HomeMy WebLinkAboutSubmittal-Natacha SeijasA Pr
Losfng Ground.
e o 'Florida's IFamUes fin Poverty
Research Institute on Social and Economic Policy
Center for Labor Research and Studies
Florida International University
Miami, FL 33199
www.risep-fiu.edu
Ali Bustamante at 305.348.1519 or albustam@fiu.edu
Alayne Unterberger at 305.348.1415 or 813.477.2882 or aunterbe(n,fiu.edu.
13 - 0O506 - Subm r 1a. j - Oat c h a. Seta
SUMITTED INTO THE
UBLC RECORD FAR
ITEM fLA.,0 :2.5-
Research Institute on
Social & Economic Policy
A Profile of Florida's Families in Poverty
By: Ali R. Bustamante Ph.D. (c) and Alayne Unterberger Ph.D.
Research Institute on Social and Economic Policy
Center for Labor Research and Studies
Florida International University
Miami, FL 33199
Executive Summary:
The 2012 American Community Survey (ACS) released by the U.S. Census Bureau's
shows that 22.6% of Florida's more than 18.6 million residents can be qualified as poor, in deep
poverty or near poverty. In fact, the poverty rates and total amounts of Floridians in deep
poverty, poverty and near poverty have all risen continuously between the years 2007 and 2011.
Not only have Florida's poor increased in total numbers and in the share of the general
population, but they have also become poorer as noted by the continuous increase in the mean
income deficit during this period.
It is evident that poverty is a problem affecting more than 3 million Floridians while 4
million more live on incomes within 200% of the poverty threshold. The data show that the
Great Recession had a punctuated negative effect on Florida's poverty levels, concentrating the
more dramatic increases in poverty between the years 2008 to 2009. It also shows that poverty
levels increased prior to the recession and continued to increase afterwards. This evidence points
to a general systemic failure in Florida to reduce poverty that was compounded by the Great
Recession and a slow economic recovery.
Since 2007, individuals and families throughout Florida have experienced declines in
their real median and mean incomes while income inequality has increased. The gap between the
very poor and those individuals earning more than $50,000 a year has widened as the percentage
of people earning incomes between $10,000 and $50,000 has declined considerably. Likewise,
the number of families earning more than $35,000 has declined. The reduction in real wages
manifested by the decline of middle -income earners highlights the observed increases in income
inequality between the 2007 and 2011.
The majority of poor Floridians can be characterized as: White, women, adults, native
citizens, non -working residents, and individuals that live in a family household. Whites, native
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citizens and individuals that live in a family household likely represent the majority of poor
because of their status as the demographic majority in Florida. However, non -working residents
of all colors and ethnicities are likely to be poor due to their inability to obtain sufficient non -
wage income above the poverty threshold while women are likely poor due to due many factors
including gender wage differentials.
Women and children are the Floridians most vulnerable to poverty. Among Florida's
most vulnerable to poverty we also find African -Americans, non -naturalized foreign born
residents, non -working residents, and individuals who have not graduated from college. Female
households that do not have a husband present, particularly African -American families, fare the
worst. These populations of Floridians are disproportionately more likely to be poor because they
face considerable levels of economic insecurity stemming from socioeconomic constraints such
as limited access to living wages, government benefits and social services.
This report also shows that poverty is a problem for families and communities and not
just individuals. The majority of all poor Floridians live in a family household. The strong link
between poverty and families as well as the links between poverty and race, gender and
education highlight the fact that many Floridians have difficulty in accessing the resources and
incomes necessary to survive. Incomes, employment and the composition of households are
important factors shaping how Floridians are affected by poverty. As a result, some possible
solutions to Florida's pervasive poverty problem are: better quality jobs with benefits, higher
incomes, jobs with more work hours, higher education and sound socio-economic policies that
assist families.
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Losing Ground:
A Profile of Florida's Families in Poverty
Introduction:
According to the U.S. Census Bureau's 2012
American Community Survey (ACS), the number of
Florida residents living in poverty 'and near poverty
increased considerably in 2011. In fact, about 23% of
Florida's more than 18.6 million residents can be
qualified as poor, in deep poverty or near poverty. This
report seeks to unpack the state of poverty in Florida by
profiling the millions of Floridians in or near poverty
and by surveying the general poverty trends affecting Florida residents. Crucial to this report is
an analysis of poverty in the context of the Great Recession triggered by the 2008 economic and
financial crisis. In this effort, the report incorporates a comparative view on Florida's poverty
levels before, during, and after the recession.
23% of Florida's more than
18.6 million residents can be
qualified as poor, in deep
poverty or near poverty.
U.S. Census, ACS 2012
The Context:
Poverty is a state of economic hardship and insecurity that affects Floridians of all
backgrounds and imposes an immense social and economic cost on residents, families and the
state. However, some demographic groups outnumber others within the state's poor population
while other groups are disproportionately represented and therefore more vulnerable to being
poor. In fact, as will be explored, the majority of Florida residents in or near poverty are White,
women, adults, native citizens, non -working residents, and individuals that live in a family
household. Furthermore, when we look at the demographic groups most vulnerable to poverty
we find that poverty rates in Florida are considerably higher for children, African -Americans,
females living in a family without a husband, non -high school graduates, and the non -working.
Although poverty is a multidimensional phenomenon, the mainstream view on measuring
poverty entails the designation of a poverty line that represents a very low income level
conducive to economic hardship and insecurity. The federal poverty threshold is measured
annually by the U.S. Census Bureau and the 2011 poverty threshold for all individual single
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persons under the age of 65 is $11,702. This means that if an individual's annual income is less
than the $11,702 threshold then they are considered to be in poverty. By the same token, if the
individual's annual income is less than half of that threshold, $5,851, then they are considered to
be in deep poverty. Additionally, if the individual earns less than 125% of the poverty threshold,
$14,628, then he/she is considered to be "near poverty." Lastly, the poverty threshold is adjusted
depending on the size and composition of the family unit, as is the case when children are
present. The U.S. Census Bureau's 2011 poverty threshold is used for all 50 states and D.C.
without any geographic variation and is adjusted to the price level of the year for which poverty
is measured in order to account for inflation.
Table li
Poverty Threshold for 2012
Size of Family
Related Children Under 18
None
One
Two
Three
Four
One Person
$11,702
Two People
$15,063
$15,504
Three People
$17,595
$18,106
$18,123
Four People
$23,201
$23,581
$22,811
$22,891
Five People
$27,979
$28,386
$27,517
$26,844
$26,434
According to the ACS, which uses the
U.S. Census Bureau's 2012 poverty threshold,
more than 4.2 million Floridians were near
poverty, about 22.6% of the state's total
population, more than 3.1 million were in
poverty, about 17% of the state's population
and about 1.4 million were in deep poverty,
about 7.5% of the state's population (see table
The Poverty Math:
23% or 4.2 Million Near Poverty
17% or 3.1 Million in Poverty
7.5% or 1.5 Million in Deep Poverty
2). Furthermore, the total amounts of Floridians in deep poverty, poverty and near poverty have
all risen continuously between the years 2007 and 2011. What's more alarming is the
U.S. Census Bureau. 2013. Poverty Thresholds for 2011 by Size of Family and Number of
Related Children Under 18 Years, Detailed Tables; generated by Ali Bustamante; using
American FactFinder; http://factfinder.census.gov/home; (20 February 2013).
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considerable increase in the rates of deep poverty, poverty and near poverty that occurred during
this same period. For example, 5% of Florida's population was considered to be in deep poverty
in 2007 and that increased to 7.5% in 2011. Similarly, the poverty rate increased from 12.1% in
2007 to 17% in 2011.
