Encyclopedia Dubuque
"Encyclopedia Dubuque is the online authority for all things Dubuque, written by the people who know the city best.”
Marshall Cohen—researcher and producer, CNN
Affiliated with the Local History Network of the State Historical Society of Iowa, and the Iowa Museum Association.
POVERTY
Being researched
POVERTY. The first definition of the word "poverty" in the Merriam-Webster dictionary reads "the state of one who lack a usual or socially acceptable amount of money or material possessions." (1) The federal government has established poverty thresholds and poverty guidelines. (2) Special groups have also attempted to derive their own definition of "want." At the sixth annual meeting in Dubuque of the Iowa Union Ex-Prisoners of War Association members discussed the progress made in helping destitute and disabled soldiers. At that time, ninety-one members of the association were too poor to pay the one dollar annual dues and many lived in poor houses. The problem existed with the pension law which required a former soldier to prove their deteriorated health was due to their confinement. Some progress had been made in Congress with the help of local representatives and senators. (3)
It will not be the purpose of this entry to go beyond the definition as written for Merriam-Webster. Nor will be it the goal to list and then accept or reject the multitude of assessments of the numbers of those living in poverty. Given its repetitive appearance on the front pages of the Dubuque newspaper for decades, "poverty" is obviously an issue affecting a significant number of people. This entry will be devoted to recounting the many ways this social condition has been addressed locally.
The first efforts to provide some degree of care for the destitute came as early as 1848 with the establishment of a POOR FARM outside the City of Dubuque.
In 1908 "The Conquest of Poverty" by Dr. Frank Julian Warne studied the role played by labor unions in reducing poverty. He stated his belief that the primary cause of poverty was not individual or social defects in character, but the economic factors over which the individual had previously no control. He made the claim that it was chiefly due to unions that the removal of poverty came from their regulation of factory management, provision of safety equipment, and the enforcement of better sanitary conditions. Warne quoted John Mitchell, ex-president of the United Mine Workers, as saying unions secured for workmen a wage sufficient to live in a manner conformable to American standards. He continued that union had also accumulated large funds to assist workers as a result of accident, death, sickness or unemployment. In 1908 not less than $5,000,0000 had been paid for the relief of unemployed workmen not including millions of dollars in strike and lockout benefits. James Duncan, first vie-president of the American Federal of Labor pointed to union success in reducing hours per day improving the health of the workers. (4)
The effects of poverty on the young have often been studied. Persistent poverty during the first five years of life leaves children with IQs lower at age five than children who suffered no poverty. Greg J. Duncan of the University of Michigan also found that persistently poor children were more likely to exhibit behavior problems. Every years they lived in poverty also significantly increased their risk of falling behind in school by ages 16 to 18 according to the U. S. Department of Education. (5) In 2004 an Iowa study suggested that Iowa taxpayers could gain from investing in early childhood education programs. A report from the Des Moines-based Child and Family Policy Center suggested early childhood education would offer a "substantial payoff"---as much as three dollars for every dollar invested instead of paying later for remedial and special education, criminal justice, and welfare benefits. (6)
A "Poor People's March" was held in Dubuque on May 18, 1968 in support of the Poor People's March in Washington, D. C. Participating despite a steady rain, an estimated two hundred fifty people marched six abreast from 12th Street to Main, Main to Seventh and Seventh to WASHINGTON PARK where a rally was held. Reverend Thomas RHOMBERG spoke asking why there was no low-cost housing in Dubuque except substandard which should be torn down, why the churches were so withdrawn fro the issue, and why public officials admitted they knew nothing about public welfare?
In January 1982, the first distribution of surplus cheese was made in Waterloo with social services officials finalizing plans for the Dubuque area in which 36,000 pounds was expected. Assistance was asked from food pantries and religious organizations which had systems in place. Federal income requirements and allocations were: (7)
Five pounds--families from 1-3 people. A single person had to have a gross
income of $664 a month or less; two people, $878; three, $1090
Ten pounds--families of four, gross income of $1,303 or less; five, $1,516;
six, $1,728
Fifteen pounds--families of seven, gross income of $1,941 or less; eight,
$2,153; nine, $2,366
For an additional three people, add another five-pound sack of cheese. To
calculate eligibility, add $213 for each additional child.
