Issue 24
In this month's issue...
November 2014
Welcome to Data Blast
Data Blast is an e-newsletter
prepared and distributed by the
Low income is an acute problem for many Tulsa County
Census Information Center of
residents. Full-time employment does not ensure earning a living
Eastern Oklahoma, a program of the
wage, and many families must rely on public or private assistance to Community Service Council of
make ends meet. Poverty tends to hit children the hardest, with a
Greater Tulsa, and supported by the
rate of 30% for children under age five in Tulsa County. Read this
Metropolitan Human Services
month's Data Blast to learn more about poverty and its related
Commission.
problems.
This and more data are available on the U.S. Census
Bureau's Website, click here for more!
Poverty Facts, 2014: Tulsa County
Data Blast is intended to inform and
educate people in eastern
Oklahoma about population,
economic, educational, health and
social trends in our local
communities as well as in our state
and nation.
Poverty Rates
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A total of 98,715 Tulsa County residents, 16% of population, live below the federal poverty
level (FPL).
38,407 children, 25% of the county's population under 18, live below the FPL.
30% of the county's children under 5 (13,342) live below the FPL.
Ratio of Income to Poverty Level
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Poverty level does not equal self-sufficiency level: To be self-sufficient, a household must earn
more than twice the dollar amount of the federal poverty level, which is currently $19,790 for a
family of three.
A full-time, year-round worker earning minimum wage makes 77% of the federal poverty level.
Nearly half of American families live below 250% of federal poverty level.
Over 18,000 Tulsa County residents live just out of reach of many governmental assistance
programs-between 185% and 200% of poverty.
Program Participation
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One in seven Tulsa County residents receive food stamps, which equal a benefit of about $4 per
day; 83,857 Tulsa County residents received SNAP benefits in June, 2014.
Nine in ten Tulsa Public School students are eligible for and participate in free and reduced
lunch program; a total of 35,514 TPS students receive free or reduced price lunch through the
program.
Over HALF of Tulsa County children are enrolled in SoonerCare -- 88,415 participants in
October, 2014.
Employment Status
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69% of families below federal poverty level in Tulsa County have at least one worker in the
labor force.
Related Problems
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Poor nutrition/hunger
School absenteeism: Older siblings often must miss school to care for younger siblings
Significant correlation exists between poverty and unsatisfactory scores on 3rd grade reading
test
Risky and/or illegal activities to support family
Poor health: fewer regular doctor and dental visits -- little preventive care; ER misuse
Lack of transportation and inadequate public transportation system
Work absenteeism
Homelessness: Beginning in the 1980's, when federal funds were withdrawn from housing and
other social assistance programs for low-income and the mentally ill, the number of homeless
exploded. Workers earning low wages cannot afford housing, among other necessities,
without some level of assistance.
Persons with mental health problems are more at risk of living in poverty, and people in
poverty are more likely to have mental health problems. Mental health problems are more
prevalent in societies with greater income inequality.
Poverty increases likelihood of incarceration and incarceration fuels poverty. One in three black
high school dropouts were incarcerated in 2008, up from one in 10 in 1980.
Children of an incarcerated parent are more likely to live in poverty, to receive public
assistance, to be incarcerated themselves and to suffer emotional health problems, making
steady employment more difficult.
2014 Poverty Guidelines
Prepared by Community Service Council, with support from the Metropolitan Human Services Commission,
10.27.2014.
Source: US Census Bureau, 2013 American Community Survey; Oklahoma Health Care Authority, Reporting and
Statistics, October 2014; Oklahoma State
Department of Education, "Low Income Report, School Year 20013-14;" Center for Public Interest Research, Inc.,
The National Student Campaign Against Hunger and Homelessness, "Overview of Homelessness in America;"
Slate, Sasha Abramsky, "Toxic Persons."
Federal Register, January 22nd, 2014.
Until next time,
Melanie Poulter
Senior Planner, Demography and Geography
Community Service Council
mpoulter@csctulsa.org
Disclaimer
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do not constitute an endorsement of these organizations or their programs by the Community Service
Council of Greater Tulsa or the Federal Government, and none should be inferred. The Community
Service Council is not responsible for the content of the individual organization Web pages found at
these links.
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