Online Reports on Poverty

Current Issues

PEOPLE IN POVERTY – STANDARD MEASURES AND DEMOGRAPHICS

The 2000 Health and Human Services Federal Poverty Guidelines – The US Dept. of Health and Human Services gives information on the official poverty guidelines and poverty thresholds. Additional information on how the poverty line is calculated.

Poverty in the United States: 1999 – A Census Bureau report on poverty in the US in acrobat reader. This study contains state by state data poverty rates, trends in the number of poor and poverty rates nationally. This study breaks poverty data down by race, family type and other selected characteristics.

Percent of Families in Poverty - Washington State - Taken from the Washington State Population Survey this fact sheet compares the poverty rates for selected regions across the State of Washington.

WASHINGTON STATE DEMOGRAPHIC INFORMATION

Washington State Population Survey: A Current Profile of WA State - An Office of Financial Management report based on US Census Bureau data. Provides a profile of residents on topics such as education, employment, income, health insurance and other factors.

INCOME INEQUALITY – THE GROWING DIVIDE BETWEEN RICH AND POOR

New!!! Working More for Less: The State of Working Washington - A Northwest Policy Center Report summary in acrobat reader. Despite economic prosperity in the 1990s, low income workers in Washington state worked more hours, yet earned less than before. Full Report due out September 7, 2001.

New!!! Executive Excess: Layoffs, Tax Rebates, Gender Gap - A United for A Fair Economy and Institute for Policy Studies Report in acrobat reader. While executive pay increased over 500% from 1990 to 2000, pay for workers only barely outpaced the rate of inflation. This report exposes trends in rising corporate salaries balanced against worker lay-offs and the wage and gender gaps.

IRS: Income Gains at Top Outpace Population - A Center on Budget and Policy Priorities report analyzing IRS data. Analysts found that the after tax income of the top 1% of filers has grown 40% since 1989, eight times faster than the bottom 90% of the population.

Pulling Apart: A State by State Analysis on Income Trends – A Center on Budget and Policy Priorities report in acrobat reader. Despite strong economic growth the gap between rich and poor has grown. This study has information on the distribution of wealth and how that distribution has changed over the last three decades. Also shows a state by state breakdown of income distribution.

The Widening Income Gulf – A Center on Budget and Policy Priorities report in acrobat reader. CBO data show that after tax income for the richest has grown substantially in the last two decades, but had risen little for middle and low-income Americans. This study analysis income trends nationally and discusses policy implications.

Washington Wage Report – A report from the Washington State Employment Security updated monthly. This study contains Washington-specific information on wages and earning trends. Information is broken down and compared by earnings, industry, county and as a portion of all jobs.

Labor Market Information Review – WA State Department of Employment Security’s report on the working poor in acrobat reader (report begins page 11.) Gives state’s unofficial definition of working poor (175% FPL) and breaks down working poor in the state by county , race, education and industry.

New!!! Northwest Job Gap Study: Washington Report – A study of "living wage" jobs in Northwest in acrobat reader. Living Wage jobs are those that pay enough to allow workers to meet their basic needs without resorting to public assistance. Study found that the Northwest is not creating enough living wage jobs for those who need them

Recent Trends in Wealth Ownership, 1983-1998 – A report on how wealth trends have changed since the 1980’s. Finds that though median wealth has risen slowly, inequality is still higher than in the ‘80’s. The report also examines how different groups have faired, finding that the racial divide in wealth distribution is unchanged.

TAXES AND THE STATE BUDGET

Despite Budget Crisis, Legislators Propose $977.9 Million in Tax Cuts - A report from the Fiscal Policy Center in acrobat reader. Despite the worst revenue shortfall in 20 years, legislators have proposed nearly 100 bills that would reduce general fund revenues totaling $977.9 Million in the 2001-03 biennium, and over $1.5 Billion for 2003-05.

Overview of the 601 Spending Limit - A Fiscal Policy Center report summarizing how the enactment of the 601 Spending Limit has affected the Washington State Budget Process. The report details the factors that drive budget spending and the overall affect of 601 on the General Fund.

Public Finance Note: 203,000 Washington Families Would Not Benefit from President's Tax Plan - A Fiscal Policy Center report on how many Washington families would not benefit from the Bush Tax Plan. Low and moderate income families would see no relief from the $2 Trillion cut.

