The Self-Sufficiency Standard: 2008

1. The Self-Sufficiency Standard:2008 A Tool for Change Community Action Board Montgomery County, MD Nov-08

2. What Is the Self-Sufficiency Standard? The Self-Sufficiency Standard measures: • The amount of income needed • for a family of a given composition • in a given place • to adequately meet basic needs • without public or private assistance. 2008 Self Sufficiency Standard Montgomery County MD

3. The Federal Poverty Guidelines are based on the cost of a single item: food (consistently 33% of a family’s total budget) The Standard is based on costs of: housing child care food health care transportation taxes miscellaneous The Self-Sufficiency Standard vs. the Federal Poverty Level 2008 Self Sufficiency Standard Montgomery County MD

4. The Self-Sufficiency Standard in Montgomery County, MD 2008 Self Sufficiency Standard Montgomery County MD

5. The Self-Sufficiency Standard in Montgomery County, MD 2008 Self Sufficiency Standard Montgomery County MD

6. The Self-Sufficiency Standard Comparative MD Statistics 2008 Self Sufficiency Standard Montgomery County MD

7. Child Care Costs for Montgomery County MD in 2008 Child Care expenses are based on a family of 4 that includes two children ages 1-2 & 3-5 years. Source: Maryland Child Care Resource Network, 2008 Maryland Report; data is not directly comparable to earlier reports. 2008 Self Sufficiency Standard Montgomery County MD

8. Getting to Self-Sufficiency: Reducing Costs With Supports • TANF • Housing Subsidies • Child Care Subsidies – POC & WPA • Food Subsidies • Health Care Subsidies • Transportation Subsidies • Child Support & Enforcement 2008 Self Sufficiency Standard Montgomery County MD

9. Self-Sufficiency Standard Compared with Income Eligibility Limits in Selected Public Subsidy Programs(Family Size = 3: One Adult, One Preschooler & One School-age Child ) 2008 Self Sufficiency Standard Montgomery County MD

10. How Can a Family Reach the Self-Sufficiency Standard? • Wage increases, longer work hours, extra job • Reduce costs through supports or reduced spending • Move COSTS INCOME 2008 Self Sufficiency Standard Montgomery County MD

11. Getting to Self-Sufficiency: Increasing Income • Better education • Better jobs, with higher wages and better benefits • Job training programs focused on particular high-wage industries • Nontraditional jobs for women 2008 Self Sufficiency Standard Montgomery County MD

12. 2008 Self Sufficiency Standard Montgomery County MD