Audio from Press Conference Now Available

By MB -
--Embargoed until 12:00 AM May 20, 2010--

Income needs of Pennsylvania's working families continue to increase

A family of two adults, one preschooler, and one schoolage child in Delaware County needs to earn $67,238 to make ends meet, which equals 305% of the Federal Poverty Level.

WHAT:
Release of statewide report on the financial condition of Pennsylvania's working families:
Self-Sufficiency Standard for Pennsylvania 2010-2011

Audio from Tuesday's Press Conference Now Available at http://pathwayspa.org/Audio_Press_Conference_SSS_10_11.mp3

Copies of the report are available at http://pathwayspa.org/10-11_SS_Standard.pdf

Includes comments from:
Dr. Diana Pearce, author of the report, will be available to take questions along with
Dr. Robert Garraty, Deputy Secretary of Workforce Development, PA Department of Labor and Industry and
Carol Goertzel, President/CEO of PathWays PA


HARRISBURG - From food to transportation, it costs Pennsylvania's working families more to adequately meet the rising costs of living, according to the latest edition of the Self-Sufficiency Standard for Pennsylvania 2010-2011.

PathWays PA, a services and advocacy organization for women, children and families, will present the report, which is updated every two years. The Self-Sufficiency Standard for Pennsylvania provides a "real world" approach to measuring the income needs of families in every county in the state so that they can meet those needs without relying on public or private assistance.The Standard is based on the cost of each basic need in each county-food, housing, health care, child care, transportation and taxes- determined independently using verifiable and publicly available data.

As a measure, the Standard provides a more accurate picture than do federal poverty guidelines on the economic needs of working families. For example, a Self-Sufficiency Wage for a family with two adults and two children in Delaware County is $67,238, which is 305% of the Federal Poverty Level.

The 7th edition of the Self-Sufficiency Standard for Pennsylvania was developed by Diana M. Pearce, Ph.D., director for the Center for Women's Welfare, University of Washington School of Social Work. It was prepared by university staff along with Marianne Bellesorte, Carol Goertzel and Kate Scully of PathWays PA.

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