U.S. Plans New Measure for Poverty

At the beginning of March, the federal government announced that it would begin producing an experimental measurement of poverty next year. Typically poverty is measured by the cash income collected by a family or individual. That will remain the official statistical measure for eligibility and distribution of federal assistance for the time being; however according to Rebecca Blank (the under secretary of commerce for economic affairs), “the new supplemental poverty measure will provide an alternative lens to understand poverty and measure the effects of antipoverty policies.” Some advocates for the poor argue that this current measurement of poverty which dates back to the Johnson administration is somewhat archaic. It was based on the Agriculture Department’s cheapest meal plan, on the assumption that the average family spent a third of its income on food at the time. The formula has largely remained the same except for inflation adjustments. Ms. Blank noted that despite any opposition the old measurement would stay in place for purposes of consistency and simplicity.

** Poverty is a war we have been fighting for years. These are peoples lives that we are dealing with. How can one simply settle for a solution that has proven to be flawed simply because its consistent and simple? We have waited to long to impose a new plan and this plan does not even appear to be rigorous as it is only "supplemental" for now**

The new supplemental measure will be released for the first time in the fall of next year. Federal officials noted that the supplemental measure is experimental and a work in progress. 'It establishes a poverty threshold that depends on the cost of food, shelter, clothing and utilities “plus a little more” for “a population that is not poor but is somewhat below the median.”'

The only good thing about the new plan is that it covers one adult and two children whereas the old measure figured costs for two adults and two children. Today more and more single parents are raising their children. Its about time someone got realistic and factored that crucial piece of information.

What are your thoughts!?

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/03/03/us/03poverty.html