Poverty, Concentrated
Poverty, and the Lived
Experience in Dallas
Dr. Timothy M. Bray
Director, The Institutefor Urban Policy Research
For This Afternoon…
What Is Poverty?
Poverty? In Dallas??
Why Does Poverty Matter?
What Can We Do About It?
How is Poverty Defined?
How Much Is Enough?
How Much is Too Little?
"Mollie Orshansky 1967" by UnknownSocial Security Administration History Archives.Licensed under Public Domain via Wikimedia Commons
Defining Poverty – 2014
Size of family unit
Related children under 18 years
None One Two Three Four Five Six SevenEight or
more
One person (unrelated individual
Under 65 years 12,316
65 years and over 11,354
Two people
Householder under 65 years 15,853 16,317
Householder 65 years and over 14,309 16,256
Three people 18,518 19,055 19,073
Four people 24,418 24,817 24,008 24,091
Five people 29,447 29,875 28,960 28,252 27,820
Six people 33,869 34,004 33,303 32,631 31,633 31,041
Seven people 38,971 39,214 38,375 37,791 36,701 35,431 34,036
Eight people 43,586 43,970 43,179 42,485 41,501 40,252 38,953 38,622
Nine people or more 52,430 52,685 51,984 51,396 50,430 49,101 47,899 47,601 45,768
Source: US Bureau of the Census, 2014 Poverty Threshold Table
Minimum Wage Is Often Below Poverty
Wage
Size of family unit
Related children under 18 years
None One Two Three Four Five Six SevenEight or
more
One person (unrelated individual)
Under 65 years 122%
65 years and over
Two people
Householder under 65 years 190% 92%
Householder 65 years and over
Three people 244% 158% 79%
Four people 247% 182% 126% 63%
Five people 256% 202% 156% 107% 54%
Six people 267% 222% 181% 139% 95% 49%
Seven people 271% 231% 196% 160% 123% 85% 44%
Eight people 277% 240% 210% 177% 145% 112% 77% 39%
Nine people or more 259% 229% 203% 176% 150% 123% 94% 63% 33%
What About a Living Wage?
Costs for a Family of Three in Dallas Co.
Food$6,704
Childcare$7,977
Medical$6,534
Housing$10,956
Transportation$9,859
Other$4,284
Required Income$46,315
Taxes$5,335
Income Before Taxes$51,650
Required Hourly Wage$24.83
Typical Annual Wages
Education, Training, and Library - $47,200
Healthcare Support - $24,600
Protective Service - $37,000
Food Prep, Serving , & Related - $18,620
Office & Administrative Support - $30,920
Production - $30,460
Community & Social Service - $42,580
Poverty in Dallas
Among Highest in
Poverty Rates
• In 2014, 25% of Dallas residents lived below the poverty line.
• 46% lived below 185% of the poverty line.
Poverty Outpaced
Population Growth
• Population grew by 8% from 2000-2014.
• Persons living in poverty grew by 49% from 2000-2014.
Children in Poverty
2000
Number of Children Living in Poverty
79,045
Percent of Children Living in Poverty
26%
Percent of Poor Who Are Children
38%
2014
Number of Children Living in Poverty
125,884
Percent of Children Living in Poverty
38%
Percent of Poor Who Are Children
41%
59% Increase Poor Children, 8% Increase PopHighest Poverty Rate and 2nd
Fastest Among Large Cities
Hispanics in Poverty
2000
Number of Hispanics Living in Poverty
101,705
Percent of Hispanics Living in Poverty
24%
Percent of the Poor Who Are Hispanic
49%
2014
Number of Hispanics Living in Poverty
156,104
Percent of Hispanics Living in Poverty
30%
Percent of the Poor Who Are Hispanic
50%
53% Increase Poor Persons, 8% Increase Pop3rd Largest Poverty Rate and 3rd
Fastest Among Large Cities
African Americans in Poverty
2000Number of African Americans Living in Poverty
72,320
Percent of African Americans Living in Poverty
24%
Percent of the Poor Who Are African American
35%
2014Number of African Americans Living in Poverty
98,888
Percent of African Americans Living in Poverty
32%
Percent of the Poor Who Are African American
32%
37% Increase Poor Persons, 2% Increase Pop2nd Largest Poverty Rate and 4th
Fastest Among Large Cities
Why Should We Care?
Source: US Department of Health and Human Services Healthy Marriage and Responsible Fatherhood
Economic Distress Impacts Civic
Participation
46% of Non-voters have family
incomes less than $30,000 per year.
Only 19% of likely voters are from
low-income families.
Address to the Joint
Session of Congress
Sept. 24, 2015
“In a word, if we want security, let us give security; if we want life, let us give life; if we want opportunities, let
us provide opportunities.”
-Pope Francis
Image Credit: Time Magazine
For More Information
Dr. Timothy M. Bray
Institute for Urban Policy ResearchThe University of Texas at Dallas
800 West Campbell Road, WT20Richardson, Texas 75080
V: 972-883-5430F: 972-883-5431
[email protected]://iupr.utdallas.edu
@timothy_bray