Page 86 - 2015 Compass Now
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Table 17 shows the typical monthly expenses in Wisconsin for different family types.
Table 17: Monthly Expenses for Wisconsin Families
Monthly 1 Adult 1 Adult, 1 Adult, 1 Adult, 2 Adults 2 Adults, 2 Adults, 2 Adults,
Expenses 1 Child 2 Children 3 Children 1 Child 2 Children 3 Children
Food $242 $357 $536 $749 $444 $553 $713 $904
$0
Child Care $0 $638 $1,223 $1,829 $0 $0 $0
$349
Medical $140 $375 $407 $390 $296 $362 $339 $962
$748
Housing $523 $741 $741 $962 $607 $741 $741 $197
Transportation $306 $595 $686 $736 $595 $686 $736 $45,632
Other $67 $167 $234 $318 $119 $151 $171
Required $18,445 $41,487 $55,408 $71,971 $29,617 $36,000 $38,989
Annual
Income
Source: Massachusetts Institute of Technology-Living Wage Calculator
Figure 13 shows the percentage of children in the Great Rivers Region under the age of 18 who live in
families with incomes below the Federal Poverty Level. Based on this U.S. Census data, the percentage
of children living in poverty in La Crosse and Vernon Counties has decreased since the 2000 Census. The
percentage of children living in poverty for Trempealeau and Houston Counties has increased, while Monroe
County did not change significantly.
Figure 13: Percentage of Children Living in Poverty
An additional indicator for a community is the measure of food security. According to the U.S. Department
50%
INCOME/ECONOMIC 40%
% of Children 30%
20%
10%
0% La Crosse Monroe Trempealeau Vernon Houston
22.1 44.7 29.4
2000 20.2 41.2 29.8 39.8 31.2
2012
41.4 38.1
Source: U.S. Census, 2012
of Agriculture, “Food security for a household means access by all members at all times to enough food for
an active, healthy life.” Food insecurity is limited or uncertain availability of nutritionally adequate and safe
foods or limited or uncertain ability to acquire acceptable foods in socially acceptable ways. On a local level,
one of the best ways our community measures food insecurity is participation in food assistance programs.
These can include Food Share, Food Support, WIC, the National Lunch Program, and the use of food pantries.
78 COMPASS NOW 2015