Creating awareness of a life in poverty was the goal in 2002 of OPERATION NEW VIEW and the Iowa State Extension. A 3-hour learning experience called "Exploring the State of Poverty Welfare Simulation" was conducted on November 7, 2002 at WESTMINSTER PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH. (8) Simulations appeared repetitively through 2015. Students studying social work at LORAS COLLEGE in three courses were divided into "families to participate in four, 15-minute sessions that simulated a week in poverty. Loras had used simulations for fifteen years, but in 2015 for the first time it partnered with OPERATION NEW VIEW which facilitated poverty simulations for free in Dubuque, Jackson, and Delaware counties. (9)
Among many activities community-wide was the hosting of the Feed the Need silent auction and soup luncheon. The event held annually was hosted by the Community Foundation of Greater Dubuque and its youth grantmaking board, the Youth Area Philanthropists known as "YAPPERS." Comprised of 28 students from area high schools, YAPPERS spent the year learning about community issues affecting local youth living in poverty. Feed the Need began as part of the Empty Bowls Project. A national youth poverty awareness campaign, the program aimed to increase local awareness, community involvement and charitable giving focused on improving the lives of Dubuque disadvantaged youth. Locally the project was sponsored by the Community Foundation of Greater Dubuque, Manna Java World Cafe, WEBER PAPER COMPANY, Theisen's, Hy-vee, Inspire Cafe, Panera Bread, and Houlihan's. (10)
Statistics involving poverty from the 2004 U. S. Census Bureau found that families led by single women led all sectors of the population in poverty. Over 28% of single women headed households considered poor in 2004; rates topped 40% for AFRICAN AMERICANS and HISPANICS headed by females. (11)
Politics were never forgotten in the arguments over what should be done. In 2005 Mark Hanson, presiding bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, the fourth-largest Protestant denomination in the United States came to Dubuque. While attending a Rural Ministry Conference at WARTBURG THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY he called balancing a deficit budget by cutting the "social network" an issue of justice and fairness. He stated that he found it "perplexing" that the term "homeland security" would mean getting on an airplane safely but not ensure that a single mother's children were fed. (12)
In 2010 the number of children living below the poverty line--an income level based on the number of people in the household--had increased by 42% over the past decade. The Census Bureau in 2015 considered that a family of four to be in poverty if its annual income was at or below $22,314. (13) This definition had changed from 2005 when the federal government defined the poverty level at $15,577 for a family of three. (14) A family of five was defined as poor if their income was less than $22,543. (15) One-third of Dubuque's public school students were eligible for free or reduced-price meals with the number varying by school. In Fulton, Prescott, and Audubon elementary schools over 80% of the students were eligible. At DUBUQUE SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL one-third of the students are eligible. (16)
In 2011 city officials received the 2010 Quantitative Research Study on Crime and Poverty in Dubuque. Directed by the Northern Illinois Center for Governmental Studies, the study proposed several suggestions for how to reduce crime in Dubuque. Among these proposals was the suggestion that the city disperse Section 8 housing units from clusters in downtown Dubuque, invest in at-risk neighborhoods, and use the study as a "springboard for objective dialogue." (17)
The "Bridges Out of Poverty" project begun in 2007 was a training program for people from the middle class develop a working model of what it means to live impoverished, middle class and wealthy lifestyles, and the hidden rules of getting ahead in society. The "Getting Ahead in a Just Gettin' By World" program was planned to help low-income families how to develop a path to stable, secure lifestyles by understanding the hidden rules of class. (18) "Bridges" defined "poverty" as being without resources more than being without money. Resources included: (19)
Financial--having the money to buy goods and services
Emotional--being able to choose and control emotional
responses to negative situations
Mental--having the abilities and acquired skills to
deal with daily life
Spiritual--believing in divine purpose and guidance
Physical--health and mobility
Support systems--resources available in times of need,
such as friends and family
Relationships/role models--access to adults who are
nurturing and do not engage in self-destructive
behavior
Knowledge of hidden rules--knowing the unspoken cues
and habits of a socioeconomic group