Who Pays? A Distributional Analysis of the Tax Systems in All 50 States – A study by the Center for Tax Justice in adobe acrobat reader. This analysis finds that state and local tax systems take a greater share of income from middle and lower income families than from the wealthy. Of all 50 States, Washington has the highest tax on the poor as a portion of income.

The Bush Tax Plan: Largest Estates Benefit - A Center on Budget and Policy Priorities report on the proposal to repeal the estate tax. Analysts report that the plan would offer as much in tax reductions to the wealthiest 4,500 estates in the nation as it would provide the 142 million people with the lowest incomes.

WELFARE REFORM

Reality Check: The Reality of Welfare Reform for Families in Washington State - A Statewide Poverty Action Network (SPAN) Washington report on the impacts of welfare reform in Washington State. This survey of over 500 families found that the working poor on welfare were not getting the jobs they need to support their families, were often still unable to meet basic needs and many had difficulty in finding adequate childcare.

Assessing Washington State's WorkFirst Welfare Reform: A Failure in Promoting Upward Mobility and Steady Employment - A Statewide Poverty Action Network (SPAN) Washington report by Mark McDermott on how the WorkFirst program has consistently failed to meet its own wage progression and job retention goals and how this impacts, and how these goals were inexplicably lowered by Governor Locke.

Faces of Poverty: In-Depth Interviews with Families in Rural and Urban Washington State - A Statewide Povery Action Network (SPAN) Washington report on the experiences faced by families in poverty in Washington State. The result of in-depth interviews with 64 current and former recipients of TANF, this study gives a more intimate look at the effect of welfare reform on real people.

TANF Finance: Expenditure and Caseload Trends Undermine the Saftey Net - A Fiscal Policy Center report in acrobat reader. Despite caseload decline, by the 2001 - 2003 biennium the state will likely exhaust the surplus provided through federal funds. The safety net will be compromised if TANF caseloads rise due to a projected rise in unemployment.

Welfare to What? Early Findings of Family Hardship and Well-Being - A Children's Defense Fund and National Coalition for the Homeless report on the early findings of the impact of welfare reform. This study found an alarming increase in extreme childhood poverty, a proliferation of below-poverty wage jobs and rising hardship for those leaving TANF.

HUNGER AND FOOD SECURITY

Prevalence of Food Insecurity and Hunger, by State, 1996-98 – A study by the USDA in adobe acrobat reader. A State by State analysis of hunger and food security found that Washington had the 8^th worst rating on food security and the 3^rd highest rate of hunger, nationally, despite a poverty rate below the national average.

Food Stamps Can Help Low Income Families Put Food on the Table – A Center of Budget and Policy Priorities Report on how food stamps significantly improves low-income workers in their ability to purchase food. Study examined workers in Washington State leaving the welfare rolls.

Reaching Those in Need: Food Stamp Participation Rates in the States – A study by the USDA in adobe acrobat reader. Many hungry in the US who are eligible for food stamps still don’t get them. The USDA analyzed by state the rate of participation in food stamps of those eligible from 1994 – 1997, and found that fewer of those who are eligible are receiving food stamps. Washington State ranked below the national average for participation.

HOUSING AND HOMELESSNESS

Out of Reach - A study by the National Low Income Housing Coalition that analyzes the affordability problems renters looking for housing are likely to face in the private rental housing market and how many households in given areas are unable to afford Fair Market Rent (FMR) Data is available for every county in the nation.

State of the Cities Report - A report by the Department of Housing and Urban Development analyzes the most recent data on the economic vitality of American cities. The section on "New Housing Challenge" discusses the threats to housing affordability, higher rents, and housing prices.

State of the Cities Data System - Use this engine to view data on particular cities covered in the State of the Cities Report. The data system contains CPI housing information, employment rates and other economic factors.

Waiting in Vain: An Update on America's Rental Housing Crisis - A HUD Report on how despite unprecedented economic growth millions still struggle to secure decent affordable housing. Those facing "Worst Case Housing Needs" are at record levels. The booming economy itself may be a key factor.

The Widening Gap: New Findings on Housing Affordability in America - A HUD Report finds that the number of houses and apartments that low-wage families can afford is shrinking and many are threatened with homelessness.

Affordable Housing: An Annual Bulletin Tracking Housing Costs in King County - A report from the Office of Regional Policy and Planning of King County that analyzes housing and rental costs in relationship to the incomes of King County's workforce.

Hunger and Homelessness in American Cities - A US Mayor's Conference Survey of 25 cities including Seattle, WA found that a lack of affordable housing was the primary factor in the largest demand for emergency shelter in a decade.