Lily french

Recovering Lost Opportunities:

Supporting Today’s Workforce for a Brighter Tomorrow

Community Condition EventOctober, 2012

Lily FrenchSenior Policy Consultant

www.iowapolicyproject.org • www.iowapolicypoints.org • www.iowafiscal.org

Cost of Living for Cedar Rapids MSA, 2011(Linn, Benton & Jones Counties)

*One child age 2 or 3 **One child age 2 or 3, one child age 6-10

On www.iowapolicyproject.org:Go to your county and click for Cost of Living table

Source: 2011 HHS Poverty Guidelines http://aspe.hhs.gov/poverty/11poverty.shtml

Comparing Poverty Guidelines & Family Supporting Wages

Family Type Family Supporting Annual Income

Federal Poverty Guidelines

Single adult $20,102 $10,890

Single parent, one child (under 5)

$32,221 $14,710

Single parent, two children (ages 3, 10)

$42,471 $18,530

Two parents, one child (under 5)

$31,711 - $41,143 $18,530

Two parents, two children (ages 3, 10)

$37,108 - $50,193 $22,350

Iowans Struggling to Get By in 2011• Estimated proportion of working Iowa families with income

below a basic needs budget

Proportion

BelowMargin of

Error

Statewide Single persons 28.0% 3.0%

Married couples without children 12.1% 1.8%

Married couples with children under 18 22.9% 2.3%

Single parents 74.0% 7.8%

All households 22.7% 1.4%

Linn County: All households 18.7% 2.8%

Source: The Cost of Living in Iowa, Iowa Policy Project, 2012

Single parent, working full-time with two children in Cedar Rapids (2010)

With each level of attainment

Education Benefits Individuals & Communities

• With each successful educational attainment– Earnings rise– Unemployment and underemployment declines– Living in poverty declines

Education Benefits the State’s Budget

• Investments in postsecondary education for low-income adults generates income tax revenues more than double the state’s program costs

– Associate’s degree - $3.70 for every dollar– Bachelor’s degree - $2.40 for every dollar

Contact Us

• Lily French Senior Policy Consultant

[email protected]

• Peter FisherResearch Director

[email protected]

319-338-0773www.iowapolicyproject.

org