In 2010 the Circles Initiative was the final stage of the Bridges Initiative. This campaign was to change communities by building relationships across class lines that inspire and equip people to end poverty. (20) A "circle" involved a family working to get out of poverty and two to four community "allies" who were Getting Ahead graduates who were willing to befriend the family and support their way out of poverty. Circles was sponsored by the Family Self-Sufficiency office of the Dubuque Housing and Community Development Department. Rather than mentoring, Circles was designed as an informal two-way relationship where everyone involved learned from each other. Getting Ahead graduates who received a $20 stipend each week for attending class were the "poverty experts." (21) Their experiences could inform others of circumstances that kept them in poverty. (22)
Between 2007 and 2011 an estimated 2,500 people attended the "Bridges Out of Poverty" classes in Dubuque. This included people from Sioux City because the Dubuque program was the first of its kind in Iowa. The Getting Ahead program had graduated 144 Dubuque residents. The Circles project was overseen by Move the Mountain which monitored and provided assistance to local initiatives. "Allies" tended to be retired whites and it was hoped that younger people and minorities would make up a larger proportion. Getting Ahead graduates were generally AFRICAN AMERICANS. (23)
In the election season of 2012 the importance of helping those burdened by meeting their daily needs participants in their community gained extra importance. Referring back to the definition of poverty used in "Bridges" this meant attending a city council meeting or voting. (24)
Independent activities were also taking place to address poverty. On September 27, 2014 the St. Vincent de Paul Society Friends of the Poor Walk was held in conjunction with Catholic Financial Life. The walk began at MURPHY PARK and included a circuit around MOUNT CARMEL MOTHERHOUSE. Participants were asked to raise a minium of $25 as a goal. A silent auction included hotel stays and a golf package. Proceeds supplemented ST. VINCENT DE PAUL SOCIETY programs. The National Friends of the Poor Walk began in 2008 on the 175th anniversary of the society which believes spiritual growth comes through acts of charity. In 2013 the walk was held in 232 locations across the country. The Dubuque walk in 2013 involved 300 participants and raised $10,000. (25)
In 2015 data from the U. S. Census Bureau showed that the percentage of tri-state area residents living in poverty continued to rise even as the country emerged from recession. Since the pre-recession year of 2007 the number of Dubuque County residents living in poverty had increased 2.7% to a figure of 11.5%. From 2012-2015 Dubuque--with 3% of the state's population--saw more than 8% of all new jobs added across the state. Average wages over the period exceeded the rate of inflation by more than 15%. Higher wages, an attempt to life low-wage workers out of poverty, actually left them in worse condition. Higher wages resulted in the employees losing federal benefits like food stamps and Medicaid or housing subsidies. The highest pay in high-tech manufacturing, engineering, or computer technology was out of reach of low-skilled workers. (26)
There had developed a disconnect between the unemployment rate and the number of people living in poverty. In 2015, Dubuque experienced an average annual job growth of about 1.6% and 3% unemployment. This, however, did not account for those unable to find full-time employment and those who had given up. Those working in fast-food and service industries earned wages leaving their unable to support their families. Following the recession more businesses became automated with a resulting cut in employment. (27)
In 1984 the City of Dubuque could point to many organizations aimed at improving people's lives: (28)
OPENING DOORS offering hospitality and opportunity to women, alone, or with children who need emergency/transitional housing and related support services/
Dubuque Circles Initiative which was part of an innovative national
movement that connected volunteers and community leaders to families
wanting to make the journey out of poverty
HILLS & DALE CHILD DEVELOPMENT CENTER dedicated to building meaningful lives for individuals with disabilities by offering services support to the whole person and enhance community inclusion.
PROJECT CONCERN dedicated to the basic needs of families so that they can remain in their homes and to all homeless individuals and families so that they will be self-sufficient.
Mentor Dubuque worked to improve the lives of youth by providing
friendship, support and role modeling through volunteer mentors.
Reach & Rise, a national YMCA program, designed to build a better
future for youth by helping them reach their full potential
through the support of caring adults.
FOUR MOUNDS preserving the natural, architectural, and historical resources of the Four Mound estate while educating with hands-on opportunities for youth and our community.
St. Mark Youth Enrichment supporting the education and social
social needs of school-aged youth and their families.
American Red Cross preventing and alleviating human suffering
in the face of emergencies by mobilizing the power of
volunteers and the generosity of donors.
