[Dialogue] Self-Sufficiency Standards

Thu Oct 23 10:35:49 EDT 2008

Michael,

Almost everyone acknowledges that the current federal poverty guideline, which this year places the poverty level for a family of 4 at just over $20,000, is badly outdated.  Many have suggested that the real point at which a family of 4 does not have to decide between what necessities it will and will not pay in a given month is closer to $40,000.

To your knowledge is Diana Pearce's self-sufficiency standard a part of this conversation to redefine the poverty guideline for the country?

Randy

--- On Thu, 10/23/08, Michael & Molly Shaw <mandmshaw at comcast.net> wrote:

From: Michael & Molly Shaw <mandmshaw at comcast.net>
Subject: Re: [Dialogue] Self-Sufficiency Standards
To: "'Colleague Dialogue'" <dialogue at wedgeblade.net>
Date: Thursday, October 23, 2008, 1:52 AM

George,

Google Diana Pearce or "the self-sufficiency standard".  Diana is a
Professor in the School of Social Work at the University of Washingon.  She
coined the phrase "the feminization of poverty" (may have written a
book by
same name).  She also created a calculator that is available on the web to
tell a person whether they are better off on different forms of public
assistance than to take that job that looks oh-so good at $9 an hour.

She has published The Self-Sufficiency Standard for (name your state).  It
looks like Texas was one of the oldest in 1997, but I saw one for Ohio in
2008.  She has done some amazing work.  Her work has been to define what a
what it costs to live for any size family group, in every state in the US.
She may have done it down to the census track level.  She has done a lot of
traveling to "roll out" her data in each state, but would not do the
roll
out until a state-wide agency stood next to her.

You probably met her when you passed through Seattle and stopped in at
University Temple UMC.  I believe she attends Wallingford UMC now. I am
pretty sure she would remember your name as being associated with Sharon Moe
at U-Temple when you were working in the Philipines.

She and her husband have also worked in Tashkent.  Her contact info at UW
is:

Diana M Pearce; 206 616-2850, 206 852-3759; Box 354900
Senior Lecturer & Director, Center for Women's Welfare, School of
Social
Work
4101 15th Ave NE
FAX: 206 543-1228
Vmail: 206 616-2850
pearce at u.washington.edu

If you decide to contact her, you can use my name or not.  We served on the
board of ROOTS (http://rootsinfo.org/) , a homeless shelter for 18-25 year
olds at University Temple UMC.

Peace,
Michael

  _____  

From: dialogue-bounces at wedgeblade.net
[mailto:dialogue-bounces at wedgeblade.net] On Behalf Of George Holcombe
Sent: Wednesday, October 22, 2008 8:19 AM
To: Colleague Dialogue
Subject: Re: [Dialogue] Need a quote

Thanks a million.  It all comes back to me now.  I've not kept up with
OWOP,
though I get their emails and chime in from time to time. 

On your homeless work, is anyone around there pushing for the Living Wage,
where minimum wage would be indexed and be according to what it takes
locally to have housing, food, transport, health, etc.?  If that could ever
be a part of this mix a lot of homelessness could disappear.  We're finding
that over 40% of our homeless in Austin work full time, some 2 jobs.

George Holcombe
Asbury United Methodist Church
1605 38 1/2 St. 
Austin, TX 78722
Home: 512/252-2756
Church: 512/477-8122
Mobile 512/294-5952
geowanda at earthlink.net

On Oct 22, 2008, at 10:08 AM, Charles or Doris Hahn wrote:

Hi Georgee,
It is from Loren Eisley, The Immense Journey,  Chapter 1, the Slit,  page 5
in our edition.  Hope this helps.
Greetings to Wanda, the EI/OE Group, and the guys at OWOP(if you go to
that).  Keep up your good work.  We are enjoying Bloomington, and being
nearer the kids.  Working at the church,  for single payer health care, and
for the homeless. We are both in great health.
Grace and Peace,
Charles

----- Original Message ----
From: George Holcombe <geowanda at earthlink.net>
To: ICA LIST SERVE <dialogue at wedgeblade.net>
Sent: Wednesday, October 22, 2008 9:45:56 AM
Subject: [Dialogue] Need a quote

My mind is slipping, I can't find the quote or source for that reading in
CS-I that ends "and what will I never live to see." or something like
that.
Anyone have the quote, book, chapter, verse? 

George Holcombe
14900 Yellowleaf Tr.
Austin, TX 78728
Home: 512/252-2756
Mobile 512/294-5952
geowanda at earthlink.net

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