The dramatic increases in the total number of poor Floridians and in the poverty rate are
due mainly to the recession. The gains in deep poverty, poverty and near poverty are
concentrated in the recession period of 2008 to 2010. However, it is
worth noting that poverty was increasing before and after .the
Florida's poor are
getting poorer at recession, albeit at a slower rate. Also worthy of note is the fact that
both the individual the more drastic increases in poverty have occurred in the number of
and family levels. people in deep poverty, earning incomes less than 50% of the poverty
threshold.
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Table 2
Florida Poverty Headcount, 2007-2011
Year
Deep Poverty
Poverty
Near Poverty
Earning 0% of
Poverty Level .
Earning 185% Of
Poverty Level
Earning 200% of
Poverty Level
Headcount
% of Total
Population
Headcount
% of Total
Population
Headcount
% of Total
Population
Headcount
% of Total
Population
Headcount
% of Total
Population
Headcount
% of Total
Population
2007
892,338
5.0%
2159457
2.1%
2,980,407
16.7%
3,843,652
21.
5,043,632
28,3%
5,595,469
31.4%
2008
985,792
5.5%
2,365,900
13.2%
3,208,303
17.9%
4,108,899
22.9%
5,325,291
29.7%
5,822,725
32.5%
2009
1,178,111
6.5%
2,700,594
14,9%
3,624,958
20.0%
4,582,888
25.3%
5,934,739
32,7%
, 6,497,313
35.9%
2010
1,364,322
7.4%
3,042,070
16.5%
4,037,657
21.9%
5,008,837
27.2%
6,437,806
34.9%
6,933,565
37.6%
2011
1,398,904
7.5%
3,170,850
17.0%
4,215,365
22.6%
5,258,563
28.2%
6,694,807
35,9%
7,242,203
38.8%
%
Change
2007-
2011
56.80%
50.0%
46.8%
40.5%
41,4%
35.3%
36.8%
30.9%
32.7%
27.0%
29.4%
23.9%
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• 45.0%-
, 40.0%
— 30.0%
II 25.0%
20.0%
40
g- 15.0%
10.0%
5.0%
Graph 1
Florida Poverty Rates, 2007-2011
— Deep Poverty
Poverty
—Near Poverty
2007 2008
2009 2010 201
— Earning 150%of Poverty
Level
Earning 185% 0f Poverty
Level
Earning 200%of Poverty
Level
The income deficit is an important indicator for poverty because it highlights the gap
between what people need to earn to survive and their actual income. The mean income deficit
for Florida residents has also increased between 2007 and 2011. This means that the difference in
income earned by individuals in poverty and the poverty threshold has widened. Using 2007
inflation -adjusted dollars, in 2007 poor individuals
were earning an average of about $5,800 below the
poverty threshold and this deficit increased to $6,127
in 2011, an increase of 5.6% (see table 3). Likewise,
the mean income deficit for families also increased in
this period from $7,649 to $8,210, a 7.3% increase
when using 2007 dollars. Therefore, Florida's poor are
getting poorer at both the individual and family levels.
The greatest increase in the mean income
deficit for individuals and families occurred between
2008 and 2009, signaling that the Great Recession had
a punctuated negative effect on both individual and
Table 3
Mean Income Deficit,
2007-2011 (in 2007 dollars)
-
: .
Year " "
- . . ..
.. ,..
Mean
Income ,- DeficitDeficit
for
Individuals
. .
Mean
Income
for
Families
2007
$5,800
$7,649
2008
$5,844 --
" $7,667
2009
$6,048
$8,306
2010 . :
$6,07 -
$8,442'
2011
$6,127
$8,210
%Change
2007-2011 '1'
'*'• 2-
:TP:7":,::e :
I:* 77.'''
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family incomes. While the size of the mean income deficit since has since declined for families
the deficit has continued to increase for individuals. Chart I shows the extent that Florida's
families and individuals are losing ground every year since 2007, making it more difficult to
escape poverty.
$9,000
$8,000
$7,000
$6,000
111-) $5,000
cig $ 4, 0 06
•'a' $3,000
g $2,000
$1,000
$0
Chart 1
ncome Deficit, 2007-2011
(in 2007 dollars)
2011
Individuals
B Families
Income:
More than 9.1 million of Florida's 18.6 million residents are income earning individuals
16 years of age and older. In 2007 inflation adjusted dollars, working Floridians' median income
is only $24,321. However, the median income for men is considerably higher than for women,
$27,745 and $21,716 respectively (see table 4). What's clear is that the median incomes for
Floridians, both men and women, have declined continuously between 2007 and 2011, by a total
of 11.1% (see graph 2). Men saw more drastic decreases in median income than women between
2007 and 2009 while women saw greater decreases in median income than men between 2009
and 2011. However, men experienced the greater overall declines in median income as they
suffered from higher unemployment rates than women due to their greater involvement in the
construction sector.
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Table 4
Median Individual Incomes, 2007-2011 (in 2007 dollars)
Group
Year
—
% Change from
2007-2011
2007
2008
2009
2010
2011
Women
$23,649
$23,230
$22,1 6
$21,953
$21,716
- .2%
Men
$31,619
$30,260
$28,076
$27,937
$27,745
-12.3%
Total
-$27,353
$26,391
$25,014
$24,681
$24,321
-11.1%,
Graph 2
Median Annual Individual Incomes, 2007-2011 (In 2007 do
$35,000
$30,000
525,000
0
r$20,000
E $15 000
'
sio,000
0
$5,000
2007 2008 2009. 2010 *, 2011
—Women
— Men •
— Total
Furthermore, among Florida's 5.6 million full-time year-round workers the mean income
has also continuously declined since 2007. In 2011 the mean income in 2007 inflation -adjusted
dollars was $46,291, down from $49,194 in 2007 (see table 5). The trend may be reversing for
men as noted by the increase in 2011 but much improvement is needed to return to the pre -
recession income levels. Unfortunately, these figures likely overstate the mean income because it
only considers full-time year-round workers and excludes many Floridians that do not work full-
time hours despite wanting to do so.
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Table 5
Mean Individual Incomes, 2007-2011 (in 2007 do
lars)
2007
2008
2009
2010
2011
% Change from
2007-2011
Women
$40,053
$38,724
$38,477
$38,449
$37,976
-5.2%
Men
555,885
$54,499
$53,467
552,747
$53,186
-4.8%
Total
$49,194
$47,581
$46,814
$46,267
$46,291
-5.9%
Graph 3
Mean Annual Individual Incomes, 2007-2011(in 2007 dollars
$60,000
-(2 550,000
f?) 540,000
^-t-:4 $30,000
520,000
510,000
2007 2008 29.09 2010 2011
—women
—Men
Total
...income inequality
among Floridians
has grown between
2007 and 2011.
According to the ACS figures, about 80% of Florida's full-time year-
round income earners earn incomes below $65,000 while most earn
between $15,000 and $65,000 (see table 6). This means that the great
majority of Floridians are working class and middle class individuals.
It is alarming that since 2007 the percentage of people earning
incomes between $10,000 and $50,000 has declined while the number
of people earning incomes below $10,000 has increased dramatically. The number of income
earners earning more than $50,000 has also increased considerably. The shift in income trends
shows that income inequality among Floridians has grown between 2007 and 2011.
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Table 6
Individual Income Groups as a % of All Income Earning Individuals, 2007-2011
Total
2007
2008
2009
2010
2011
.
% Change from
2007-2011
$1 to $9,999 or less
1.8%
2.2%
2.6%
2.5%
2.3%
27.8%
$10,000 to $14,999
5.7%
5.5%
6.2% -
- 5.5%
5.4%
-5.3%
$15,000 to $24,999
19.3%
18.9%
20.1%
19.0%
18.7%
-3.1%
$25,000 to $34,999 .
20.5%
19.8%
19.7%
39.4%
19. %
75.9% . 'S
$35,000 to $49,999
21.3%
21.5%
21.8%
21.0%
20.8%
-2.3%
$50,000 to $64,999
12.7%
12.9%
11.3%
1 . 0 .
