SNAP clients and low income Oregonians – trends, characteristics, and considerations

 Suzanne Porter, Forecast AnalystOregon Department Of Human ServicesOffice of Forecasting, Research & Analysis 500 Summer Street NE E-23Salem, OR 97301503.945.9778FAX: 503.378.2897Sue.porter@state.or.ushttp://www.oregon.gov/dhs/ofra/Pages/index.aspx

1,500,000

1,550,000

1,600,000

1,650,000

1,700,000

1,750,000

300,000

400,000

500,000

600,000

700,000

800,000

900,000

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Oregon employment and SNAP caseload

SNAP clients

Oregon non-farm employment

January 2012

January 2008

More than 90% of eligible Oregonians participate in SNAP most are <=130% of Federal Poverty Threshold)

22%

17%

10%9%

8%

11%

24%trade

accomodation

health care

administrative

construction

manufacturing

all other

22%

19%

13%

13%

4%

7%

23%

Employment by sector – new* adults associated with January 2012 SNAP households

2007 employment 2011 employment

100,000 workersMedian annual earnings: $13,132

104,000 workersMedian annual earnings

$7,270 (2007 dollars)

Total adults associated with SNAP households in January 2012: 522,000*New=Not on SNAP during 2007: 305,000

(Approximately 1/3 had Oregon employment in either 2007 or 2012)

45% decline in earnings

$12,200 $7,754

$7,341 $6,832

$15,256 $8,591

$4,831

$10,461

$19,543

$8,415

$22,919 $11,351

Percent of employment

Median client earnings Earnings in 2007$

SNAP clients by household composition: January 2008 v. January 2012

Single adults and children

40%

Multiple adults and

children26%

Adults without children

34%

Single adults and children

33%

Multiple adults and children

28%

Adults without children

39%

January 2008 clients

January 2012 clients

453,000 clients

799,000 clients

X 1.77

Poverty and geography

DHS has identified 30 High Poverty HotspotsPoverty rate>=20% of population in a census tractOnline reports provide characteristics of the area, its residents, and its SNAP clients

22% poverty rate (up from 10% in 2000)70% of housing is rental, most in apartments45% of students in three schools shown qualify for free or reduced school lunch

At least 1,650 SNAP clients as of January 201255% were children51% lived in a single-parent household

Elementary school

Geographic poverty concentration=school poverty concentration

These factors are more common in poor children and can affect mental and physical health, IQ, school achievement, and behavior:

Lack of prenatal care, low birth weight, maternal obesity or anxiety

Lack of medical and dental care

Food insecurity and poor diet

Exposure to environmental pollutants

Family stressors (neglect, domestic violence)

Neighborhood factors (neighborhood deprivation) – low income, high crime neighborhoods

School mobility and turnover

Source: David C. Berliner (2009)

Poverty and health

Milwaukie/Oak Grove

Otty Road areaWest Linn/Lake

Oswego

More information…

Oregonians affected by the Great RecessionPorter, S. and Edwards, M. (2010). Newly Poor in the Great Recession: Characteristics of Oregon households receiving food assistance

http://oregonstate.edu/cla/mpp/sites/default/files/pdf/newpoor_0.pdf.

How poverty affects children and their educational successBerliner, David C. (2009). Poverty and Potential: Out-of-School Factors and School Success. http

://nepc.colorado.edu/files/PB-Berliner-NON-SCHOOL.pdf.

High poverty hotspots in Oregonhttp://www.oregon.gov/dhs/ofra/Pages/index.aspx

BMI/DMV records studyhttp://public.health.oregon.gov/HealthyEnvironments/TrackingAssessment/EnvironmentalPublicHealthTracking/Pages/index.aspx

Economic costs of child povertyHolzer, H.J., Schanzenbach, D.W., Duncan, G.J., and Ludwig, J. (2008). The economic costs of child poverty in the United States. Journal of Children and Poverty, 14(1), 41-61.

Effects of early childhood povertyDuncan, G.J., Magnuson, K., Kalil, A., and Ziol-Guest, K. (2012). The Importance of Early Childhood Poverty, Social Indicators Research, 108, 87-98.