The 200% poverty line as an affordability measure for a more decent standard of living Unlike the basic standard of need captured by poverty measures, there is no official or agreed upon mea- sure of a decent living standard. However, prior work with the Poverty Tracker suggests that 200% of the SPM poverty line may align more closely with such a benchmark. For example, the housing component of the SPM threshold for a two-adult, two-child family in New York City amounts to roughly $21,000 annually, or about $1,750 for monthly rent. This is nearly $600 lower than the monthly 2022 Fair Market Rent for a two-bedroom apartment in the New York metro area. 20 Twice this amount, on the other hand, could help a family of this size secure more stable and spacious housing for all four of the people in their family. Material hardship rates also suggest that 200% of the SPM poverty line is a meaningful benchmark. New Yorkers across all income levels report experiencing material hardships, but the Poverty Tracker shows that hardship rates begin to tail off notably above 200% of the poverty line. 21 Comparing rates of mate- rial hardship between those above and below 200% of the poverty line reveals substantial differences.
Material hardship rates for New Yorkers above and below 200% of the poverty line (2022) Figure 3.1
Below 200% SPM
Above 200% SPM
32%
Did not pay the full amount of rent in the past 12 months because of financial problems
14%
Did not pay the full amount of phone, gas, oil, or electricity bills in past 12 months because of financial problems
27%
14%
Ran out of money between paychecks or before the end of the month often in the past 12 months
19%
7%
Unable to or had a household member unable to see a doctor, dentist, or go to the hospital due to costs in the last 12 months
18%
12%
Phone, gas, or electricity service cut off in past 12 months because unable to pay bills
9%
4%
8%
Worried often that food would run out before having enough money to buy more
3%
7%
Food often did not last before having money to buy more
2%
Stayed at a shelter, abandoned building, automobile, other place not meant for regular housing, or moved in with others because of financial problems in the past 12 months
5%
2%
0%
5% 10% 15% 20% 25% 30% 35%
Source: Annual Poverty Tracker survey data, second through fifth Poverty Tracker cohorts.
20 2022 FMRs taken from HUD’s FMR data portal (https://www.huduser.gov/portal/datasets/fmr.html#year2022) 21 Poverty Tracker Research Group at Columbia University, “The State of Poverty and Disadvantage in New York City, Volume 5.”
28 THE STATE OF POVERTY AND DISADVANTAGE IN NEW YORK CITY VOL. 6
Made with FlippingBook Digital Proposal Creator