Page 19 - 2015 Compass Now

RATIONALE | INCOME/ECONOMIC AREAS OF NEED INCOME/ECONOMIC EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

Quality Housing • Quality Housing
• Affordability
The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development defines • Availability
“affordable housing” as costing no more than 30% of one’s income.
Those who pay more than this are considered cost-burdened and • Poverty
may have difficulty paying for other necessities (e.g., food, clothing, • Jobs with Adequate Income
medical care, transportation).

Poor housing conditions are associated with health conditions such as respiratory infections, asthma, lead
poisoning, injuries, and mental health issues. Studies have shown that poor-quality housing is the most
consistent and strongest predictor of emotional and behavioral problems in low-income children and youth,
and stress is higher for individuals living in poor housing and poverty. Because of local data on the quality of
housing in the region, the Income/Economic Council selected quality housing as a priority area of need.

Poverty

Individuals living in poverty are more likely to have developmental, learning, and intellectual disabilities. In
2012, approximately 12.2% of the Great Rivers Region was living in poverty. This is equal to or higher than
the Wisconsin and Minnesota state averages. The median household income in the Great Rivers Region was
also below state averages, and 37.3% of children received Free and Reduced Price school lunches in 2012.

The link between individuals living in poverty and the community impact can be clearly drawn. For example,
someone living in poverty is less likely to reach the same educational attainment as someone not living in
poverty. Therefore, it is more likely the person living in poverty will work a lower paying job, thus increasing
the likelihood they will be on public assistance, ultimately costing the taxpayer more. By addressing the root
causes of poverty, the community could ultimately decrease the financial and other costs society provides
to assist those living in poverty. For these reasons, poverty was determined a priority need by the Income/
Economic Councils.

Jobs with Adequate Income

Simply having a job is not always sufficient to provide an adequate income for covering basic necessities. A
minimum wage job frequently does not equate to an adequate income. Wisconsin’s minimum wage in 2015
is $7.25 per hour, well below the $9.60 per hour necessary for an individual living in La Crosse County to
meet basic needs, as estimated by MIT’s Living Wage Calculator. The average household income in the Great
Rivers Region in 2012 was approximately $49,000, which is below the Wisconsin state average of $59,126
and the Minnesota state average of $53,046. Because the availability of jobs with adequate income
was connected with other income and economic issues in the community, the Income/Economic Council
determined this to be a priority area of need.

INCOME/ECONOMIC HIGHLIGHTS | COMPASS NOW 2015 RANDOM HOUSEHOLD SURVEY

• Approximately 25% of respondents rated their ability to pay for housing as “fair or poor.”
• Over 58% of respondents rated the availability of jobs with wages that offer a good standard of living

as “fair or poor.”
• 57% of respondents rated the community efforts to reduce poverty as “fair or poor.”

COMPASS NOW 2015 11