Living in Poverty: Easier Said Than Done

Could your family survive on budget of about $1,800 a month?
Just the other day our executive director, Joe, and I were discussing how the families we serve are truly fighting an uphill battle. They work hard but can’t seem to make enough to get ahead.
According to the government (Department of Health and Human Services), a family of four making $22,050 would be classified as living in poverty in 2009.
This figure seems unreasonably low to me. In fact, the Institute for Working Families, a program of the Indiana Community Action Association (INCAA) has challenged this figure. According to the Institute, a family of four (two adults with one preschool aged and one school aged child) required a minimum of about $42,000 to sustain themselves in the Fort Wayne area in 2009.
That translates to monthly figures of: $667 for housing, $680 for food, $603 for childcare, $440 for transportation, $417 for healthcare, $409 for taxes and $281 for miscellaneous expenses.
When I look at my bare-bones budget, it comes to about $26,000 annually. And that’s just for myself. Think about the added expenses of three other people in a household!
Consider this as food for thought next time you think money’s tight!