Perceptions on Poverty Study Release

On October 16th, 2020, Missouri State University Sociology Department, The Grantwell, LLC, and Drury University Center for Nonprofit Leadership recently released their collaborative “Perceptions of Poverty Study”.

This study focused on Greene and Christian County residents thoughts on poverty; both the causes and potential solutions. With approximately 3,000 respondents, almost everyone agreed that poverty is a problem. In fact, 98 percent of the participants thought it was a concern, with 72 percent considering it a “big problem”. The study was supported by BKD and sponsored by Central Bank.

The study revealed how different demographic groups view poverty and how their responses vary in the way they approach the issue. The biggest statistical difference in responses was found in the way gender, political ideology, and self-reported religiosity influenced responses. There was not a significant difference in the way age and race perceived poverty causes and solutions.

Gender

In regards to gender, the study found that more women are likely to feel that poverty is a systemic problem. In addressing the question, “How big of a problem is poverty in our society?”, 81 percent of women and just 63 percent of men found it to be a “big problem”, rather than “somewhat of a problem”, according to the study.

57 percent of women believe that people are poor due to “circumstances beyond their control. Men’s views on poverty seemed a bit harsher than women’s with 47 percent of male responses saying that “people are not doing enough to get themselves out of poverty”, as opposed to only 30 percent of women. Gender also proved to have differing views on the cause of poverty with over 75 percent of women believing that most people are poor because, while they work, they cannot earn enough money. However, 66 percent of men held that opinion. Only 17 percent of women thought that poor people do not work as opposed to 26 percent of men. Men are 7 percent more likely than women to believe the “moral values” of those who take government assistance are lacking, when compared to other American citizens. 

Political Ideology

 Aside from gender, the study also revealed a stark difference of opinion based on political ideologies. Those who proclaimed liberal ideologies were almost three times as likely to say it is a “big problem” as those who said they were conservative. When looking at the political ideologies beliefs about those in poverty, conservative/moderately conservative respondents were significantly more likely to believe that people were poor because they “are not doing enough to help themselves” (62 percent and 61 percent, respectively) compared to moderates (39 percent) and moderately liberal/liberal respondents (16 percent and 8 percent). 73 percent of moderately liberal and 85 percent of liberal respondents believed that people are living in poverty due to “circumstances beyond their control”.

Religiosity

Religious views did not significantly affect the responses regarding the causes of poverty or poverty being a problem. However, it did seem to influence how they view the causes and solutions. 54 percent of respondents who were “very religious” believe that individuals are “spending too little” to assist poor people, which is the only demographic that is most likely to believe that. 

The highest ranked causes of poverty identified by respondents were low wages, being a single parent, drug abuse, mental illness and poor quality of education. 

The top five solutions suggested by respondents were improving education, subsidized day care, expanding employment programs, increasing the minimum wage and more workforce training.

National Study vs. Springfield MO Study Results

As noted above, this survey was replicated and based on a survey initially conducted by National Public Radio, the Kaiser Family Foundation, and Harvard University’s Kennedy School of Government in 2000. 

There were several similarities discovered in the process of the study including:

• The majority of respondents believed poverty is a problem. 

• Most respondents were divided over the causes of poverty. 

• The typical respondent believed that poor people work, but the jobs they hold are insufficient to pull them out of poverty. 

Some of the differences noted between the 2000 National study and the 2018 local study, such as:

• Respondents vary in the way they view the government programs for those in poverty. In the national study, about half of the respondents believed that government programs did not have much impact on those considered poor. In the Springfield study, a slight majority believed that the government should assist those in need. 

• Springfield also had 54% of respondents who believed it is important for the private sector to address poverty as well.

• In the 2000 study, statistical differences were noted among different racial and ethnic groupings, however the Springfield study revealed that racial and ethnic differences were not statistically significant.

Local Poverty Efforts

“While one-out-of-four Springfield residents technically live below the poverty line, over 50 percent of our community live on less than $35,000 per year, putting them at-risk for poverty if any large financial burden comes into their lives.” (KY3 News)

The study also took time to highlight poverty efforts in the region, including feeding programs, food pantries, emergency shelters, empowerment programs, early childhood programs, senior and disabled services and health, hunger and hygiene funding for students. It is encouraging to note that most people feel empathy for those in the community who are facing poverty.

If you are interested in volunteering or providing resources for these efforts, you can find information here and here. 

Covid-19

It is important to note that this study was conducted prior to COVID-19, which has considerably impacted unemployment and poverty levels nationwide. 

“This study was conducted prior to COVID, and while I think some perspectives regarding wages, food assistance, and housing have become more evident and more a part of the social conversation and response since we conducted this survey, I hope that this report serves as a reminder of what always was. Here, in our community, we have family, friends, and neighbors - our own selves- that are extremely vulnerable to these types of unpredictable economic shifts - without a pandemic, during a pandemic, in a period of economic uncertainty and hopeful recovery. There is no better time to ensure that we are taking steps (policy and  otherwise) to take care of each other.” ~ Christina Ryder, The Grantwell, LLC

This release was covered by the Springfield News-Leader and KY3 News.

If you are interested in seeing how The Grantwell, LLC can help your organization thrive, please contact Christina@thegwllc.com