[Dialogue] Self-Sufficiency Standards

[George Holcombe]

What the Living Wage group is pushing for, according to one of its  
leaders in Austin, Richard Troxell, is to have the scale set to the  
city, state and region, and have it indexed to inflation.  It costs a  
different amount to make it in San Francisco vs. Buda, Tx.  In this  
way there would be equity.  The establishment in Washington, both  
sides, seem reluctant to touch it.

Yes, we remember Diana and her talk on the feminization of poverty.   
It would be great to get Diana's take on this.

Our church has a homeless committee that is trying to figure out which  
is the best way to go - "mercy" ministries or "Justice" ministries or  
a mix.  They want to have a sense that their efforts have a chance of  
making a difference.

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


On Oct 23, 2008, at 9:35 AM, R Williams wrote:

> 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 4 at just over $20,000, is badly outdated.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
> 	
>
> 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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