13.5%
6.3% '
$65,000 to $74,999
4.7%
4.6%
4.7%
4.7%
4.7%
0.0%
$75,000 to $99,999
. 6.2 0
6.5%
6.5%
• 6.8%
6.7%
8.1 0 .,
$100,000 or more
7.8%
8.0%
7.1%
8.0%
8.6%
10.3%
When looking at Florida's 4.5 million families we find that the median income is $49,378
and the mean income is $67,555. We find that similar to individual incomes; family incomes
have also experienced continuous declines between 2007 and 2011 (see graphs 4 and 5).
However, non -married families experienced greater declines in median and mean incomes than
did married families. Additionally, married families suffered declines in both median and mean
incomes concentrated between 2008 and 2009 while non -married families experienced
significant declines nearly every year between 2007 and 2011. The latter likely points to the
increased vulnerability of non -married couple families to poverty that is not specific to the
economic downturn.
Table 7
Median Family Incomes, 2007-2011 (in 2007 dollars)
2007
2008
2009
2010
2011
,
% Change,
2007-2011
Total
$56,966
$55,200
$51,757
$50,314
$49,378
-13.3%
Married
$66,747
$65,463
$61,428
$60,436
$59,344
- . 'V
Non -married
$30,954
$29,497
$28,145
$27,408
$25,942
-16.2%
•
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$86,000,
'6 $60,000
.13
8 $50,000
ev •
•
40 $40,000
g $30,000
g $20,000
4.1
$10,000
$0'
Median Annua
Graph 4
Family Jncomes
in 2007 dollars)
. .
• 2007 • 2008 2009 2010 2011
—.Total
•—Married
Non -married
Mean Fami
Table 8
y Incomes, 2007-2011 (in 2007 dolla s
2007
2008
2009
2010
2011
nge
Cha- '
2011
Total Total
$76,959
$74,517
$69,938
$68,306
$67,555
-12.2%
Married
$88,713
$85,960
$80,909
579,649
$78,946
-11.0%
Non -married
$43,921
$41,828
$40,306
$38,580
$37,737
-14.1%
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to
0
0
0
eo
W
GC!
E
O
$100,000
$90,000,
$80,000
$70,000
$60,000
$50,000
$40,000
$30,000
520,000
510,000
$0
Graph 5
Mean Annual Family Incomes (in 2007 dollars)
2007 2008. 2009 2010. 2011
Total
Married
—tNon-married
The majority of Florida's families, 78.9%, have annual incomes below $100,000. In fact,
46.1 % of families earn less than $50,000 annually (see table 9). What's more is that the number
of families earning less than $35,000 has increased considerably since 2007 while the number of
families earning more than $35,000 has declined. The shift was concentrated but not exclusive to
the recession period between 2008 and 2009. It can be concluded that the recession created
greater income inequality among families in Florida with considerable preexisting inequalities:
Table 9
Family Income Groups as a % of All Income Earning Families, 2007-2011
Income Range
2007:.
2008
2009
2010
2011
% Change, 2007-2011
Less than $10,000
3.90%
4.10%
5.00%
5.60%
5.40%
38.5%
$10,000 to $14,999
3.30% :
3.40%
3.80% .
3.90%
4.00%
21:2%
$15,000 to $24,999
9.50%
9.30%
10.20%
10.10%
10.20%
7.4%
$25,000 to $34,999
10.80%
10.70%
11.30%
11.30%
. 11.50%.
._. 6.5%
$35,000 to $49,999
15.50%
15.30%
16.30%
15.80%
15.00%
-3.2%
$50,000 to $74,999 .
21.50%
20.90%
20.30%
20.20%
20.00%
-7.0% .:
$75,000 to $99,999
13.70%
13.80%
13.00%
12.90%
12.80%
-6.6%
$100,000 to $149,999
13.00%
13.20%
12.00.%
12.30% :.12.50%
-3.9%
$150,000 to $199,999
4.30%
4.50%
3.90%
4.00%
4.40%
2.3%
$200,000. or. more.
4.50%
4.80%..
4.00%
4.10%
4.40%..-
; -2:2%
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Race:
More than 96% of Florida's population can be qualified as White (non -Hispanic or
Latino), African-American/Black, or Latino/Hispanic. Whites comprise the overwhelming
majority of Florida's poor and non -poor residents;
representing about 57.5% of the state's total
Since Whites comprise the largest
population and about 39.4% of the state's population
share of Florida's population they
outnumber all other ethnic/racial in or near poverty. Since Whites comprise the largest
groups in every poverty category: share of Florida's population they outnumber all
deep poverty, poverty and near
other ethnic/racial groups in every poverty category:
poverty.
deep poverty, poverty and near poverty (see table
10). However, because rates are a proportion of the
total population, Whites enjoy the lowest rates of poverty in every poverty category among other
ethnic/racial groups.
Conversely, the third largest ethnic/racial group, African-Americans/Black, which
account for 15.7% of Florida's total population, have the highest poverty rates in every poverty
category among other ethnic/racial groups (see table 11). The disproportion of African -
Americans in or near poverty is so severe that they are more than twice as likely as Whites to
live in deep poverty, poverty and near poverty. This signals a considerable level of economic
vulnerability among Florida's African -American population.
Table 10
Individual Poverty Headcount by Race, 2007-2011
Year
White
Deep
Poverty
White
p overty
White
Near
Poverty
Black
Deep
Poverty
Black
P vertv
° "
Black
Near
Poverty
Latino
Deep
Poverty
Latino
Pove "
Latino
Near
Poverty
2007
401,130
899,832
1,246,755
254,360
597,076
797,886
199,702
591,709
843,185
2008
464,683
1,026,624
1,394,048
258,799
593,080
784,483
237,991
672,419
921,742
2009
527,644
1,130,665
1,539,859
341,256
743,550
946,084
278,938
758,240
1,037,178
2010
587,140
1,227,657
1,622,642
356,046
821,202
1,059,523
373,123
913,942
1,219,987
2011
578,797
1,232,622
1,661,360
401,266
866,968
1,083,710
373,433
974,360
1,330,624
% Change
44 3%
37 0%
33 3%
57 8%
„.
45.270
..
8%s5.
87.0%
64.7%
57.8%
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Tab e 11
Individual Poverty Rates by Race, 2007-2011
Year
White
Deep
Poverty
White
_
Poverty
White
Near
Poverty
Black
Deep
Poverty
-
Black
Poverty
Black
Near
Poverty
Latino
Deep
Poverty
'
Latino
Poverty
Latino
Near
Poverty.
2007
3.7%
8.3%
11.5%
9.5%
22.3%
29.8%
5.4%
16.0%
22.8%
2008
4. %
9.5%
12.9%
9.6%
22,%
29.1%
p.3%
1 17.8%
24.4%
2009
4.9%
10.5%
14.3%
12.3%
26.8%
34.1%
7.1%
19.3%
26.4%
2010
5,5%
11.5%
15.2°
12.4%
28.6%
36.9°
8.9%
21.8%
29.1%
2011
5.4%
11.5%
15.5%
13.7%
29.6%
37.0%
8.7%
22.7%
31.0%
% Change
2007-2011 '
-
45.9%
-
38.6%
34.8%
44.2%
_
32.7%
24.2%
61. %
41.9%
36.0%
Chart 2
Individual Poverty Rates by Race, 2007-2011
40.00%
35.00%
30,00%
..... 25.00%
20,00%
cc
15.00%
cL
10.00%
5.00%
0.00%
2007 2008 2009
• Year
• 2011...
hite deep poverty
13 White poverty
White near pciverty
Black deep poverty
tra Backpoverty.
