Today’s post follows on our recent post about reduced and free school lunches, whose eligibility is based on the federal poverty line.
According to a recent article by Shawn Fremstad, the federal government has proposed changing the way that poverty is measured so that there is a main measure of poverty and also a supplemental measure. The supplemental measure is intended to consider aspects of poverty that may not be captured in the main poverty line. For example, high costs of rent in certain areas.
Some people argue that this makes the measure of poverty too simplistic. For example, Fremstad notes a study that states that families whose members have a disability “need higher levels of income than families without disabled members to avoid food insecurity and various other material hardships.”
What do YOU think?
Should there be a supplemental measure of poverty, to consider other factors?
Or should we raise the overall poverty line?
What ways can we here in the greater Fredericksburg area address the challenges of poverty – for families with children who have disabilities and others too?
How do we get to the root of this problem before poverty occurs?
Join the conversation—we need your input!
There are several ways you can provide your thoughts and input on these important questions.
1. Post your thoughts or a brief response below here (just click on “Comment”)
2. Register to complete our online survey about aspirations and goals for Income (16 questions, takes about 10 minutes)...we’ll also ask you about aspirations and goals for Education and Health too.
3. Or, if you'd rather not complete the full survey, submit your thoughts in this brief online form (8 questions, takes about 5 minutes.)
No comments:
Post a Comment