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Report: One Third Of Escambia Residents Struggle Financially
February 6, 2019
A third of all households in Escambia County struggle to pay for basic needs such as housing, child care, food, transportation, health care, and technology, according to a report released Tuesday by the United Way of Escambia County.
“There is enormous value in this data,” said United Way of Escambia County President & CEO Laura P. Gilliam. “It really paints an accurate picture of the working families struggling to get by in our community.” This struggle materializes at a rate of $26.48 per hour — what it takes a household of four in Escambia County to survive the associated costs of living.”
The households are earning above the poverty line but not enough to cover the most basic of needs like food and housing. Even in affordable communities, across the board increases in everything from child care to health care plague a family’s ability to save or buy a home despite holding down a 40-hour-a-week job.
“The people reflected in this study are working and providing direct services in our community every day, Gilliam stated. “The fact that this population has grown, despite the perceived growth of our community, shows that there’s still a lot of work to be done.”
The cost of basic household needs increased steadily, outpacing the rate of inflation and wage growth. The cost for a family of four in Escambia County to meet basic needs rose 6 percent annually and 8 percent monthly, these costs rose 14 percent annually and 14 percent monthly for a single adult. Compared to Florida where the cost rose 20 percent per family and 12 percent for a single adult.
“We started a movement five years ago to raise awareness about these families who work and want to provide for their families,” said United Way of Florida President Ted Ganger. “Through the efforts of our local United Ways and their partners we can develop simple, fiscally conservative solutions that would have an immediate, positive impact on families.”
The report states the biggest drivers of cost increases for families since the end of the recession are health care (14.5 percent) and taxes (23 percent).
Comments
28 Responses to “Report: One Third Of Escambia Residents Struggle Financially”
Yes we are all struggling yet the border crossers are getting a very good ride to the tune of about $3000 a month, free housing, medical, education and what ever they need to be comfortable. I am AMERICAN. I should count! My family’s needs should be met before those people and the American homeless and hungry and especially our Veterans. They should be first. Just saying !
This is what happens when wages stay stagnate and prices keep going up. Just check how much more you pay for groceries now compared to last year or the year before that.
There are circumstances beyond our control – granted. However, if you choose to become a single mom of four children you are setting yourself up for a life on welfare and have no one to blame but yourself.
When you have guys like the Forehead and Barry trying to do things they know nothing about you end up where we are. ..All the forehead knows how to do is RA RA RA Navy fed….WHAT ABOUT THE REST OF US YOU CLOWNS?
First off, Escambia County IS CHEAP and does not want to pay top wages to anyone. Escambia County is at the bottom of pay scale among all counties as well. What I do not understand is HOW people around here can afford these nice trucks and Cars but can’t afford rent, etc. Live within your means and do not fall victim to your wants. Learn to be Thrifty !!!
Two to three cars in most driveways, 4 wheelers, boats and fast food every week. I’ve seen no gravy lines yet.
Folks are struggling…they really are. But it’s not to survive……
It’s to keep up.
people that quit school and can’t read or write, then have kids that follow in their parents foot steps. They end up on the street on dope and commit crimes and have more kids. It is a never ending cycle. Jobs are out there. Stay in school. Get training at a technical school. Nothing is free.
Try being a single mother of four 2 in school to not in school you can’t get a job because Child Care would take most of your check about 3/4 or more of your check then you include gas getting to and from work and that your whole check it’s very frustrating and leaves you feeling defeated and all you want is what’s best for your children to give them the things that they want and need.
My experience over about the last 15 years (before hurricane Ivan):
- gas up ~50%
- houses up ~100%
- house insurance up ~500%
while salaries up only about 20%. Watch the ‘Hidden Secrets of Money’ to see how your pay is continually devalued.
The County commissioners don’t want to bring jobs to Escambia County which is why we struggle locally because of no good job opportunities.