: 6 Black near poverty
0 Latino deep poverty
C Latino poverty
--- Latino near poverty
. ; .
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Todd B. Hannon
Latinos, the largest minority population in the state which accounts for 23% of Florida's
total population, are also particularly susceptible to poverty. Compared to Whites, Latinos are
twice as likely to be in and near poverty and one -and -a -half times more likely to be in deep
poverty. It is also particularly alarming that during the period between 2007 and 2011 Latinos
experienced the greatest increases in deep poverty, poverty and near poverty headcounts and
rates among all groups The recession had a punctuated negative impact in the poverty and near
poverty rates of Whites and African -Americans concentrated between 2008 and 2009 while the
recession's negative effects on Latinos' poverty rates has been deeper and more prolonged,
lasting through the years 2007-2010. It is worth noting that Latinos or Hispanics can be of any
race and are considered an ethnicity and that this data groups together all Latino groups,
regardless of how long they have been in the U.S.
Gender:
Women account for about 51.5% of Florida's total population and yet they account for
54% of all individuals in and near poverty. Women also exhibit higher rates of poverty, deep
poverty, and near poverty than their male counterparts (see graph 6). This means that women not
only outnumber men within Florida's poor population but they are also disproportionately more
vulnerable to being poor. Data for the 2007-2011 confirm that women have historically been
more vulnerable to living in and near poverty. However, it has been men who have experienced
the greatest increases in deep poverty, poverty, and near poverty rates since 2007. Both men and
women experienced the greatest increases in poverty between 2007 and 2010 but it was men who
absorbed the greatest increases.
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161Page
Table 12
Individual Poverty Headcount by Gender, 2007-2011
Year
Male Deep.
Poverty
Male
Poverty
Male Near
Poverty
Female
Deep
Poverty
Female
Poverty
.....
Female Near
Poverty
2007
391,953
940,686
1,315,219
502,518
1,215,180
1,672,015
2008
436,8 4
1,057,259
1,441,717
560,334
1,313,570
1,772,861
2009
530,479
1,228,943
1,662,168
649,843
1,485,355
1,968,096
2010
634,949
1,404,042
1,851,189
721,532
1,642,436
2,174,091
2011
651,895
1,448,656
1,937,577
758,239
1,718,034
2,274,716
% Change
2007-2011 '
aG a
' '
54.0%
47.3%
50.9%
4 .4%
6.1%
Graph 6
Individual Poverty Rates by Gender, 2 07-2011
25.00% •
•20.00%
15.00%
10.00%
2007 2008 2009 2010
tylaie deep poverty
: : • •
• ---..Male poverty •
near poVerty .
Female deep poverty
Ferna le poverty
Female near poverty
. . _
.r.. _
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A main reason why women are disproportionately more vulnerable to living in and near
poverty is because men tend to out earn women in Florida. In fact, women are disproportionately
represented in the number of workers with annual earnings below $25,000 while men comprise
the majority of workers with annual earnings above $65,000
(see table 13). The gender earnings gap exists even after
controlling for similar levels of education. At all levels of
education, men earn higher wages than their female
counterparts providing them with a wage premium from
being men and giving women a wage penalty. While some of
the earnings differential between men and women can be
explained by the differences in college major and
occupational choices, a significant portion of that differential
is due gender discrimination.2 Although the gender wage gap
has declined since 2007 the size of the gap is still
considerably large varying between $4,138 for individuals
without a high school diploma and $21,739 for individuals
with a graduate or professional degree (see table 14).
A gender gap exists even
after controlling for similar
levels of education....
Although the gender wage
gap has declined since 2007
the size of the gap is still
considerably large varying
between $4,138 for
individuals without a high
school diploma and $21,739
for individuals with a
graduate or professional
degree.
Corbett, Christianne and Catherine Hill. 2012. Graduating to a Pay Gap: The Earnings of
Women and Men One Year after College Graduation (2012). Washington D.C.: American
Association of University Women.
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Table 13
Individual Income Groups as a % of All Income Earning Individuals by Gender, 2007-2011
.Income
Range
2007
2008
2009
2010
2011
% Change from
2007-2011
Men
Women
Men
Women
Men
Women
Men
Women
Men
Women
Men
Women
$1 to
$24,999
2 . 0
31,9 0
22.7%
31.7%
25.6%
33.2%
24,0%
30.6%
23.4%
30. 0
1.3%
-5.6%
$25,000 to
$64,999
53.2%
56.1%
53.0%
55.9%
51.4%
54.5%
51.1%
56.4%
51.3%
56.2%
3.6%
0.2%
$65,000 or
more
23.7%
12.0%
24.3%
12.4%
23.2%
12.4%
24,9%
13.1%
25.3%
13.7%
6,8%
14.2%
Table 14
Income Premium for Men by Education Level, 2007-2011 (in 2007 dollars)
Level of Education
2007
2008
2009
2010
2011
% Chan e fr
g m
-
2007-20110
Less Than High School Graduate
$6,484
$6,464
$4,887
$4,439
$4,138
-36.2%
High School Graduate
(Includes Equivalency)
$9,236
$8,077
$6,544
$5,049
$5,635
-39.0%
Some College or
Associate's Degree
$10,104
$8,658
$7,567
$7,636
$7,650
-24.3%
Bachelor's Degree
$14,912
$12,968
$11,716
$11,958
$11,815
-20.8%
Graduate or Professional Degree
$24,105
$21,980
$20,841
$19,866
$21,739
-9.8%
19 I P age
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Todd B. Hannon
Age:
When
(18-64), and
children, and
dividing Florida's population into three age groups: children (under 18), adults
the elderly (above 64) we find that 61.2% of all residents are adults, 31.2% are
the remaining 17.7% are elderly. Adults represent the majority of Florida residents
When compared to adults,
children are one -and -a -half
times more likely to be in
poverty and near poverty.
When compared to the
elderly, children are more
than twice as likely to be in
poverty and near poverty and
more than three times as
likely to be in deep poverty.
as well as the majority of poor Floridians. In fact, adults,
who are 61.2% of the population, comprise 63.7% of all
people in deep poverty, 58.7% of all people in poverty and
58% of all people near poverty. Conversely, the elderly
represent the minority of poor Floridians as well as the
population least vulnerable to poverty (see table 15).
By contrast, children are the most vulnerable. It is
discomforting to note that based on the size of their
population, children have disproportionately higher rates of
poverty, deep poverty and near poverty than other age
groups (see graph 7). When compared to adults, children are
one -and -a -half times more likely to be in poverty and near poverty. When compared to the
elderly, children are more than twice as likely to be in poverty and near poverty and more than
three times as likely to be in deep poverty.
Between 2007 and 2011, children and adults have both experienced substantial increases
in the levels and rates of deep poverty, poverty and near poverty. The bulk of these increases in
poverty were concentrated between 2008 and 2010, signaling that the recession's negative
effects on income earners was felt similarly by the child dependents of income earners.
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Table 15
Individual Poverty Headcount by Age, 2007-2011
Year
Children
Deep
Poverty
.
Children
Poverty
Children
Near
Poverty
Adult
Deep
Poverty
It
Adult
Poverty
Adult
Near
Poverty
Elderly
Deep
Poverty
Elderly
Poverty
Rate
Elderly
Near
Poverty
2007
278,124
679,416
925,754
554,041
1,194,991
1,618,670
69,230
282,940
445,480
2008
291,6 1
721,319
965,700
609,115
1,327,000
1,762,082
90,039
322,900
481,245
2009
367,463
850,757
1,118,366
715,794
1,541,711
2,026,248
93,552
318,077
483,353
2010
409,403
925,094
1,188,845
858,166
1,806,666
2,348,665
89,840
317,647
487,700
2011
424,871
979,564
1,262,811
890,854
1,861,656
2,444,138
92,312
329,686
504,420
% Change
2007-2011
52.8 0
44.2°
36.4%
60.8%
55.8%
51.0%
33. %
3.6.5%
13.2%
35%
30%
25%
13 20%
t' 15%
411
0
10%
5%
Graph 7
Individuai Poverty Rates by Age, 2007-2011
- Children deep poverty
--.-Chirdren poverty
Children near poverty
--Adult deep poverty
-Adult poverty
- Adult near poverty
Elderly deep poverty -
Elderly poverty
Elderly near poverty
2007 2008 2009 2010 2011
•
Nativity:
The majority of Florida residents are native citizens, individuals born in the U.S.
accounting for 80.3% of the state's total population, about 15 million people. It is of no surprise
that 75.7% of all Florida residents in poverty and near poverty are also native citizens.
