A report commissioned by the Ohio Association of Community Action Agencies shows that to be self-sufficient in Marion County – meaning now outside support from the government – a family of four with two adults, an infant, and a preschooler would have to have an income of $43,557.
The numbers are causing a stir as they indicate the federal poverty levels, which were set 45 years ago, are set too low.
The self-sufficiency standard indicates the amount of income needed to cover the cost of transportation, food, housing, health care, child care, and other expenses.
For a family of three (1 adult, 2 children) the self-sufficiency standard is $35,556. The median income for a family of three in Marion County is $47,700 meaning half the qualifying families make more than that amount and half make less. The federal poverty level for that same family is $17,600, less than half the standard rate.
Welfare would pay the same family of three $10,022 in benefits.
In Marion County, families making between $23,850 and $38,160 would be considered low income families; between $14,310 and $23,850 would be called very low income, and less than $14,310 would be classified as extremely low income.
Belmont, Carroll, Morrow, and Van Wert Counties were the only ones out of the 88 where a single person could live off the minimum wage of $7.00.
The report will be given to Governor Ted Strickland who has created an Anti-poverty Task Force to make recommendations.