I have cut back until I can’t cut back people… and BOCC pay attention YOU may make the $26.++ an hour but us normal county employees DO NOT!!! You like to deny deny deny that we deserve raises and cost of living raises. so ESCAMBIA COUNTY FLORIDA BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISIONERS maybe you should give up some of your salaries for the county employees that actually work and actually work 40hrs + a week w/NO overtime!!!!! I have no “new” vehicle, no cable, a phone that’s at least 4yrs old, the cheapest phone plan I can, no internet, no satellite, I don’t get to “dine out”, and my house is falling apart so no fancy housing, no extras at all… I can’t cut anymore and having a 2nd parttime job isn’t keeping me up either… NO I’m not changing jobs.. I have 9more yrs till retirement kicks in where I am at. SO get the BOCC to give up hating on county employees!!!! Pay us!! get rid of the dead weight upper managements and give us actual workers a decent wage!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Bogus numbers. If both parents worked that comes to 13 and some change an hour. If one works then subtract the childcare from the total. If Escambia county is so low income then why are the fast food stores, bars, and lotto counters so full. Even in Century there seems to be a lot of spare money floating around. Name brand shoes, purses, fake nails and fake hair and loads of tattoos, which are not free but sure are visable everywhere you look. I don’t get it. Stop throwing your money away on things that you don’t need.
Cut one income and learn how to live in the real world. We didn’t purchase cable TV and guess what? The kids didn’t beg for things they never saw. They understood the meaning of the word no. To live on one paycheck parents must love each other and their children. Can’t even start on United Way, it’s not allowed.
Mike Rankos you are too funny. Obviously the struggling areas are NOT even included in the summary. They have no food, housing, medical, childcare , etc. cost. I think the article is meant as a guideline for people who actually pay for their expenses.
Wow, the compassion shown in these comments is impressive.
The $26.48 hourly wage is misleading. This equates to $13.24 for each adult. A bit of advice: learn to manage the necessities and save a little each pay period. Diligence and discipline will eventually lead to the buying power to afford items that aren’t a necessity. I drive a 15 year old vehicle, not because I can’t afford a later model but because I’ve set goals and priorities as a means to the end. New phones with unlimited plans, premium cable or satellite programming, new vehicles, dining and entertainment, etc are all items that when listed on a budget can be eye-opening to a family.
Not a big deal since many people can afford weed, alcohol, other drugs and high end cars, tatoos, eat out, hair done up, clubbing, newest clothes but yet they “struggle”
Go ahead, I dare you to drive through the “struggling areas” and look closely. Latest brand clothing, gold watches, tatted up, mercades, weed smell all around. LOL you ain’t fooling no one with this report.
This isn’t something new, when I moved here in 2002 I researched Escambia County and found it to be one of the poorest counties in Florida. And I haven’t seen much change since then except maybe the population increase. There is a lot of potential here in this county to include the Century area but unfortunately unless local politicians have there hand in it to make money it’s a no go. There’s to many other options out for growth besides here and that’s why I believe our county has remained stagnant. A lot of folks thought Navy Federal would really boost the economy, I don’t see it, they have been creating their own city out there which doesn’t really do any good for local merchants, and there’s so many people that drive as far as Brewton, Al to work there. However they have managed to create the worst possible traffic jam on nine mile road, to the point of a county commissioner being concerned about the welfare of the employees and wanting to build a new structure just for them.
I don’t see how a family of four makes it these days. We are retired and completely debt free and it’s ridiculous what things cost. But what really helps struggling households is to arrange priorities and learn what is not a priority. Here is a helpful list of non-priorities:
Tattoos
900.00 cell phones
Cigarettes, beer, lottery tickets
Fancy nail jobs
Parties
Buy what you need, not what you want.
I can’t even afford to get married because women expect to fly around the world on a permanent vacation.
Sounds like Life to me.
Praise God from whom all blessings flow!
Looks like John didn’t read the article or understand it, we are poorer than ever.
The bean counters never cease to amaze me. The wage of $10.94 an hour is slightly over $1700 which does not meet their monthly total.
Or, save over $1500 per month by having one spouse NOT work and drive a vehicle that’s paid off, and don’t get a new one every few years. In other words, don’t try and keep up with the Jones’s. I get it, not everyone can just jump ship tomorrow. But if a family wants financial security bad enough, they’ll get it.
That’s why we need to reelect President Trump so these numbers can continue to get better.
Cell Phone and Cable package was missing from the list.
But yet….. The various drive thru windows and the lottery ticket counter is always a bustling with patrons.
Who comes up with these ridiculous figures? Rent and utilities for $690 a month! I guess they have not kept up with the real estate market in Escambia County. Won’t even address the other “necessary” expenses.