A Profile of Poverty in Franklin County

1. A Profile of Poverty in Franklin County Community Action Agency Research Report

2. About Community Research Partners • Strengthening Ohio communities through data, information, and knowledge. • Unique non-profit research center and partnership: • City of Columbus • United Way of Central Ohio • John Glenn School of Public Affairs at OSU • Franklin County Commissioners

3. Franklin County CAA Research: Background • Columbus Areas Community Action Organization (CMACAO) closed in 2005 • Mayor Coleman formed a Task Force to examine problems at CMACAO and then design new CAA • CRP asked by the Task Force to conduct research to inform decisions about design of new CAA • Funded by the City of Columbus, United Way of Central Ohio, and Franklin County

4. Franklin County CAA Research: Research Questions • What are the characteristics of the U.S. and Franklin County poverty population and anti-poverty programs, and how have these changed since the 1960’s? • What are the needs of the Franklin County low-income population, and what programs and resources are available to address them? • What models and best practices should be considered in the development of the new Franklin County CAA?

5. Franklin County CAA Research: Research Methods & Data Sources • State and national literature on poverty issues • Social, economic, and demographic indicator data (CRP Community Indicators Database) • Client statistics from key service providers • FIRSTLINK Information and Referral Database • CRP human services funding resource inventory • Focus groups and community forums • CAA best practices interviews

6. Poverty in the U.S.

7. What is poverty? • Official poverty measure • Calculated annually by the Census Bureau • Varies by household size and type • 2004 single parent with 2 children: $15,219 • Economic self-sufficiency measure • Avoid serious hardship in basic needs • 200% of the poverty level • 2004 single parent with 2 children: $30,438

8. Who is poor? • The face of poverty has changed dramatically • 1960: white, rural, married couple family with children, elderly • 2000: female-headed family or non-family in central city of metro area; children; about half racial and ethnic minorities • Many people have experienced poverty • One-third of the U.S. population has likely experienced poverty at one time • Only about 6% of the population are poor for longer than 3 years

9. U.S. poverty rates up, after dropping in the 90’s

10. Poverty in Franklin County

11. Franklin County: relatively fast-growing poverty population

12. Who is poor in Franklin County? • 1 in 8 residents: 136,155 in 2004 • Most likely to be poor: • Female-headed families with young children (49% poverty rate) • Unrelated individuals (21%) • African Americans (27%); Hispanics (22%) • Least likely to be poor: • Married couple families (3%) • Persons age 65+ (9%) • Whites (9%); Asians (6%)

13. Household profile of the poverty populationn=76,530 in 2004

14. Racial profile of the poverty populationn=136,155 in 2004

15. Who is poor in Franklin County? • 76% of poor adults have at least high school diploma or GED • 37% have at least some college • 44% were employed in the past year • 6% full-time, year round • 38% part-time or part-year • Over 1 in 4 persons (294,166) below self-sufficiency level of 200% of poverty

16. Poverty has become much more dispersed

17. Geographic patterns of poverty rates

18. Reasons for changing geographic patterns Out-migration of higher-income households to adjacent counties Settlement patterns of immigrant populations with high birth rates Shrinking white population; growing minority populations Growth in single female-headed households with children throughout the county Growth of the working poor population in suburban locations

19. Hispanic or Latino population, 2000 The poor Hispanic population increased 21-fold from 1970 to 2000, from 340 to 7,429

20. Food Stamp recipients: indicator of the working poor Food Stamp Cases, First Quarter 2007

21. Poverty population: needs and services

22. Community input: changes in the low-income population Increased cultural diversity Increase in the number of non-traditional families Increased isolation of low-income residents Increased unemployment Growing senior population

23. Community input: unmet service needs Employment services Financial assistance Services aimed at developing self-sufficiency Low-income housing Health care Mental health services Education Transportation

24. Community input: barriers to accessing services Funding Lack of customer-oriented service delivery Lack of awareness of services and resources Stigma associated with low-income population Access to health insurance Stretched capacities of health/mental health facilities Legal barriers—immigrants, ex-offenders, grandparent guardians

25. Housing FIRSTLINK Referrals: Location • U.S. Department of Housing & Urban Development • Columbus Urban League • Interfaith Hospitality Network – YWCA • Friends of the Homeless • CMHA • Columbus Housing Partnership

26. Transportation/Senior Transportation FIRSTLINK Referrals: Location • Joint Organization for Inner City Needs • American Red Cross • COTA • Comfort Keepers • Transportation Resources, Inc. • Friends of the Homeless

27. Benchmarking Central Ohio: poverty

28. For more information Bobbie Garber Community Research Partners 614-224-5917 ext. 100 rgarber@communityresearchpartners.org www.communityresearchpartners.org