To the editor:
President Johnson declared a “War on Poverty” in January 1964 50 years ago when he signed the Economic Opportunity Act.
The Northwest New Jersey Community Action Program (NORWESCAP) was founded as a result of this ground-breaking legislation by a group of local interested citizens. For 50 years we have provided safety net programs, such as energy assistance and WIC that help struggling families make ends meet. We have worked to help families strive towards greater self-sufficiency and break the intergenerational cycle of poverty through approaches such as child-care assistance and asset-building programs.
Despite these emergency and life changing efforts over the last five decades, poverty remains a significant issue throughout the United States. The national poverty rate was 19 percent 50 years ago and in New Jersey almost 11 percent of households still lived below the official poverty rate in 2013.
For a family of four, this is defined as living at or below an annual income of $23,550. While this is 4 percent higher than the national average, New Jersey fares far worse in other indicators that give a more accurate picture of poverty in our state. We rank 47th in having affordable housing available to people with very low incomes 24 percent worse than the national average and 47th in unemployment rates at a rate of 9.5 percent in 2012.
New Jersey Legal Services has calculated that a four-person family living in New Jersey needs an annual income of between $64,000 and $74,000 just to meet basic needs. This is far higher than the federal poverty measure of $23,550 and takes into account the reality of housing and child-care costs not considered in the federal poverty rate.
While the programs created by President Johnson in 1964 and operated by NORWESCAP in six New Jersey counties are still critically important and relevant, it is not enough to solve the problem of poverty. Labor market issues perpetuate skyrocketing income inequality and economic insecurity for too many families in New Jersey and elsewhere. Women, children, and people of color continue to experience disproportionate rates of poverty. One in four jobs does not pay enough to get a family above the poverty level.
NORWESCAP remains dedicated to changing the lives of thousands of citizens in northwest New Jersey through reducing the impact of poverty. However, we all must look to the larger economic and social realities that have led to a war that appears to have no end.
If you would like to get involved call us at 908-454-7000 or visit our website at www.norwescap.org.
Terry Newhard
CEO
NORWESCAP
Phillipsburg
