Introduction

Introduction

        Cincinnati, Ohio is comprised of thirteen counties and sits on the corner of Ohio, Kentucky, and Indiana. Cincinnati is home to nearly 2 million people. Although it is often described as a “bustling metropolis,” poverty has become an outstanding problem. (1) Out of the 75 largest cities in the nation, Cincinnati has the 12th highest poverty rate, which is only surpassed by Cleveland and Columbus in the state of Ohio. (2) The nature of poverty has many changing faces. To some, poverty is hunger or lack of shelter. To others, poverty is being unable to see a doctor when you are sick or not having a job and living only one day at a time. (3)
          Poverty is measured throughout a country based upon incomes or consumption levels. A person is considered in poverty if “his or her consumption or income level falls below some minimum level necessary to meet basic needs.” The minimum level is typically referred to as the poverty line. The poverty line varies from place to place, and “each country uses lines which are appropriate to its level of development, societal norms and values.” (4) In general, poverty is not passed from one generation to the next. (5)
          The United States Census Bureau measures poverty by computing money income which includes “earnings, unemployment compensation, workers’ compensation, Social Security, Supplemental Security Income, public assistance, veterans’ payments, survivor benefits, pension or retirement income, interest, dividends, rents, royalties, income from estates, trusts, educational assistance, alimony, child support, outside assistance, and other miscellaneous sources.” This is measured before taxes, and excludes capital gains or losses. It also does not include benefits such as food stamps or subsidiary housing. If the individual lives with a family, then all of the incomes of the family members are included. Poverty thresholds are measured by dollar amounts, which vary according to the size of their family and their age. If the family’s income is less than the threshold, then they are considered in poverty. (6) The poverty thresholds for 2003 are demonstrated in the graph below.

Poverty Thresholds for 2003 by Size of Family and Number of Related Children Under 18 Years (Dollars)
	Weighted
Size of family unit	average
	thresholds	None	One	Two	Three	Four	Five	Six	Seven
One person (unrelated individual).…………………………	9,393
Under 65 years....................……………………………	9,573	9,573
65 years and over.................……………………………	8,825	8,825

Two persons.........................………………………..	12,015
Householder under 65 years........……………………….	12,384	12,321	12,682
Householder 65 years and over...……………………….	11,133	11,122	12,634

Three persons.......................………	14,680	14,393	14,810	14,824
Four persons........................……….	18,810	18,979	19,289	18,660	18,725
Five persons........................……………………………..	22,245	22,887	23,220	22,509	21,959	21,623
Six persons.........................…………………………..	25,122	26,324	26,429	25,884	25,362	24,586	24,126
Seven persons.......................…………	28,544	30,289	30,479	29,827	29,372	28,526	27,538	26,454
Eight persons.......................………………………….	31,589	33,876	34,175	33,560	33,021	32,256	31,286	30,275	30,019
Nine persons or more................……….	37,656	40,751	40,948	40,404	39,947	39,196	38,163	37,229	36,998

This graph was obtained from http://www.census.gov/hhes/poverty/threshld/thresh03.html

1.) Greater Cincinnati Chamber of Commerce
2.) Introduction: Pathway to Prosperity 1:1
3.) Overview: Understanding Poverty
4.) Overview: Understanding Poverty
5.) Hill
6.) U.S. Census Bureau 1-2

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