Cost Of Living Denies Many in Chesco Self-Sufficiency: Report

CHESTER COUNTY, PA — Advocates for women and girls in Pennsylvania will present data on Chester County households they say are barely self-sufficient and are overlooked and undercounted in federal poverty level data.

The Chester County Fund for Girls and Women (CCFGW) and Pathways PA are sponsoring a virtual event to look closely at self-sufficiency data that show many women in Pennsylvania are struggling to make ends meet, even though they do not fall below federal poverty line.

Since 1997, Pathways PA has calculated the Self-Sufficiency Standard for Pennsylvania, which documents the increase in the real cost of living and illuminates the economic crunch experienced by thousands of families. The organization says while households in Chester County may not fall below the federal poverty line, they often fall far below the self-sufficiency standard.

Joyce Chester, President and CEO of Chester County-Opportunities Industrialization Center, and Jennifer Lopez, Executive Director of Friends Association for the Care and Protection of Children, will add insight to the data by sharing the experiences of their clients who are working to make ends meet in Chester County.

"Census data shows that 13 percent of households in Pennsylvania live in poverty. In reality, one in four households don't have the income they need to reach self-sufficiency or cover basic necessities," said Pathways PA and CCFWG Communications and Program Associate Maeve Kelly.

Kelly said that in Chester County, the wealthiest county in Pennsylvania, a single parent with one pre-school child and one school-age child, needs to make over $80,000 annually to be self-sufficient. "That's higher than any other county in southeastern Pennsylvania," Kelly said.

CCFWG and Pathways PA will discuss the Self-Sufficiency Standard for Pennsylvania and present a report that includes data on Chester County households. The presentation will also address how COVID-19 has made the climb toward economic advancement even more difficult for local families.

The virtual presentation on Zoom happens Tuesday, Aug. 18 from 9 to 10:30 a.m. Those interested may register here.

Event organizers encourage community members, elected officials and their staff, and representatives from local non-profit organizations, foundations, and other organizations "to attend, to listen, to learn, and to join in on the conversation of the implications and potential actions we can take based on these findings."

For over 20 years, CCFWG has raised awareness about the critical needs of women and girls, and has awarded over $3.3 million to 75 local non-profit organizations.

In response to COVID-19, CCFWG said it has developed innovative programs and initiatives to raise awareness about the pandemic's impact on local women, girls, and their families. "The pandemic has only exacerbated economic disparities within our communities and made it more difficult for women in particular to support their families. In these uncertain and unprecedented times, CCFWG and its community partners will continue to uplift and advocate for vulnerable members of our communities to ensure equitable access and resources for all," said Kelly.