Conversely, naturalized citizens, U.S. citizens born outside the U.S., are only 9.8% of the state's
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Todd B. Hannon
total population and have the lowest rates of poverty, deep poverty, and near when compared to
native and non -naturalized foreign born residents. At the same time, non -naturalized foreign born
residents are much more likely to be in poverty, deep poverty, and near poverty than native and
naturalized citizens (see graph 8). The disproportionately higher poverty rates of non -naturalized
foreign born residents is likely due to the general lack of access to government benefits and
social services such as health and human services programs. 3 Working non -naturalized foreign
born residents and their families face stricter program eligibility requirements and other barriers
to access social services despite often paying into these programs.
During the period between 2007 and 2011, all Floridians, irrespective of their nativity
status, experienced similar increases in deep poverty, poverty and near poverty (see table 16).
However, naturalized citizens have experienced the
greatest gains in deep poverty despite continuing to have
During the period between
2007 and 2011, all Floridians,the lowest deep poverty rates of native and foreign born
irrespective of their nativity residents. Most of the increases were focused on the period
status, experienced similar between 2008 and 2010 but were similarly distributed
increases in deep poverty, among all individuals with distinct nationalities making it
poverty and near poverty. clear that the recession did not disproportionately affect
one nativity group.
3 Capps, Randy, and Karina Fortuny. 2006. Immigration and Child and Family Policy.
Washington, DC: The Urban Institute.
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Todd B. Hannon
Table 16
Individual Poverty Headcount by Nativity, 2007-2011
Year
Native
Deep
Poverty
Native
Poverty
Native
Near
Poverty
Foreign
Born
Deep
Povey
Foreign
Born
Poverty
Foreign
Born Near
Poverty
Naturalized
Citizen Deep
Poverty
Naturalized'
Citizen
Poverty
Naturalized
Citizen Near
Poverty
2007
722,436
1,676,051
2,297,346
176,698
489,317
689,801
40,358
155,224
229,732
2008
801,600
1,850,967
2,477,672
190,890
525,783
733,418
52,312
177,544
253,634
2009
968,844
2,128,521
2,833,135
213,611
582,261
799,317
53,582
190,886
274,608
2010
1,081,701
2,356,033
3,082,106
278,661
691,223
951,789
72,149
232,284
329,069
2011
1,123,906
2,427,637
3,191,893
278,665
744,329
1,019,328
76,685
253,790
359,688
% Change
2-2011
007
55.6%
44.8%
38.9%
57.7%
52.1
47.8%
90.0%
63.5h
56.6%
23IPage
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--NatiVe pov r "
Native near poverty
—Foreign porn deep poverty .
Foreign born poverty
• born near PoVertY •
..„
. . . . .
.*•* Nathraliied citizen deep.
• , tOovertY'* .• • •• •
Naturalized citizen poverty•..
--Naturalized citizen near
Work status:
About 11.9 million Floridians are of working age, ages 16 to 64, that's about 63.8% of
the state's total population. However, only 45.7% of all Floridians of working age are working
full-time hours year-round. Unemployment and underemployment are problems for Floridians
that have become exacerbated by the recession. Underemployment is defined as working fewer
hours than desired and a full 25.8% of all Floridians of working age are working less than full-
time hours year-round while 28.5% are not working at all. Work is related to poverty and it is not
surprising that more than 1.2 million of working Floridians of working age are in or near poverty
compared to the more than 1.3 million non -working Floridians working age also in or near
poverty (see table 17).
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Table 17
Individual Poverty Headcount for Working -Age Population, 2007-2011
Year
Working Age Deep
Poverty
.
Working Age Poverty
Working Age Near
Poverty
2007
578,214
1,281,140
1,723,303
2008
646,084
1,394,182
1,847,575
2009
756,892
1,616,997
2,144,528
2010
906,211
1,906,575
255
2011
927,998
1,963,073
2,581,738
% Change 2007-2011.
60.5%
53.2%
49.8%
While poverty affects both working and non -working Floridians of working age, the non-
working considerably outnumber their working counterparts in all poverty categories. Non-
working Floridians of working age are also substantially more likely to be in poverty, deep
poverty and near poverty. Non -working Floridians of working age are twice as likely as their
working counterparts to be in deep poverty and one -and -a -half times as likely to be in poverty.
Table 18
Individual Poverty Headcount by Work Status for Working -age Population, 2007-2011
Year
Full -Time
Worker
Deep
Poverty
Full -Time
Worker
Poverty
.
Full -Time
Worker
Near
Poverty
Non Full-
Time
Worker.
Deep
Poverty
Non Full-
Time
Worker
Poverty
Non Full -
Time
Worker
Near
Poverty
Not
Working
Deep
Poverty
Not
Working
Poverty
Not
Working
Near
Poverty
2007
16,767
139,725
285,040
223,695
504,148
661,068
342,188
631,361
778,357
2008
23,532
164,723
305,915
220,389
520,119
678,799
397,103
706,240
864,578
2009
21,947
164,606
307,265
247,322
594,826
779,535
487,441
863,711
1,054,696
2010
26,760
181,965
331,818
271,808
6 9, 66
849,400
602,432
1,08 ,714
1,304,714
2011
27,168
184,745
353,190
282,206
662,571
868,091
621,516
1,120,767
1,365,298
% Change
2007-2011
_2 0% _.
6
'
32 2%
'
.
23 9%
'
26 2%
*
31 4%
'
31.3%
1.6%
77.5%
75.4%
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Todd B. Hannon
individual Pove
t; 20.00°4
o
15,00?
. .
5.00%
2007 2008 2009 2010
In fact, Floridians of working age that work full
time have negligible rates of poverty, deep poverty and
near poverty. However, poverty rates across all poverty
categories rise noticeably if the worker works less than
full-time hours (see chart 3). This means that
employment and the level of employment play
significant roles in determining whether individuals are
vulnerable to poverty. However, whether jobs are
available and whether those jobs offer sufficient
working hours are factors that workers cannot control.
Data for the 2007-2011 period show that full-time
< 011-tierie working deep
' pOverty -
< Full-tiriie working near
poverty •.-,,
Not
orking poVerty
orking near poverty
Non -working Floridians of
working age are twice as
likely as their working
counterparts to be in deep
poverty and one -and -a -half
times as likely to be in
poverty.
workers experienced the greatest
increases in deep poverty. Additionally, workers working less than full-time hours experienced
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Todd B. Hannon
the biggest gains in poverty and near poverty levels. Workers working less than full-time hours
increased poverty levels most between 2008 and 2010. The latter is likely due to the shortening
of working hours during economic downturns that led to income declines for workers working
less than full-time hours.
Disability:
The more than 2.4 million Florida
residents with disabilities are also affected by
poverty. Floridians with disabilities are a
relatively small portion of the state's poor
population but they are also particularly
vulnerable to poverty, deep poverty, and near
poverty as indicated by their higher poverty rates
when compared to Floridians without disabilities
(see chart 4). Between 2007 and 2011 Florida
residents with disabilities did experience
increases in deep poverty, poverty and near
poverty but considerably less so than residents
without disabilities (see table 19).
