When Working is Not Enough:

1
When Working is Not Enough Poverty in Washington
County
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Oregon minimum wage is 7.80 per hour or 16,224
per year.
This is 946 below the 2007federal poverty level
for a family of three.
3
Even a household earning 10.00 per hour or
20,800 annually
is struggling.
4
How far does 20,800 go in Washington County?
How does a family budget?
What do they leave out?
What choices do they make?
5
?
Rent
20,800
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Rent The Fair Market Rent for a 2-bedroom
apartment in Washington County is 700 a month or
8,400 per year. Source National Low Income
Housing Coalition, 2007.
20,800
- 8,400
12,400
7
?
Rent
Utilities
?
12,400
8
Utilities Electricity and natural gas cost an
average of 1,164 per year. Source
Community Action statistic based on client
information.
12,400
- 1,164
11,236
9
?
Rent
Utilities
?
Transportation
?
11,236
10
Transportation Two adult bus passes cost
1,628 per year. Source Tri-Met 2007
11,236
- 1,628
9,608
11
?
Rent
Utilities
?
Transportation
?
Food
?
9,608
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Food A family of three following the USDA
low-cost food plan will spend 6,737 on food
each year. Source U.S. Department of
Agriculture, Low Cost Food Plan, 2006
9,608
- 6,737
2,871
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?
Rent
Utilities
?
Transportation
?
Food
?
Health Care
?
2,871
14
Health Care Even with insurance, on average, a
family of three will pay 545 in out-of-pocket
expenses for health care. Source Agency for
Healthcare Research and Quality,
Medical Expenditure Panel Survey
Statistical Brief 159
2,871
- 545
2,326
15
?
Rent
Utilities
?
Transportation
?
Food
?
Health Care
?
2,326
Child Care
?
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Child Care Monthly child care fees range from
430 to 550 per child. A family with two
children will spend an average of 11,760 per
year. Source U.S. Department of Health and
Human Services 2006, National Association of
Child Care Resource and Referral Agencies
2,326
-11,760
- 9,434
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Now our working family is 9,434 over budget and
they still dont have everything they need.
What was left out?
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Taxes
Toiletries
School Supplies
Savings
Furnishings
Holiday Gifts
Clothes
Shoes
Laundry
Life Insurance
Cleaning Supplies
Recreation
Education
Entertainment
Birthdays
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These are the choices made every day by
low-income working families.
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How can you help?
?
Educate
?
Advocate
?
Participate
?
Donate
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EDUCATE
families about the Earned Income Tax Credit
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ADVOCATE
for accessible child care and
family-friendly work schedules
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PARTICIPATE
in community efforts to promote affordable
housing
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DONATE
to organizations that assist low-income families
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Imagine a community where families are strong,
resilient, involved in their community, and live
with dignity and security.
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Imagine a secure workforce.
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visit us at www.communityaction4u.org
Produced by Community Action 2007