Ohio’s Child Poverty Rate was 17.7% in 2022, According to New Report
Source: https://ohiocapitaljournal.com/
Ohio’s poverty rate stood at 13.4% in 2022, with a child poverty rate of 17.7%, as reported by the Ohio Association of Community Action Agencies (OACAA). While the overall poverty rate remained unchanged from 2021, it is slightly above the national rate of 12.6%. This marks the 31st year the OACAA has published its State of Poverty report. Executive Director Philip E. Cole emphasized the need to remain aware of both child and overall poverty, noting that nearly 20% of Ohio children under six lived in poverty in 2022, along with 18% of children ages 6 to 11 and 15.9% of those ages 12 to 17.
Philip E. Cole emphasized that a person’s economic status at birth significantly influences their life trajectory, noting that poverty is often unrelated to personal choices. He highlighted the unequal access to essential resources as a key factor affecting individuals’ ability to thrive. This year’s report specifically addressed the impact of poverty on children, focusing on issues like housing, food insecurity, and healthcare. Tina Kassebaum added that no demographic is immune to poverty’s effects and underscored that children, who have no control over their circumstances, are particularly vulnerable to these challenges.
Housing
In Ohio, 23% of children live in cost-burdened households, spending over 30% of their income on housing. Among low-income households, over half (53%) face this burden, increasing their risk of housing insecurity. Philip E. Cole noted that landlords significantly raised rents during the pandemic, often by up to 300%, and those prices have not decreased. To afford a two-bedroom apartment, Ohioans need to earn at least $20.81 an hour working full-time. Additionally, there are only 79 affordable rental units available per 100 renter households for those earning at or below 50% of the area median income. Cole urged the state to find ways to incentivize contractors to build more affordable housing.
Food insecurity
Ohio’s overall food insecurity rate is 11.8%, with children experiencing a higher rate of 14.8%, according to the state of poverty report. The end of pandemic-related SNAP benefits in February 2023 has left about 1.5 million Ohioans with reduced food assistance. Additionally, the number of WIC-authorized vendors has declined, with Van Wert County lacking any vendors and Cuyahoga and Franklin counties losing 42 and 30 vendors, respectively, since 2015.
To address these issues, Philip E. Cole suggested increasing direct funding to food banks and pantries and implementing a significant tax credit for families to help them afford food. State Reps. Lauren McNally and Casey Weinstein proposed a “Thriving Families Tax Credit” to provide financial relief to middle and low-income families, offering $1,000 per year for children aged 0 to 5 and $500 for those aged 6 to 17. However, the proposed bill, House Bill 290, has not yet received committee hearings. Families earning $65,000 or less would qualify for the full benefits.
Healthcare
Between March and September 2023, over 86,000 Ohio children were unenrolled from Medicaid, resulting in 4.6% of children in the state being uninsured. Ohio also faces a significant infant mortality issue, with an overall rate of 7.0 in 2021, rising to 14.2 for Black infants. Medicaid births have a higher mortality rate (9.4) compared to those with private insurance (4.8).
The state has 13 maternity care deserts, where access to maternity health services is limited or nonexistent, and has seen 28 closures of labor and delivery providers since 2014. In response, a new women and children’s hospital is being built in Belpre, set to open in fall 2026, which will be the only facility of its kind in southeast Ohio.
Data from the report revealed that Scioto County in Southern Ohio reported the highest overall poverty rate at 21.8%, along with the highest family poverty rate of 18.3%. Following Scioto, Athens County had a poverty rate of 21.6%, Vinton County at 20.9%, and Gallia County at 20%. Cuyahoga County’s overall poverty rate was 16.6%, while Hamilton and Franklin counties reported rates of 15.6% and 15.1%, respectively. For family poverty rates, Pike County led with 16.6%, followed by Adams County at 14.8% and Lawrence County at 14.2%. Additionally, Black Ohioans face the highest poverty rate at 25.9%, followed by Hispanic/Latinos at 22%.
Image Source: https://ohiocapitaljournal.com/