Table 19
Individual Poverty Headcount for
Disabled Population, 2007-2011
Year
Disabled
Deep
Poverty
Disabled
Poverty
Disabled
Near
Poverty
2007
156,392
463,963
646,421
2008
159,829
451,692
604,572
2009
176,414
461,927
626,736
2010
177,122
488,855
665,977
2011
190,815
514,477
693,215
%Change
2007-2011
22.0%
10.9%
•
7.2%
271P a ge
Submitted into the public
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Todd B. Hannon
Chart 4
Individual Poverty Rates for the Disabled, 2007-201
ci Disabled near poverty
DiSa bled poyerty
Disabled deep poverty
Education:
Of Florida residents aged 25 and older, the great majority have graduated from high
school or its equivalent, 86.3% and most have completed some college coursework or attained a
college degree (56%). The 1.8 million Floridians aged 25 and older who have not graduated from
college are noticeably more likely to be in poverty, deep poverty and near poverty than those
who achieved higher levels of educational attainment. The overall trend is that higher levels of
educational attainment lower the exposure to poverty at all levels (see table 20). This trend is
supported by empirical research showing that educational attainment has a general positive effect
in increasing incomes.4
During the period between 2007 and 2011, Floridians of all different levels of educational
attainment experienced considerable increases in poverty levels. However, residents with some
college coursework experienced the greatest increases in deep poverty, poverty and near poverty;
83.1%, 73.4% and 74.0% respectively. Florida residents with a high school degree also
experienced considerable gains in deep poverty. All poverty increases occurred mainly between
4 Jacobson, Louis and Christine Mokher. 2009. Pathways to Boosting the Earnings of Low -
Income Students by Increasing Their Educational Attainment. Washington D.C.: Hudson
Institute Center for Employment Policy.
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Todd B. Hannon
2007 and 2010 making it clear that individuals of all skill levels are similarly affected by
economic downturns.
Table 20
Individual Poverty Headcount by High School Attainment, 2007-2011
Year Year
Achieved <
High School
Deep
Poverty
Achieved <
High School
Poverty
Achieved <
High School
Near
Poverty
Achieved
High School
Deep
Poverty
Achieved
High School
Poverty
Achieved High
School Near
Poverty
2007
128,347
374,195
527,850
166,549
437,676
631,338
2008
148,094
417,519
553,124
174,597
442,065
631,522
2009
163,363
464,955
619,342
214,899
512,742
716,331
2010
196,319
510,794
678,029
253,157
598,371
817,007
2011
186,113
508,232
674,660
272,587
636,037
873,070
,Change
2007-2011
45 0%
'
35 8%
'
27.8%
63.7%
45.3%
38. %
40.00%
35.00%
• 30.00%
— ▪ 25.00%
es
rg 20.00%
> • 15.00%
•10.00%
5.00%
0.00%
Graph 9
Individual Poverty Rates by High School Attainment, 2007-2011
2007 2008 2009 2010 2011
--Achieved < high school deep -
poverty
—Achieved< high school
poverty
--Achieved< high school near
poverty
Achieved high school deep
• poverty
—Achieved high school
poverty
Achieved high school near
poverty
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Todd B. Hannon
Table 21
Individual Poverty Headcount by College Attainment, 2007-2011
Year
Achieved Some College/Associates Degree
Achieved Bachelor's Degree Or Higher
Deep Poverty
Poverty
Near
Poverty
Deep
Poverty
Poverty
Near
Poverty
2007.
: 100,021
244,878
344,899
61,326 .
129,108. .
180,752
2008
133,266
314,655
436,816
78,280
159,821
218,530
2009
158,562
351,103
494,564
77,219
160,873
215,570
2010
184,780
411,905
573,587
93,958
187,917
255,030
2011
183,107
424,651
599,966
92,157
191,140
262,817
%Change
2007-2011
83.1%
73.4%
74.0%
50.3%
48.1%
45.4%
18.00%
16.00%
14.00%
12.00%
a, 10.00%
oc
a 8.00%
0
a ..
6.00%
Graph 10
Individual Poverty Rates by College Attainment, 2007-2011
4.00%
2.00%-
0.00%
2007 . :: 2008 2009.. 2010 . :: .2011.
Achieved some
college/associates degree deep
poverty
Achieved some
college/associates degree
poverty
Achieved some
college/associates degree near
poverty
Achieved bachelor's degree or
higher deep poverty
Achieved bachelor's degree or
higher poverty
• Achieved bachelor's degree or
higher near poverty
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Families:
The overwhelming majority of Floridians live in a family household, 81.9% of the state's
total population. Florida is home to more than 4.5 million families, 72.2% of which are
comprised of married -couple families while 20.7% are single female households without a
husband and 7.1% are comprised of other family arrangements (see table 22). While people
living in families do not have disproportionately higher rates of poverty than individuals not in a
living arrangement involving a family household it is alarming to find that the most people in
poverty and near poverty live in a family household. Florida residents living in a family
household comprise about 68.8% of individuals in deep poverty, 73.2% of those in poverty and
73.9% of those near poverty. This means that poverty is not an individualized phenomenon but is
instead one experienced by thousands of families throughout the state.
Table 22
Family Total and Types, 2007-2011
Year
All Families
Married -Couple Family
Single Female Householder Family
Total
Total
% of All Families
Total
% of All Families
2007
4,626,215
3,415,012
73.8%
879,889
19.0%
2008
4,577,227
3,372,168
73.7%
875,698
19.1%
2009
4,542,466
3,335,399
73.4%
897,308
19.8%
2010
4,556,930
3,307,884
72.6%
935,741
20.5%
2011
4,559,858
3,293,055
72.2%
942,718
20.756
Chart 5
Other
7% FamilyTypes as % of All Farnilies,2011
: -
flouiehOlder
family .
21%
aiTieiciTcotiple •
. 72%,
Submitted into the public
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item D5, I on 13
Todd B. Hannon
31 1 P a g e
About 12.4% of Florida's
more than 4.5 million families
are in poverty. This means that
more than 565, 000 families in
Florida are in poverty, earning
below the federal poverty
threshold.
About 12.4% of Florida's more than 4.5 million families
are in poverty. This means that more than 565, 000
families in Florida are in poverty, earning below the
federal poverty threshold (see table 23). However, not all
families are similarly susceptible to poverty. Families with
a female householder that do not have a husband present
are more than 4 times more likely to be poor than married -
couple families. The poverty rate for families with a single
female householder is 28.9% and 6.9% for married -couple
families (see graph 11). This points to the existence of systemic inequalities affecting single
female householder and the disproportionate vulnerability of the 18.8% of all Floridians living in
a family with a single female householder. However, between 2007 and 2011, married -couple
families saw the most increases in poverty as a continuous and sustained increase in poverty
began in 2007.
Table 23
Family Poverty Total by Type, 2007-2011
Year
All Families
Married Families
Single Female
Householder Families
2007
397,854
150,261
212,933
2008
434,837
175353
214,546
2009
486,044
193,453
241,376
2010
546,832
218,320
271,365
2011
565,422
227,221
272,446
%Change 2007-
2011
42. %
51.2%
27.9%
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35.00%•
30.00%
25.00%
20.00%
15.00%
a 10.00%
5.00%
0.00%
Graph ll.
Family Poverty Rates, 2007-2011
2007 2008 2009 2010 2011
All Families
Married families
Singlefemale .
householder families
Family characteristics:
Race is an important factor in shaping how poverty affects families in Florida. Families
with White or Latino householders tend to be married -couple families, 79.9% and 65.2%,
respectively while African-American/Black families are more evenly divided between married -
couple families and families with a female householder that do not have a husband present,
46.4% and 44.2% respectively (see table 24). The link between African American female headed
households and poverty is clear and even alarming, since over a third, or 38.1%, of all African -
American families with a single female householder are in poverty, more than 109,000 families.
