Research conducted by: Marsha R. B. Schachtel Shelley E. Spruill

1. Making Ends Meet in Howard County Research conducted by: Marsha R. B. Schachtel Shelley E. Spruill Johns Hopkins Institute for Policy Studies ACS – General Membership Meeting Report Release September 21, 2011

2. ACS – “Work Support Initiative”An Inclusive Customer Centric Model Community Inclusion Socialization Health Care Education Focus Group Outputs Employment Housing Customer The Working Poor Income Support Programs Monitoring of Policy Changes Transportation Child Care Training Money Management Mentoring Family

3. Study Elements I Self-sufficiency income in Howard County and effects of increasing wages on eligibility for work support programs II Portrait of Howard County’s working poor • profile • citizenship • educational attainment • household composition • Individual income III Paths to self-sufficiency • projected growth industries in Maryland • occupations that pay self-sufficiency wages • training and education needed to obtain jobs within growth industries

4. Cost of Living in Howard County1 1 Howard County Maryland Self-Sufficiency Indicators Report (2009 and 2010) based on the Self-Sufficiency Standard for Maryland updated in 2007 by the Center for Women’s Welfare, University of Washington I. HC Self-Sufficiency

5. “Working Poor Individual” HC self-sufficiency wage $31,517 2009 FPL -$10,830 Difference $20,687 • Minimum wage: $7.25/hour 20 hours/week = $145 ($7,540) 30 hours/week= $217.5 ($11,310) 40 hours/week = $290 ($15,080) 60 hours/week = $435 ($22,620) 80 hours/week= $580 ($30,160) • There are 29,284 working poor individuals (17+) in Howard County I. HC Self-Sufficiency

6. Working Poor Households 7750 working poor households in Howard County I. HC Self-Sufficiency

7. HC Public Assistance (Work Support) Programs Food Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) Free and Reduced Meals (FARMs) Women, Infants and Children Nutrition Supplemental Program (WIC) Housing House Choice Voucher Program Public Housing Units Eviction Prevention Assistance Health Medicaid Primary Adult Care (PAC) Maryland Children’s Health Programs (MCHP) Financial and Bill Payment Temporary Cash Assistance (TCA) Home Energy Assistance (MEAP and EUSP) Child Care Child Care Subsidy Head Start I. HC Self-Sufficiency

8. Work Support Effect (as wages increase) 1 adult Loss of Home Energy Assistance s Loss of Tax Assistance Loss of Food Bank Grants Loss of Food Stamps Loss of Eligibility for Public Housing Loss of Eviction Prevention Loss of Primary Adult Care Loss of Earned Income Tax Credit I. HC Self-Sufficiency

9. Work Support Effect 1 adult; 2 teens Loss of Eviction Prevention Loss of SNAP Loss of TCA Loss of HCVP FARM Benefits Reduced Loss of Medicaid Eligibility I. HC Self-Sufficiency

10. Work Support Effect 1 adult; 2 preschoolers Loss of TCA Loss of Child Care Subsidy Loss of Eviction Prevention Loss of Head Start Loss of Medicaid Loss of HCVP Loss of Food Stamps I. HC Self-Sufficiency

11. Work Support Effect 2 adult family Loss of Eviction Prevention Loss of Public Housing Eligibility Loss of EITC Loss of Tax Assistance Loss of Food Stamps Loss of Home Energy Assistance Loss of Primary Adult Care Loss of Food Bank Grants Loss of HCVP I. HC Self-Sufficiency

12. Work Support Effect 2 adults; 1 infant Loss of Medicaid Loss of EITC Loss of Food Stamps Loss of HCVP Loss Public Housing Eligibility Loss of MCHP Loss of WIC Lose Eviction Prevention Loss of Child Care Subsidy Loss of Food Bank Grants& Home Energy Assistance I. HC Self-Sufficiency

13. Profile of the Working Poor Source: Census Bureau’s Public Use Microdata Sample (PUMS) for the two PUMAs (Public Use Microdata Areas) that comprise Howard County (901 and 902) II. HC Working Poor

14. Citizenship Status II. HC Working Poor

15. Educational Attainment II. HC Working Poor

16. Household Composition II. HC Working Poor

17. Individual Income II. HC Working Poor

18. Working Poor III. Paths to Self-Sufficiency

19. Employment by Industry *Included in “other“ • Paths to • Self-Sufficiency

20. Employment by Occupation Paths to Self-Sufficiency Source: 2007-2009 American Community Survey

21. Growing Industries & Occupations Paying Self-Sufficiency Wages in MD*projected growth 2008-2018 • Educational Services --10.5%* • Teachers at all levels, with some exceptions for pre-school • Medical Services --20.6%* • RNs, OT, PT, medical, dental assistants, Medical transcriptionists • Other Services-- 12.3%* • Hairdressers, Automotive service technicians, Supervisors/managers of personal services workers • Entertainment, Arts & Recreation –11.5% • Food Services & Accommodation-- 9.7%* • Chefs & head cooks, Supervisors/managers of food prep & serving workers, Cooks- short order • Construction--8.5%* • Carpenters, Drywall & ceiling tile installers, Electricians, Painters, Plumbers, Highway maintenance workers Source: MD Dept of Labor, Licensing and Regulation • Paths to • Self-Sufficiency

22. Growing Industries & Occupations Paying Self-Sufficiency Wages in MD • Professional, Scientific & Technical Services -- 24.8% • Computer support specialists, Network & computer systems administrators • Administrative & Support Services --14.8% • Customer service representatives, Supervisors/managers of housekeeping/janitorial, Supervisors/managers of landscapers, Tree trimmers & pruners, Correctional officers, Private detectives & investigators • Finance & Insurance --5.3% • Accountants & auditors • Transportation & Warehousing --4.1% • Bus drivers, Truck drivers • Social Assistance --19.7% • School counselors, Mental health counselors, Social workers • Paths to • Self-Sufficiency Source: MD Dept of Labor, Licensing and Regulation

23. Paths to Self-Sufficiency: An Example Industry: Medical Maryland Employment 2008 268,660 Percentage of HC working poor employed in this industry in 2009 10.5% 2008 – 2018 Expected Growth 20.6% • Paths to • Self-Sufficiency

24. Paths to • Self-Sufficiency

25. Some of the Big Questions • How do the working poor balance increased earnings with the loss of benefits and stay on the road to self-sufficiency? • How can Howard County motivate, support and guide the working poor on their journey to advancement? • How does Howard County build human capital through education and training ? • How does Howard County ensure workers juggling families and multiple jobs access to employment services? • Who needs to be at which table to resolve the challenges? Next Steps

26. ACS Public Policy Committee • Considering strategies to address key findings • Public Education • Need for HC community to understand the economic importance and precariousness of our community’s “working poor.” • Struggle for working poor; disincentives to earn more • Collaborations to address: • Affordable, accessible child care • Education and training opportunities • Accessible career/employment resources • Career coaching to help benefits recipients understand that increased income is essential to long-term stability Next Steps

27. Discussion • Comments about the study? • Approach • Findings • Questions that come to your mind? • Self-sufficiency income • Howard County’s working poor • Paths to self-sufficiency • Priority issues for the public and private Howard County to address? Next Steps

28. Thank you.