New poverty data

The Census Bureau's Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates (SAIPE) program released its 2008 poverty figures last week. Nationwide, the rate of poverty increased from 13.0 percent in 2007 to 13.2 percent in 2008. The rate in South Dakota, on the other hand, dropped slightly from 13.2 percent to 12.7 percent.

Ziebach County, part of the Cheyenne River Reservation, is still the most impoverished county in the entire country with a rate of 54.4 percent. South Dakota has three counties among the top 10, with an additional four in the top 50:

• Ziebach County, 54.4 percent, #1
• Shannon County, 46.0 percent, #4
• Todd County, 40.1 percent, #7
• Buffalo County, 37.7 percent, #14
• Corson County, 34.9 percent, #27
• Mellette County, 34.3 percent, #35
• Bennett County, 33.8 percent, #38

The first five counties on this list are part of reservations; Mellette and Bennett counties formerly were a part of the Rosebud and Pine Ridge reservations, respectively. Both still have sizable Native American populations within their respective borders.

The Census Bureau published a thematic map displaying rates of poverty by county. It's interesting to not only look at the distribution of poverty throughout South Dakota, but also its concentration (or lack thereof) in particular areas of the nation.

Homeless... in Chamberlain

The Argus Leader published an article in today's edition about a homeless woman in Chamberlain. Judging by the reader comments, there are still many misconceptions about the presence of homelessness outside of metropolitan areas and the question of whether people choose to be homeless (or live in a hotel room or a car).

Homelessness is found in cities large and small, from New York City to here in Mission. And I will also add a cold climate does not lead to shelter for all. I used to live in Juneau, Alaska, and it was not hard to locate the "walkers" like the woman mentioned in the article, even during the winter.

Poverty up, income down

The New York Times reported yesterday that the poverty rate, as calculated by the Census Bureau's Current Population Survey, rose to 13.2 percent in 2008 from 12.7 percent in 2007. This is the highest the poverty rate has been since 1997.

Whether one lives in poverty is determined by family size and income. Therefore, it's no surprise median household income dropped in 2008 from the year before, falling from $52,163 to $50,303. A decrease in nominal, or actual, income is one thing; however, when considering real, or inflation-adjusted, income, the drop is even more severe.

If you're interested in the full Census Bureau report, please click here.

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On a related note, the Census Bureau's Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates program produces poverty rates for every county and county equivalent in the United States. In 2007 (the most recent year for which data are available), South Dakota's Ziebach County had the highest rate of poverty in the country at 55.9 percent. Ziebach County is part of the Cheyenne River Reservation.

South Dakota has three additional counties among the top 10 with the highest rates of poverty nationwide:

• #2, Buffalo County, Crow Creek Reservation, 50.3 percent
• #4, Shannon County, Pine Ridge Reservation, 47.4 percent
• #7, Todd County, Rosebud Reservation, 42.8 percent

Keep in mind there are over 3,100 counties and equivalents in the United States. The living conditions on reservations are often compared to those of third-world countries; economic indicators certainly substantiate these anecdotal reports, including my own here on the Rosebud.

What's even more fascinating (and sad) is the level of economic disparity just here in South Dakota. Lincoln County, home to a portion of Sioux Falls and its suburbs, tied for the sixth-lowest poverty rate in the entire country in 2007 at 3.7 percent. South Dakota's statewide rate was 13.2 percent.

Any guesses as to the county (or general area of the country) with the lowest rate of poverty?

Too Poor to Make the News

Barbara Ehrenreich, author of "Nickeled and Dimed," has a great op-ed piece in this morning's New York Times. In it, she discusses the current recession's impact on those who were in impoverished situations already. She makes a good point by stating much of the media's coverage has focused on those who had been in decent financial shape but have since lost a job or a house. Meanwhile, those who missed out on recent economic booms have been ignored as their plight has deepened.