In 2015 INCLUSIVE DUBUQUE partnering with the city's Human Rights Department gathered information through dialogue sessions from more than six hundred residents with another 1,700 filling out a survey. (29) Among the findings was that 17% of the students in the DUBUQUE COMMUNITY SCHOOL DISTRICT compared to 2.2% of the staff. Superintendent Rheingans noted that the District had tried a variety of ways to attract minorities, but that higher pay in Illinois, Wisconsin and Minnesota had the job very difficult. He added that education departments, especially at the UNIVERSITY OF DUBUQUE had begun seeing more diverse enrollment and noted it was a "growing opportunity for us." Multi-cultural training had been offered beginning in 2006 by the city with its three-year Intercultural Competency Initiative. In a similar manner, the public schools had regularly used in-service days and required workshops for multi-cultural education. Working with the Dubuque Human Rights Department lesson plans for high school and middle schools had been designed to address racial and cultural differences. (30)
While noting that a significant number of minority populations were well-educated, the need for more outreach was expressed. In 2014, 570 Dubuque high school students took an advanced placement (AP) test. Of these, 90% were white, nearly 2% were African American, and less than 1% were Hispanic. Partnering with nonprofits to promote grade-level reading and dropout-prevention initiatives, the school district received $10,000 in 2014 from the Foundation for Dubuque Public Schools to expand the districts Leadership Enrichment Afterschool Programming (LEAP). The goal of the program was to broaden students' general educational experiences through new experiences, discovering their talents, reinforcing productive behavior and building self-confidence. In past years, LEAP was only available to students at the middle schools due to it being funded by a grant supporting the program for Title I schools. The district also partnered to promote tutoring services at the DUBUQUE DREAM CENTER and the DUBUQUE BLACK MEN COALITION job-skills and leadership development program. (31)
Transportation, or a lack thereof, was also highlighted. Lack of an automobile likely meant children unable to reach Head Start programs or workers able to reach jobs on the West Side. JULE (THE) only has defined routes and did not run at each working shift. Transit officials, however, countered that changes made had reduced travel times, increased coverage and extended hours resulting to record ridership. According to city figures, fixed-route ridership increased an average of 25% per month since the changes. (32)
In July, 2019 members of the city council approved soliciting proposals for the creation of an Equitable Poverty Prevention Plan for a maximum budgeted amount of $75,000. (33)
Research indicated that in 2019 16% of the 54,940 residents in the city lived in poverty. Minority residents were significantly more likely to live in poverty than the national averages. The rate of white residents living in poverty was slightly above the national average. Among AFRICAN AMERICANS in Dubuque 60% lived in poverty while the national average was 25.2%. Among HISPANICS in Dubuque, 26% lived in poverty compared to the national average of 22%. Among residents of two or more races in Dubuque, 47.6% lived in poverty which was far higher than the national average of 18.4%. (34)
The planning process would examine existing programs to determine their success. Dubuque officials could reach out to STAR communities nationally to observe their programs. STAR cities were communities thought to have made progress on sustainable planning efforts. (35) Trends and best practices would be studied and performance goals established to gauge the success of the new plan. The firm selected would study self-sufficiency, economic and employment programs, internet and computer-training programs, access to affordable housing, nutrition and CHILDREN'S MEAL PROGRAMS. (36)
The new plan followed the city's participation in Dubuque Circles Initiatives with partner organizations. That program evolved into Gaining Opportunities in 2018. The new plan would operate with Gaining Opportunities until the new plan concluded at which time Gaining Opportunities would change reflecting the new plan's findings and goals. (37)
Providing for those in need pushed caregivers to their maximum. Opening Doors Teresa Shelter providing housubg for homeless women and children reached its capacity throughout the year. In 2017 the number of "bed nights" at the shelter was 23% higher than in 2016. All women staying in the shelter were either employed or in school, but their income was not enough. At the time the federal government defined affordable housing as 30% of a person's income. Earning minimum wage, however, did not allow a person to find a place which would require between 40% or 50% which was not sustainable. In Dubuque County a family of four needed $58,644 to cover housing, child care, food, transportation, health care and taxes. Child care alone in Dubuque County, rose from $778 per month in 2014 to $1,086 in 2016. (38)
