Comments on: Don’t fall in the poverty trap – you might never get out… http://trueslant.com/megancottrell/2009/11/13/dont-fall-in-the-poverty-trap-you-might-never-get-out/ Chronicling Chicago's public housing, poverty and urban problems Sun, 29 Jan 2012 20:46:24 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Can you live in Chicago on under $30,000 a year? | Chicago Muckrakers http://trueslant.com/megancottrell/2009/11/13/dont-fall-in-the-poverty-trap-you-might-never-get-out/comment-page-1/#comment-1328 Can you live in Chicago on under $30,000 a year? | Chicago Muckrakers Fri, 20 May 2011 15:55:37 +0000 http://trueslant.com/megancottrell/?p=113#comment-1328 [...] of the most popular blog posts I've written was on the so-called "poverty trap." It's the idea an economist came up with that until you pass $40,000 a year, every dollar that you [...] [...] of the most popular blog posts I've written was on the so-called "poverty trap." It's the idea an economist came up with that until you pass $40,000 a year, every dollar that you [...]

]]> By: <fb:name linked="false" useyou="false" uid="1">William Hoyle</fb:name> http://trueslant.com/megancottrell/2009/11/13/dont-fall-in-the-poverty-trap-you-might-never-get-out/comment-page-1/#comment-1110 William Hoyle Thu, 17 Jun 2010 07:37:30 +0000 http://trueslant.com/megancottrell/?p=113#comment-1110 If one lives in a foreign country, it is fascinating how much a U.S. family has to earn just to get by. A 40,000 dollar income in most countries is more than sufficient to live on. I guess the question is what do Americans need to spend so much money on. Food in the U.S. is not more expensive. Is it health care? taxes? If one lives in a foreign country, it is fascinating how much a U.S. family has to earn just to get by. A 40,000 dollar income in most countries is more than sufficient to live on.
I guess the question is what do Americans need to spend so much money on. Food in the U.S. is not more expensive. Is it health care? taxes?

]]> By: True/Slant Anniversary: Some of the best analysis and perspective published in our first year - Michael Roston - Newsbroke - True/Slant http://trueslant.com/megancottrell/2009/11/13/dont-fall-in-the-poverty-trap-you-might-never-get-out/comment-page-1/#comment-841 True/Slant Anniversary: Some of the best analysis and perspective published in our first year - Michael Roston - Newsbroke - True/Slant Sat, 10 Apr 2010 04:32:09 +0000 http://trueslant.com/megancottrell/?p=113#comment-841 [...] shot depicting the deconstruction of a housing project tower in Chicago to an explanation of why poor people stay poor to the experiences of individual residents of Chicago’s infamous Cabrini-Green housing [...] [...] shot depicting the deconstruction of a housing project tower in Chicago to an explanation of why poor people stay poor to the experiences of individual residents of Chicago’s infamous Cabrini-Green housing [...]

]]> By: Nearly eight million new poor people and that’s a good thing - Megan Cottrell - One Story Up - True/Slant http://trueslant.com/megancottrell/2009/11/13/dont-fall-in-the-poverty-trap-you-might-never-get-out/comment-page-1/#comment-750 Nearly eight million new poor people and that’s a good thing - Megan Cottrell - One Story Up - True/Slant Thu, 04 Mar 2010 14:11:51 +0000 http://trueslant.com/megancottrell/?p=113#comment-750 [...] Well, I’ve written before about the “poverty trap.” That’s the idea that if you’re in poverty, but get a job promotion or a raise, [...] [...] Well, I’ve written before about the “poverty trap.” That’s the idea that if you’re in poverty, but get a job promotion or a raise, [...]