Additionally, African -American families with a single female householder are considerably more
vulnerable to poverty than their white and Latino counterparts (see chart 6). Conversely, Latino
married -couple families have the highest poverty rates among other married couples at 13.7%,
more than 84,000 families.
Since 2007, White families have experienced the greatest increases in poverty (see table
25). White and African -American married -couple families observed significant increases in
poverty while White families with a single female householder also observed considerable
increases in poverty. However, it is worth noting that the percentage of families that are married -
couple families has declined while the percentage of families with a single female householder
have increased, especially among Latino families (17.6% increase between 2007 and 2011). The
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Todd B. Hannon
latter is disturbing due to the general heightened level of economic vulnerability observed in
families with a single female householder.
Table 24
Family Types by Race, 2007-2011
.
- Year
- White Family
Black Family
:
Latmo Family : •
Married
Couples
% Single
Female
Householder
%
Married
Couples
% Single
Female
Householder
%
Married
Couples
% Single
Female
Householder
2007
80.8%
13.5%
47.5%
42.8%
68.7%
21.3%
2008
80.8%
13.6%
47.5%
42.4%
67.6%
21.7%
: 2069
80.6%
14.0%
46.5%
44.0% .
67.8% -
22.5%
2010
80.4%
14.0%
46.4%
44.6%
65.3%
25.3%
2011
79.9%
14.2%
46.4%
44.2%
65.2%
25.0%
% Change,
2007-2011
-1.1%
5.6%
-2.3%
3.4%
-5.0%
17.6%
45.00%
40.00%
35.00%
3o.op%
25.00%
a..
0, 20 00%
15.00%
10.00%
5.00%
Chart 6
Fa ily Poverty Rates by Race, 2007-2011
White family poverty
White family married family
poVerty,
-White family single female
householder family poverty
---Black family poverty
family married family
• poverty
Black family single feniale
householder family poverty
-Latino faMily poverty
Latino. family married family
poverty
Latino farnily single female
householder poverty :
•. 0.00%
007 2002009 2010 2011
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Todd B. Hannon
Table 25
Family Poverty Headcount by Race, 2007-2011
Year
White
Black
Latino
Family
Married
Family
Single Female
Householder
Family
Family
Married
Family
Single Female
Householder
Family
Family
Married
Family
single Female
Householder
Family
2007
145,215
67,041
65,394
120,902
21,651
90,212
120,302
56,728
53,164
2008
175,568
85,103
72,605
115,178
21,582
81,372
130,698
60,494
56,827
2009
190,181
90,626
78,261
144,338
27,835
99,794
140,079
65,363
59,316
2010
214,125
98,678
89,400
152,851
33,408
105,297
170,669
79,323
72,558
2011
209,736
101,918
83,337
163,654
36,153
109,464
180,718
84,134
76,131
Change
2007-
2011
44.4%
52.0%
27.4%
35.4%
67.0%
21.3%
50.2%
48.3%
43.2%
35IPage
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Todd B. Hannon
45.00%
40.00%
35.00%
30.00%
vt 25.00%
13)
i.E.1 20.00%
15.00%
10.00%
5.00%
0.00%
Chart6
Family Poverty Rates by Race, 2007-2011
2007 2008 2009 2010 2011
---Whitefarnily poverty •
White family married family
poverty
—White family single female
householder family poverty
—Blackfamdy poverty •
Black family mar
poverty
family single female -:
householder family poverty:
-Latino family poverty
tirio family married family
poverty ::
—Latino family single female
householder poveriy
d family
The recession has also had a considerable impact on the size and composition of families.
In fact, since 2007, the amount of families with more than two people or with children have
declined while the amount of families with two people has remained about the same and the
amount of families without children have increased (see tables 26 and 27). The decline in larger
families and families with children reaffirms the fact that the overwhelming majority of poor and
non -poor families in Florida are families with two people and families with three or four people,
89.4% of all families and 80.4% of all poor families. In fact, only 10.6% of all families in Florida
have five or more people and 7.7% of families have more than two children.
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Todd B. Hannon
Table 26
Family Composition by Size, 2007-2011
Year
-
All Families
Family with 2 People
-
Family with 3 or 4
.
People. -
Family with 5 or More
People
Total
Total
% of All
families
Total
% of All
families
Total
% of All
families
2067
4,626,215
2,347,244 "
50.7%
1,778,243
38.4%.
:5 0,728
10,8%
2008
4,577,227
2,339,048
51.1%
1,752,946
38.3%
485,233
10.6%
2009
4,542,466
2,300,897
50.7%
1,747,423 '
38.5%
494,146
10.9%
2010
4,556,930
2,302,903
50.5%
1,744,511
38.3%
509,516
11.8%
2011
4,559,858
2, 337, 46
51.3%
1,737,947
38.1° "
484,765
10.6%
%
Change,
2011
-1.4%
-0.4%
1.0%
-2.3%
-0.9%
-3.2%
-1.8%
Table Table 27
Family Composition by Children, 2007-2011
Year
Family With No
"
. Children
Family With 1 or 2
Children
Family With 3 or 4
Children
Family With >4
Children
Total
% of All
families
Total
% of All
families
Total
% of All
•
families
Total
% of All
families
2007
2,521,800
54.5%
1,721,159
37.2%
352,354
7.6%
30,902
0.7%
2008
2,523,111
55.1%
1,689,244
36.9%
338,326
7.4%
26,546
0.6%
2009
2,519,562
55.5% .
1,658,028
36.5%
335,302
7:4%
29,574
0.7% ,
2010
2,555,737
56.1%
1,648,869
36.2%
324,180
7.1%
28,144
0.6%
2011
2,573,104
56.4%
1,635,190
35.9%
322,833
71%
28,731
0.6%
,change
2007-2011
2.0%
3.5%
-5.0%
-3.6%
-8.4%
-7.1%
-7.0%
-6.0%
The size and composition of families also affect families' vulnerability to poverty in
Florida. Families with a single female householder are more twice as likely to be poor than
married -couple families. Likewise, the more children in a family the more likely that family is to
be in poverty (see table 28). Married -couple families with three or four children are more than
twice as likely to be poor than those with one or two children. Similarly, families with single
female householder and have one or two children are also more than twice as likely to be poor
37 ' P a g e
Submitted into the public
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Todd B. Hannon
Families with a single female
householder are more twice as
likely to be poor than married -
couple families. Likewise, the
more children in a family the
more likely that family is to be
in poverty.
than those with one or two children. However, families
without children have considerably lower poverty rates
than families with children (see graph 12). While families
with one or two children are 35.9% of all families in
Florida they also represent about 50.3% of all poor
families; most of which have a single female householder.
Single female householder families with less than five
children are more than three times as likely as to be poor
as married families with less than five children. The
disproportionately higher poverty rates of single female householder families with children make
it clear that these families are facing significant obstacles to make ends meet.
Table 28
Family Poverty Rates by Composition and Type, 2007-2011
Year
Family With No Children
Poverty Rate -
Family With or 2
Children Poverty Rate
Family With 3 or 4
Children Poverty Rate
Family With >4 Children
Poverty Rate
Married
Family
Single
Female
Householder
Family
Married
Family
Single
Female
Householder
Family
Married
Family
Single
Female
Householder
Family
Married
Family
Single
Female
Householder
Family
2007
3.4%
8.6%
4. .
27.1%
9.4%
51.$%
28.3%
68.6%
2008
4.0%
9.7%
5.6%
27.1%
12.9%
52.9%
28.6%
70.2%
2009
4.1%
10.8%
6.5%
30.6%
15.6%
56.5% .:
31.6%
80.1%
2010
4.6%
13.5%
8.5%
32.4%
15.7%
59.0%
36.7%
78.2%
2011
4.7% .
