Poverty and the Working Poor

Wednesday, July 18th

8:30AM - 5:30PM

Our next workshop for the Class of 2012 is on Wednesday, July 18th at the Bishop McGann Village in Central Islip. Please arrive promptly at 8:30AM.  Although we will be beginning and concluding our day there, we will be taking field trips to different locations so please arrange your schedules to be with us for the entire day.

Please read "Nickel and Dimed: On (Not) Getting by in America" by Barbara Ehrenreich.  This is an easy read and tremendously insightful.  A social critic goes "undercover" as an unskilled worker to reveal the dark side of American prosperity.

*Please RSVP to Danielle by calling 631-454-4519 or by email to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it by June 29th

When & Where

Wednesday, July 18th

8:30AM - 5:30PM

Bishop McGann Village, Central Islip NY 11722

Directions:

200 Bishop McGann Drive, Central Islip, NY 11722

From Long Island Expressway

Take Long Island Expressway to Exit 56 Route 111/Smithtown/Islip.

Turn right onto Wheeler Road/NY-111 S.

Turn slight left onto Wheeler Road/CR-17 S.

Wheeler Road/CR-17 S becomes CR-17/Carleton Avenue (after crossing Suffolk Avenue)

Turn right onto Bishop McGann Drive

From Sunrise Highway (Route 27)

Take Sunrise Highway/NY-27

Take Exit 41 toward Robert Moses Causeway/Robert Moses Park/Sunken Meadow Park

Merge onto Robert Moses Causeway N.

Take Southern State Parkway

Take Exit 43A toward CR-17/East Islip/Central Islip

Keep right at fork in the ramp

Merge onto Spur Dr. S.

Turn right to go onto CR-17 N/Carleton Ave.

Turn left onto Bishop McGann Drive

***Bishop McGann Drive is the traffic light after the Target Shopping Center.

From Southern State

Take Southern State Parkway to Exit 43A

Take Exit 43A toward CR-17/East Islip/Central Islip

Keep right at fork in the ramp

Merge onto Spur Dr. S.

Stay straight to go onto CR-17 N/Carleton Ave.

Turn left onto Bishop McGann Drive

***Bishop McGann Drive is the traffic light after the Target Shopping Center.

Poverty on Long Island: The Facts

In 2010:

39,242

Nassau enrolled 60,460

Suffolk enrolled 99,702 LI children receive free or reduced School lunch

This represents roughly 1 out of every 4 children on Long Island.  22% of LI children are eligible for the free or reduced price school lunch.

• Between 2207-2010 there was a 44% increase in Food Stamp recipients in Nassau and 58% increase in Suffolk County.

• The "true" Long Island definition of sufficiency: $75,000 for a household to cover its basis expenses. 1 out of 3 households are below this level.

• More than 168,000 people live under the federal poverty line (around $22,000 for a family of 4 )in 2010 in Nassau and Suffolk counties (2010 U.S. Census)

• Actual income needed for a family of four on Long Island to survive has been estimated at more than $80,000 making it probable that many more Long Islanders are live in poverty.  (The Self-Sufficiency Standard for New York State 2010)

• 9.1 % of the general population and 14.3% of Long Island children have limited or inconsistent access to enough food to maintain a healthy lifestyle (food insecure).  (Map the Meal Gap 2012: Food Insecurity & (Map the Meal Gap 2012: Child Food Insecurity)

• Between 2008-2011 The Suffolk County Department of Social Services saw a 109% increase in food stamp applications

• Because of the low federal poverty threshold (used to determine eligibility for assistance programs):

63% of  Long Islanders who are food insecure are likely ineligible for Federal Nutrition Assistance (food stamps) and;

67% of Long Island children who are food insecure are likely ineligible for Federal Nutrition Assistance.

• According to Island Harvest monthly agency surveys, demand for Island Harvest services nearly tripled between 2008-2011