A Disproportionate Share of the Increase in Poverty Is Borne by Women and the Elderly

STATEMENT OF:

Joan Kuriansky, Executive Director, Wider Opportunities for Women

On Poverty in the United States 2006

August 30, 2006


CONTACT: Deborah Cutler-Ortiz; Ph: 202-464-1596


Income Inequity Grows

A Disproportionate Share of the Increase in Poverty Is Borne by Women and the Elderly

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Census data released yesterday shows increased inequity as the benefits of a steadily growing economy benefit the wealthiest among us, while poverty increased for the average family and the growing population of elderly. As an organization committed to promoting economic security for women and girls throughout their lifetime, we are disheartened by the hit taken by women of color, single heads of households, and/or elderly. Clearly the growth of the wallets of the wealthy failed to trickle down to the average worker as poverty has remained unacceptably high –leaving behind 37 million people. The U.S. Census data shows some disturbing trends for women and their families and their elder parents:

The number of women in poverty increased — nearly 400,000 more women are in poverty in 2005 than 2004. Women in poverty reached 2.1 million in 2005.
14.1 percent of women live below 100 percent of poverty compared to 11.1 percent of men.
25.2 percent of women who did not finish high school are living in poverty.
38 percent of female headed-households with related children under 18 years of age (no husband present) are living in poverty.
Poverty is even greater among women of color:
o 11.9 percent of non-Hispanic white females are living in poverty;

o 27.1 percent of African-American females are living in poverty; and

o 23.9 percent of Hispanic females are living in poverty.


Despite the growing number of people reaching 65 and older, the U.S. Census data shows that poverty has remained at 3.6 million in 2005 – 10 percent of those aged 65 or older live in poverty ($9,367) and, 53 percent live below 200 percent of poverty ($18,734).

Women are almost twice as likely to live in poverty in their senior years as men (7 percent of men and 12 percent of women live in poverty).
Poverty it hitting older women of color harder than older non-Hispanic whites:
§ 8 percent of non-Hispanic whites live in poverty;

§ 25 percent of African-Americans live in poverty;

§ 22 percent of Hispanics live in poverty; and

§ 45.9 percent of older Hispanic women who live alone live in poverty.

These numbers are merely the tip of the iceberg. These figures represent use of an inadequate and out-of-date Federal poverty threshold as its baseline measure, thus failing to fully document hardship in our nation. In 2005, a family of four, including 2 children is living in poverty if the family income is at or below $19,806, far below subsistence for most American families. Even at incomes two to three times above this threshold, many families cannot meet their basic needs. For the elderly, costs for even the most healthy of the elderly can be as high as $23,600 a year, far above the poverty threshold level for seniors.

“It is within our power to make the hard choices necessary to rebuild our national psyche and protect our country, while making our economy work for women and their families”, said Joan Kuriansky, Executive Director of Wider Opportunities for Women. “If we are truly going to see a radical reduction in the number of Americans who are unable to meet their most basic needs: shelter, food, housing and health care, our federal policies, from taxes to education and wages, must be realigned. We can begin by making a commitment to infuse federal and state economic and social policies with the goal of not just moving low- income women and families out of the poverty but into true economic security”, Kuriansky said.

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