. %
8.6%
. 33.2%
18.2%
57.4%
, 47.3°
81.6% •
% Change
2007-
2011
38.2%
54.7%
79.2%
22.5%
93.6%
10.8%
67.1%
19.0%
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Todd B. Hannon
90
70
60
„9 50
Z5 .40
>
0
o-
30
• 20
10
Graph 12
Family Poverty Rates by Composition and Type, 2007-2011
2007 2008 2009 20 0 2011..
1 ----Family With no children married
• farhily pOverty • :
Family with no children single
female householder family
poverty
--Family with' or 2 children
married family poverty
Family with 1 or 2 children
single female householder
family poverty
with 3 or 4 children
married family poverty
—Family with 3 or 4 children
• married family poverty
--- Family with >4 children rnarried •
family poverty
Married families with children observed disturbingly high increases in poverty than
married families without children between 2007 and 2011. However, when looking at families
with a single female householder without children saw greater increases than those with children.
It is particularly alarrning that married -couple families with one or two and three or four children
experienced the greatest of increases, nearly doubling their poverty rates. This illustrates the
point that dependent children increase the economic vulnerability of families due to the high
costs of supporting children in Florida. The data also point to the continuous high poverty rates
of families with a female householder that do not have a husband present whether they have
children or not. Additionally, larger families tended to experience greater increases in poverty
than smaller families. This is particularly true for married -couple families who absorbed the most
39IPage
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itemP5i1 on 0 25 I
Todd B. Hannon
gains as observed by the near doubling of the poverty rate for married families with three or four
and five or six people. Conversely, when looking at families with single female householder
smaller families tended to see greater increases in poverty than did larger families (see table 29).
Table 29
Family Poverty Rates by Size and Type, 2007-2011
Year
Family With 2 People
Family With or 4 People
Family Wath 5 or 6 People
Family With >6 People
Poverty Rate .
Married
Family
Single
Female
Householder
Family
Married
Family
Single
Female
Householder
Family
Married
Family
Single
Female
Householder
Family
Married
Family
Single
Female
Householder
Family
2007
3.7%
17.9%
3.9
. .
27.6%
7.6% *
41.4%
18.1%
43.7 0
2008
4.3%
18.5%
4.7%
27.7%
10.2%
40.1%
17.2%
45.8%
2009
4.5%
20.3%
5.3%
29.9%
.8%
45.5%
21.0%
54.1%
2010
4.8%
21.4%
6.9%
33.7%
12.3%
42.7%
22.6%
50.6%
2011
4.8%
22.2% -
6.9%
32.6%
15.0%
47.2%
28.5%
50.9%
%
Change
2007-
2011
29.7%
24.0%
76.9%
18.1%
97.4%
14.0%
57.5%
16.5%
40IPage
Submitted into the public
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item 06.1 on 0141251(3
Todd B. Hannon
60.00%
50.00%
40.00%
ad 30.00%
V '
0
20.00%
10.00%
0.00%
Graph 13
Family Poverty Rates by Size and Type, 2007-2011.
: : . . . • . . . '
2007 2008 2009 2010 2011
Married family with 2 people
Single female householder
family with 2 people
Married family with 3 or 4
• people
—-Single female householder
family with 3 or 4 people
Married family with 5 or 6
people
Single female householder
family with 5 or 6 people
Married family with >6 people
Single female householder
family with >6 people
Families and work:
Most families in Florida had a householder who worked, amounting to about 79.3% of all
families. However, the majority of poor families also had a householder who worked, about
62.5% of all families in poverty. It is particularly alarming that families with one worker
represent a greater share of families in poverty than families without a worker and that they also
have higher poverty rates (see table 30). Furthermore, between 2007 and 2011 the more workers
a family had the greater the increase in poverty rates. The latter was likely due to the poor
economic security that most jobs in Florida offer during economic downturns and the resulting
vulnerable position that most workers find themselves in.
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Todd B. Hannon
orkers, 2007-2011
Table 30
Family Poverty Total and Poverty Rates by Number of Workers, 2007-2011
Year
Family With No Workers
Poverty
Family With 1 Worker
Poverty
Family With 2 Workers
Poverty
; Family With >2
Workers Poverty
Total
Poverty
Rate
Total
Poverty
Rate
Total
Poverty
Rate
Total
Poverty
Rate
2007
134,111
16.6% ` :
209,884
14.1%
48,594
2.6%
6,451
1.4%.
2008
153,288
18.6%
220,873
14.80%
53,056
2.9%
6,037
1.4%
2009
176,601
20.5%
247,818
16.4%..
56,804 ,
3.2%
7,501
1.9%
2010
213,081
23.4%
262,467
16.6%
65,606
3.9%
8,426
2.2%
2011
210,339
22.3%
280,170.
17.6%
64,592
3.9%
8,845
2.4%
% Change
2007-2011
56.89
34.3%
33.5%
24.8%
32.9%
50.0%
37.1%
71.4%
Family Poverty Ra
25.00%
20.00%
> 10.00%
o
a
Graph 14
es by Number o
Family with no workers
Family with 1 worker
with 2 workers
Family with >2 workers
42IPage
Submitted into the public
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item•% on �2513
Todd B. Hannon
Conclusion:
According to the 2012 ACS, Florida has experienced considerable and consistent
increases in poverty, deep poverty and near poverty levels since 2007. While much of the
increase was due to the Great Recession and the subsequent rise in unemployment and decline of
real incomes it is also evident that poverty levels were increasing before and after the recession,
albeit at a slower rate. Furthermore, this report welcomes further research to explore why
Florida's women, children, African -Americans and single female households are
disproportionately vulnerable to poverty. Ultimately, the rise of poverty in Florida signals a
failure to implement the socioeconomic policies needed to protect individuals and families from
the hardships triggered by the economic downturn.
Florida needs an economic strategy that not only creates jobs, but decent jobs that have
benefits that will allow working people to obtain insurance and supports for their children. This
report shows that the majority of those losing ground in Florida are not only working but
working families. These working families have essentially seen themselves sink into poverty, as
50% or more of those in poverty post -recession are married families with children. This not only
signals a dire situation at the family level but makes a case that long-term economic strategies
such as an increased minimum wage or even better health care access could seriously improve
the quality of life for thousands of Floridians. We have shown that workers have lost upwards of
$8000 per year since the Recession. Essentially, a loss that large will result in the difference
between middle and lower class. These are serious gaps that are occurring at the same time as
increases in tuition for public universities and much higher transportation costs, namely in fuel.
The middle class is being squeezed as a result. However, with sufficient will and effort the
increase in poverty may be reversed through greater access to living wages and social services.
43IPage
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Todd B. Hannon
Notes:
1) Source of data:
U.S. Census Bureau. 2013. American Community Survey, 2007-2012 American Community
Survey 1-Year Estimates, Detailed Tables; generated by Ali Bustamante; using American
FactFinder; http://factfmder.census.gov/home; (20 February 2013).
2) The U.S. Census Bureau's 2012 American Community Survey (ACS) is conducted throughout
the United States and in Puerto Rico. It uses a methodology of random sampling 3 million
Americans through a series of monthly samples to produce annually updated data. The U.S.
Census Bureau 2012 poverty threshold methodology uses a set of money income thresholds that
vary by family size and composition to determine who is in poverty. If a family's total income is
less than the family's threshold, then that family and every individual in it is considered in
poverty. The official poverty thresholds do not vary geographically, but they are updated for
inflation using Consumer Price Index (CPI-U). The official poverty definition uses money
income before taxes and does not include capital gains or noncash benefits (such as public
housing, Medicaid, and food stamps).
3) Special recognition and thanks to Tamanna Ashraf, RISEP intern, for her assistance in this
report.
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Todd B. Hannon