]]> By: <fb:name linked="false" useyou="false" uid="1">Sarah Gallardo</fb:name> http://trueslant.com/megancottrell/2009/11/13/dont-fall-in-the-poverty-trap-you-might-never-get-out/comment-page-1/#comment-673 Sarah Gallardo Tue, 09 Feb 2010 05:38:00 +0000 http://trueslant.com/megancottrell/?p=113#comment-673 Wow! What a fantastic article! As a single mom, who last year earned 19,000 (just did my taxes!) this story hits home. My kids were on medicaid (free health insurance) and child care vouchers and it really helped a lot- but we were living paycheck to paycheck with little help from my ex-husband. (I could go on a tangent about that one, but I'll stay away from it) It was difficult, being poor is not supposed to be easy- but at one point last May, when the little my ex owed in child support was reduced- again- and the tiny portion of what he paid of that became even less- again. I went home and did the math and I realized exactly what your single mom in the article realized- I was trapped. I had to make at least another thousand dollars a month just to cover the cost of the health insurance, child care, and to maintain my current standard of living (rice and beans and beans and rice driving an old Ford Taurus living in a tiny apartment). A thousand dollars a month? Not too many jobs out there offer a 160% raise to a single mom that spent the last six years as a stay at home mom! And that would just be with the exact same expenses! I'm beyond grateful for the crazy amount of faith my now-employer has placed in me by offering me a real job- to yes- that coveted 40k slot. Still tight. Still rice and beans and beans and rice driving an old Ford Taurus and living in a tiny apartment... but I'll be damned if I'm not doing it myself and loving every minute of it! I know several of my fellow poor-single-mom friends that I left in poverty. They want out. They hate it. They need help. Not MORE help, better help- help that gets them out. The programs that are available are hard to find, harder to get into, and nearly impossible for a woman that already has the burden of a single care-taker resting on her shoulders. I would love to hear someone with your intelligence and obvious attention to real details hit on a topic like child support enforcement- obviously a subject near and dear to my heart... just an idea. :) Wow! What a fantastic article!

As a single mom, who last year earned 19,000 (just did my taxes!) this story hits home. My kids were on medicaid (free health insurance) and child care vouchers and it really helped a lot- but we were living paycheck to paycheck with little help from my ex-husband. (I could go on a tangent about that one, but I’ll stay away from it) It was difficult, being poor is not supposed to be easy- but at one point last May, when the little my ex owed in child support was reduced- again- and the tiny portion of what he paid of that became even less- again. I went home and did the math and I realized exactly what your single mom in the article realized- I was trapped.

I had to make at least another thousand dollars a month just to cover the cost of the health insurance, child care, and to maintain my current standard of living (rice and beans and beans and rice driving an old Ford Taurus living in a tiny apartment). A thousand dollars a month? Not too many jobs out there offer a 160% raise to a single mom that spent the last six years as a stay at home mom! And that would just be with the exact same expenses!

I’m beyond grateful for the crazy amount of faith my now-employer has placed in me by offering me a real job- to yes- that coveted 40k slot. Still tight. Still rice and beans and beans and rice driving an old Ford Taurus and living in a tiny apartment… but I’ll be damned if I’m not doing it myself and loving every minute of it!

I know several of my fellow poor-single-mom friends that I left in poverty. They want out. They hate it. They need help. Not MORE help, better help- help that gets them out. The programs that are available are hard to find, harder to get into, and nearly impossible for a woman that already has the burden of a single care-taker resting on her shoulders.

I would love to hear someone with your intelligence and obvious attention to real details hit on a topic like child support enforcement- obviously a subject near and dear to my heart… just an idea. :)

]]> By: babu http://trueslant.com/megancottrell/2009/11/13/dont-fall-in-the-poverty-trap-you-might-never-get-out/comment-page-1/#comment-553 babu Thu, 24 Dec 2009 06:13:26 +0000 http://trueslant.com/megancottrell/?p=113#comment-553 I got railroaded out of high school for genius in a lot of areas and a learning disability in one. I asked for help, got none, and work a waaaay below poverty level job now, after dropping out. Budgeted and saved...between the rent and suddenly reduced hours (with more business this year, yay!) I'm broke. Planned on a whole 15k/yr tops. Some of us are idiots, sure. Others have people depending on them and no reserve left for jumping ships. Pious poster above a ways is a joke or got lucky in life. I got railroaded out of high school for genius in a lot of areas and a learning disability in one.

I asked for help, got none, and work a waaaay below poverty level job now, after dropping out.

Budgeted and saved…between the rent and suddenly reduced hours (with more business this year, yay!) I’m broke.

Planned on a whole 15k/yr tops.

Some of us are idiots, sure. Others have people depending on them and no reserve left for jumping ships.

Pious poster above a ways is a joke or got lucky in life.

]]> By: The Urbanophile » Blog Archive » Midwest Miscellany http://trueslant.com/megancottrell/2009/11/13/dont-fall-in-the-poverty-trap-you-might-never-get-out/comment-page-1/#comment-461 The Urbanophile » Blog Archive » Midwest Miscellany Mon, 30 Nov 2009 02:25:31 +0000 http://trueslant.com/megancottrell/?p=113#comment-461 [...] out of poverty – but how easy are they to follow? (One Story Up). Also from One Story Up, Don’t fall in the poverty trap – you night never get out. This is a great public housing oriented blog by Megan Cottrell. Worth checking [...] [...] out of poverty – but how easy are they to follow? (One Story Up). Also from One Story Up, Don’t fall in the poverty trap – you night never get out. This is a great public housing oriented blog by Megan Cottrell. Worth checking [...]

