The face of poverty in the Fox Cities

Here are some basic statistics and facts about poverty, according to the 2006 Fox Cities LIFE study conducted by the United Way and other collaborating organizations:

The total poverty rate for people in the Fox Cities (including Oshkosh) was 6% in 2004, up from 5.8% in 2002. This is about half of the national rate.

An estimated 21,600 local residents live in poverty (the 2006 federal poverty level for a family of four was $19,350.) Another 38,000 households earn from $25,000 to $50,000 a year, just above the poverty level.

Hourly wage needed to afford fair market rent in the Fox Cities was $11.27 in 2005, up from $10.83 in 2005. Statewide, a wage of $12.22 was needed to afford fair market rent in 2005 and in 2006 that number increased to $12.45.

Federal housing programs administered by the three Fox Cities Housing Authorities have lengthy waiting lists. In Appleton, the estimated wait between application and receipt of a rental subsidy is five years.

The three counties in the Fox Cities area provided almost 220,000 partially subsidized or free meals to low-income or homebound residents in 2005.

The number of food stamp recipients in the Fox Cities area grew 95 percent between 2001 and the end of 2005. In 2005, more than 13,000 people received food stamps.

The St. Joseph Food Program tracked a 26% increase in the number of households served between 2000 and 2004.

LEAVEN Inc., a nonprofit group that provides assistance with basic needs to area residents, saw the number of clients served nearly double between 2000 and 2005. In 2005, 5,480 client households were served, including 2,000 who were new clients in 2005.