2009/2010 Poverty Guidelines:

100% of Poverty Guidelines

Head Start
Early Head Start
Youth Employment and Training Program

125% of Poverty Guidelines

Movin' On Up
Back to School Fair
Case Management
Targeted Coaching

130% of Poverty Guidelines

Head Start
(see program guidelines)

135% of Poverty Guidelines

LIHEAP Utilities Assistance
(income requirements are based on 2009 Poverty Guidelines until October 1, 2009)

200% of Poverty Guidelines

Weatherization


Family Size
Annual Income
Monthly Income
 Annual Income Monthly Income
Annual Income
Monthly Income
Annual Income
Monthly Income
Annual Income
Monthly Income
1
$10,830
$903
 $12,996 $1,083
$14,079
$1,173
$14,040
$1,170
$21,660
$1,805
2
$14,570
$1,214
 $17,496 $1,458
$18,941
$1,578
$18,900
$1,575
$29,140
$2,428
3
$18,310
$1,526
 $21,996 $1,833
$23,803
$1,984
$23,760
$1,980
$26,620
$3,052
4
$22,050
$1,838
 $26,496 $2,208
$28,665
$2,389
$28,620
$2,385
$44,100
$3,675
5
$25,790
$2,149
 $30,996 $2,583
$33,527
$2,794
$33,480
$2,790
$51,580
$4,298
6
$29,530
$2,461
 $35,496 $2,958
$38,389
$3,199
$38,340
$3,195
$59,060
$4,922
7
$33,270
$2,773
 $39,996 $3,333
$43,251
$3,604
$43,200
$3,600
$66,540
$5,545
8
$37,010
$3,084
 $44,496 $3,708
$48,113
$4,009
$48,060
$4,005
$74,020
$6,168

Different CAP St. Joe programs use different levels to qualify. Please check with the program to determine eligibility.


What is a Poverty Guideline?

The current measure of poverty, the Federal Poverty Guideline, was established in 1964 (more than 40 years ago) by a Social Security Administration economist named Mollie Orshansky.

Looking at data from 1955 – the best available in the early 1960s – she found that a family spent, on average, one-third of its income on food. Hence, three-times the bare minimum of a survival food diet became the official poverty line. Below that level, she estimated, families could not survive.

That line has ticked upward only from being adjusted for inflation each year. The 1964 poverty measure is still used by federal programs for eligibility limits; for example, many families living at 130% of poverty or below can receive food stamps.

The federal poverty guidelines have remained largely unchanged for the past 44 years. Today, the cost for food represents about one-seventh of an average family's budget. Housing and energy, however, are the top highest budgeted items – yet the cost for housing and energy are not factored in to current federal poverty guidelines.

According to the National Center for Children in Poverty, research suggests that families actually need almost twice the federal poverty guideline in order to meet basic needs.  This means a family of four needs to earn $44,100 to meet basic needs – yet federal poverty guidelines say the same family should be able to meet its basic needs on $22,050 per year. (See table above).