Promoting Upward Mobility for the Working Poor / Michael Rupured.

The working poor are typically defined by researchers as individuals who work at least part of the year and earn less than a given percentage of the federal poverty level. This definition tends to understate the problem. In 1997, 15.8 million employed parents had incomes below 200 percent of the federal poverty level. The federal Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) can raise a full-time, minimum-wage earner's income above the poverty level, but one fifth of eligible families do not participate in EITC. Medicaid and many health insurance programs are available for the working poor and their families. Some families may even qualify for food stamps, housing assistance, child-care subsidies, and other programs. The working poor need information, assistance, skills to manage existing resources effectively, and training for a better job. Providing working poor individuals with information about available resources is an important first step. Educational efforts should focus on life skills to better balance the demands of work and family and technical or vocational training leading to a better job. Programs need to provide accurate information to employers about assistance and support available in their community for the working poor. Employers should be encouraged to provide health insurance, retirement plans, and education to help employees maximize the benefits to which they are entitled. Working poor issues are community issues. Communities must have an infrastructure in place that supports working parents and provides opportunities for advancement. (TD)

Rural South: Preparing for the Challenges of the 21st Century, n11 Jul 2000. ericd

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