November 21, 2007
Volusia, Flagler rank near
middle in costs for basics
By DEBORAH CIRCELLI
Staff Writer
Volusia and Flagler counties rank near the middle in costs
for the basics, a new statewide study shows.
Q:
What study was done?
The Human Services Coalition, a
nonprofit that promotes access to economic and civic
opportunity, and the Women's Fund of Miami-Dade released a
report Tuesday on the average costs for food, housing,
health care, child care and taxes for 68 areas, including 67
counties. The study, conducted by researchers at the
University of Washington, provided a standard for various
household sizes on how much families need to survive.
Q:
What do the results show?
Families have a hard time
meeting basic expenses not because they lack responsibility,
work ethic or budgeting skills but because they lack enough
income, according to the study's author, Diana Pearce,
director of the Center for Women's Welfare at the University
of Washington School of Social Work. Salaries do not reflect
what families with children need to get by.
Q:
Why is it hard to make ends meet in Volusia and Flagler?
Ray Salazar,
president of the United Way of Volusia-Flagler Counties,
said wages are lower locally because it is a service
industry, including tourism. A downturn in the construction
industry, gas prices at an all-time high and people losing
their homes make problems worse, he said.
"The
only thing that will get us out of it is increased jobs,"
Salazar said.
Q:
What are some families doing for help?
Doretha Baker, 52, who works
security at Bethune-Cookman University, is caring for her
three grandchildren in Daytona Beach. She sought help Monday
from Halifax Urban Ministries for food, including a turkey.
She thinks jobs are out there for people who want them,
though wages are low.
"It's
hard everywhere," Baker said referring to the rest of the
state.
Q:
What does the study recommend?
Raise the minimum wage, provide
families with paid medical leave and better job training so
people can enter higher-paying jobs.
Q:
What are local agencies doing now to help?
Many area agencies are helping
during Thanksgiving by providing food for low-income
families. Halifax Urban Ministries, for example, gave out
turkeys and food to about 450 families on Monday and
Tuesday. St. Brendan Catholic Church in Ormond Beach
distributed food and vouchers for turkeys to more than 250
families, according to the director of outreach services.
deborah.circelli@news-jrnl.com
SINGLE
MOM STRUGGLES
Single
mom Lois Dara Ivey, 50, who cares for her 16-year-old son in
Daytona Beach, works full time at a fast food restaurant.
She
can't afford health insurance so she is seeking
state-subsidized health care for her son, who has asthma.
She is paying for his inhalers herself. She moved here three
years ago from West Virginia because she thought the economy
would be better. Because she said she only takes home about
$1,000 a month, she's getting some help for food from
Halifax Urban Ministries in Daytona Beach. She also did
housekeeping work, but it is seasonal.
"It's
hard living in this area. It's hard to make it on one
salary," Ivey said. "But I think it's hard everywhere right
now."
According to The Self-Sufficiency Standard report released
Tuesday, these are basic monthly costs for someone in her
category:
Housing: $730
Food:
$506
Transportation: $231
Health
Care: $416
Miscellaneous: $188
Taxes:
$272
Earned
Income Credit: -$97
Child
Tax Credit: -$83
TOTAL:
$2,163
Hourly
wage needed to pay bills: $12.29 hr. |
