poverty in the USA

Aimee Shelide: Institute for Church Life & St. Peter Catholic Worker

Charles Perkins: St. Peter Catholic WorkerPeter Lombardo: Center for the HomelessLaura Covington: Center for the Homeless

Panel: Poverty in South Bend

Current federal poverty line: $10,890 for a single person; for a family of four it is $22,350

In 2010, 46.2 million people (15.1%)Largest state in the Union1 in 5 children (22 %): $500 billion annual cost to the

U.S. economy from childhood povertySouth is the poorest region (16.9%)Employment among young adults ages 16-29 stood at

55.3%, lowest since the end of WWII# of households receiving food stamps swelled to 13.6

million, meaning that nearly 1 in 8 receives gov’t aid

Poverty in the U.S.

What are some of the causes of poverty that you heard? Of the people you will meet?

Share with a Neighbor

Behaviors of the individualAddiction, mental illness

Lack of human & social resourcesFew jobs, lack of childcare

ExploitationPay Day loans, predatory mortgages,

sweatshopsPolitical/Economic Structures

Deindustrialization, taxation patterns

Causes of Poverty

Method established in 60’s to address the “War on Poverty” based on food: historical artifact

Official measure no longer corresponds to reality

Does not get either side of the equation right: how much the poor have or how much they need

A limited view of income by counting cash alone

Ignores expenses like taxes & medical costsOutmoded way by relying on emergency food

costsOnly been adjusted for inflation since ‘63

Poverty Line

Started this year by the federal governmentCounts more in income (food stamps, WIC, tax credits,

housing aid) & more expenses (medical)Shows poverty rising more slowly in the recession

than official data suggestsGov’t help is keeping people out of poverty: EITC,

food stampsSharp rise in “deep poverty”: living on less than half

the $ needed to no longer be poorNew measures show many more people in “near

poverty”: incomes btwn 100-150% of poverty lineWorking poor

New Measure

Extreme poverty = areas where at least 40% of the population lives below the poverty line = Urban Plunge

# of people living in neighborhoods of extreme poverty grew by 1/3 over the past decade

More than 10% of America’s poorResidents more likely to experience

joblessness, poor schools, broken families & high crime

Highest in the metropolitan MidwestNeighborhoods of extreme poverty grew in ¾

of the nation’s largest metropolitan regions

Extreme Poverty

How Catholic social tradition can be integrated on a practical level

Poverty: more than just insufficient incomeBenefits of asset-based approach to poverty

reduction

Rethinking Poverty

How are sites you visit addressing the issue?2 Feet: Charity & JusticeDirect ServiceEducationAdvocacyEmpowerment

Solutions to Poverty

Community OrganizingEducation Reform & OpportunitiesExpanding employment opportunities & fair

wagesImproving support services for women &

childrenRedefining the “poverty line”Creation of affordable housingWorker cooperativesIndividual Development Accounts

Solutions

www.opportunitynation.orgwww.catholiccharitiesusa.orgwww.povertyusa.org

Resources

Sun., Nov. 20th @ 6:30 pmCatholic Social Teaching & PovertyRead Justice in the World link on webpageRemember to register for the course when

you are darting inRight now go meet in your city groups with

your site leaders: rooms posted outside.

Sites Meet & Next Class