]]> By: jfcincy http://trueslant.com/megancottrell/2009/11/13/dont-fall-in-the-poverty-trap-you-might-never-get-out/comment-page-1/#comment-445 jfcincy Sun, 22 Nov 2009 16:02:35 +0000 http://trueslant.com/megancottrell/?p=113#comment-445 The person profiled has made several "mistakes" in her life, as have I, and there are financial penalties for these mistakes. Such as: single motherhood. (I did it for three years and don't recommend it for anyone.) Does she have a college degree? High school? Lacking either of these degrees in this society exacts an economic penalty. One more point this article doesn't address is financial mobility, both up and down. She could get a raise or a promotion. Or, she could get laid off. But here is the big question: what does government support do to individuals both short term and long term? When the solution to government help is to "earn less", I think the answer is obvious. And remember, a lifetime of "earn less" locks in a low social security payment in old age. I know the purpose of the article is to show how "heartless" government programs are to good individuals, and I agree. That's why my advice to the woman in the article is earn more! Fill the gap now with things she can do at home so she can be with her kids. Babysitting nights and weekends would be ideal. And cut expenses. How about using public transportation? Even part way would help. But this all leads to my best piece of advice. Use government programs as temporary help. Get away from them as soon as possible. Government programs are "heartless" because their scope and size require a rule-based, inflexible process to reduce fraud. And every program produces weird, unintended consequences. So, make your own way. It's good for your soul, a good example for your children, and good for your pocketbook. Earn less? Stay dependent on the government? No way. The person profiled has made several “mistakes” in her life, as have I, and there are financial penalties for these mistakes. Such as: single motherhood. (I did it for three years and don’t recommend it for anyone.)
Does she have a college degree? High school? Lacking either of these degrees in this society exacts an economic penalty.
One more point this article doesn’t address is financial mobility, both up and down. She could get a raise or a promotion. Or, she could get laid off.
But here is the big question: what does government support do to individuals both short term and long term?
When the solution to government help is to “earn less”, I think the answer is obvious.
And remember, a lifetime of “earn less” locks in a low social security payment in old age.
I know the purpose of the article is to show how “heartless” government programs are to good individuals, and I agree. That’s why my advice to the woman in the article is earn more! Fill the gap now with things she can do at home so she can be with her kids. Babysitting nights and weekends would be ideal.
And cut expenses. How about using public transportation? Even part way would help.
But this all leads to my best piece of advice. Use government programs as temporary help. Get away from them as soon as possible. Government programs are “heartless” because their scope and size require a rule-based, inflexible process to reduce fraud. And every program produces weird, unintended consequences.
So, make your own way. It’s good for your soul, a good example for your children, and good for your pocketbook.
Earn less? Stay dependent on the government? No way.

]]> By: daybook: november 20th 2009 / funkEpunkEmonkE http://trueslant.com/megancottrell/2009/11/13/dont-fall-in-the-poverty-trap-you-might-never-get-out/comment-page-1/#comment-426 daybook: november 20th 2009 / funkEpunkEmonkE Fri, 20 Nov 2009 16:45:14 +0000 http://trueslant.com/megancottrell/?p=113#comment-426 [...] you get past $40,000 a year, any raise or higher paying job you get might actually sink you deeper into poverty. I’m soooooo [...] [...] you get past $40,000 a year, any raise or higher paying job you get might actually sink you deeper into poverty. I’m soooooo [...]

]]> By: The Poverty Trap « Andrew B. Watt’s Blog http://trueslant.com/megancottrell/2009/11/13/dont-fall-in-the-poverty-trap-you-might-never-get-out/comment-page-1/#comment-85 The Poverty Trap « Andrew B. Watt’s Blog Tue, 17 Nov 2009 19:19:29 +0000 http://trueslant.com/megancottrell/?p=113#comment-85 [...] of information like this nugget: If you make less than $40,000 a year, you’re stuck in a kind of poverty if you live in the United States. A graph of the Poverty [...] [...] of information like this nugget: If you make less than $40,000 a year, you’re stuck in a kind of poverty if you live in the United States. A graph of the Poverty [...]

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