In 2019 a United Way study using "point-in-time data" collected in 2016 indicated that the growing financial hardships of this decade largely due to one category named Asset Limited Income Constrained, Employed (ALICE) but often called the "working poor." In Dubuque County, 14% of all households fell into this category in 2010. By 2014 the percentage had risen to 22%. Additionally, 11% of households were below the poverty level in 2016, up from 10% in 2010. The ALICE report challenged the idea that "getting a job" was sufficient to rise out of poverty. The report indicated that a single adult in Dubuque County needed a monthly income of $1,608. This could be earned by a full-time job paying $9.65 per hour. The ALICE study, however, found that a Dubuque County family with two adults, an infant and a pre-schooler spent $4,887 per month to meet basic needs. (39)
Helping some people was the Housing Choice Voucher program, a federal initiative operated locally by the City of Dubuque. In 2018 the city had adequate funding to distribute an estimated 850 housing vouchers. Demand, however, outpaced the supply. (40)
Census data clearly indicated that advanced education was important. In December, 2018 the median wage for households was $59,150--an increase from $56,154 the previous year. Residents with less than a high school education earned a median income of $21,200, high school graduates or those with an equivalency degree earned $30,700, those with an associate's degree had a median income of $34,100 while a bachelor's degree raised the income to $45,750. Those with a graduate degree had a median income of $58,600. (41)
To help those needing education and training, Opportunity Dubuque, a partnership of the GREATER DUBUQUE DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION (GDDC) and Northeast Iowa Community College, allowed participants to complete industry-driven certifications to upgrade their skills or begin their careers. While these courses were free of charge, child care and transportation could pose barriers. In 2018 GDDC began a pilot program for fifty Opportunity Dubuque participants who would receive free child care during their training and for up to a year after obtaining employment. (42)
In 2019 re-districting schools to expose students to more diversity was again s subject of debate in the DUBUQUE COMMUNITY SCHOOL DISTRICT. Superintendent Rheingans noted that the district focused more resources and opportunities to schools with higher concentrations of need. If the district treated all elementary schools equally would reduce that assistance. Redistricting would also effect the distribution of federal funding the district received for Title I schools. Changing the percentage of students from low-income backgrounds at individual schools would result in aid being spread between more schools reducing services to schools with greater need. (43)
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Source:
1. "Poverty", Merriam-Webster Dictionary, Online: https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/poverty
2. "2017 Poverty Guidelines," U. S. Department of Health & Human Services, Online: https://aspe.hhs.gov/2017-poverty-guidelines#guidelines
3. "Prisoners of War," The Herald, April 20, 1887, p. 4
4. "Conquest of Poverty," The Telegraph-Herald, December 11, 1909, p. 4
5. "The 'Good Old Days' Are Gone Forever," Telegraph Herald, November 15, 1993, p. 12
6. "Studies Tout Early-Childhood Education," Telegraph Herald, October 20, 2004, p. 21
7. Freund, Bob, "Tri-States Prepare Cheese Plans," Telegraph Herald, January 11, 1982, p. 4
8. "Living in Poverty," (advertisement), Telegraph Herald, October 27, 2002, p. 103
9. Becker, Stacey, "Poverty Simulation Offers Perspective," Telegraph Herald, January 9, 2015, p. 3
10. "Feed the Need Auction, Luncheon Set for October 29th," Telegraph Herald, October 22, 2015, p. 8
11. Kittle, M. D., This is What You Call Poverty," Telegraph Herald, December 25, 2005, p. !A
12. Nevans-Pederson, Mary, "Bishop Shares Distaste for Bush's Economics," Telegraph Herald, March 15, 2005, p. 1A
13. Kittle, p. 8
14. Hogstrom, Erik, "'It Doesn't Surprise Me At All," Telegraph Herald, September 24, 2011, p. 1A
15. "Poverty Follows Families to Suburbs," Telegraph Herald, December 7, 2006, p. 81
16. Ullrich, Kurt, ""More Iowa Children in Poverty," Telegraph Herald, December 21, 2010, p. 1A
17. Blanchard, Courtney, "'No Perfect Answer' on Crime," Telegraph Herald, January 22, 2011, p. 1A
18. "A Bridges Definition of Poverty," Telegraph Herald, July 24, 2011, p. 1A
19. Piper, Andy,"Program Combats 'Circle of Poverty," Telegraph Herald, September 15, 2010, p. 2A
20. Ibid.
21. Piper, Andy, "'Circles' Aims to Bridge Class Lines," Telegraph Herald, September 20, 2010, p. 1A
22. Piper, Andy, "'Allies' Offer Guidance Hope at Weekly Meetings," Telegraph Herald, July 24, 2011, p. 1A
23. Schmidt, Eileen Mozinski,"'People Have to Understand What Poverty Is,'" Telegraph Herald, September 20, 2012, p. 3A
24. Barton, Thomas J. and Craig Reber, "Poverty Rates Remain Stubborn," Telegraph Herald, December 16, 2015, p. 1A
25. Ibid.
26. Barton, Thomas J., "Diversity Spawns Push for Equity," Telegraph Herald, September 27, 2015, p. 1A
27. Ibid. p. 6
28. "RU Making A Difference?" (advertiseent) Telegraph Herald, July 17, 2014, p. 7
29. Ibid.
30. Ibid.
31. Fisher, Benjamin, "Dubuque Seeks Consultant for Anti-Poverty Plan," Telegraph Herald, July 22, 2019, p. 3A
32. Ibid.
33. Fisher, Benjamin, "City Eyes Poverty Reduction Proposal," Telegraph Herald, February 15, 2019, p. 1A
34. Fisher, "Dubuque Seeks Consultant...
35. Ibid.
36. Ibid.
37. Ibid.
38. Montgomery, Jeff, "United Way Documents Working Poor Here," Telegraph Herald, June 29, 2018, p. 1A
39. Montgomery, Jeff, "Paycheck to Paycheck," Telegraph Herald, January 27, 2019, p. 6
40. Ibid.
41. Ibid.
42. Ibid.
43. Hinga, Allie, "Disparity of Diversity Fuels Calls for Redistricting," Telegraph Herald, February 10, 2019, p. 6