Rockland’s poorest: Report shows where county’s poor and working poor call home – Lohud

Economic Hardship in Rockland County: An Analysis in the Context of Sustainable Development Goals

Key Findings from the 2023 United Way Study

• A 2023 United Way study reports that 50% of families in Rockland County are living below the poverty line or fall within the ALICE threshold.
• This demographic represents the “working poor,” who are employed but earn insufficient income to cover basic household costs.

Defining the ALICE Threshold

The study utilizes the ALICE framework to identify households facing financial instability:

• Asset Limited
• Income Constrained
• Employed

This metric specifically measures the population of working families who, despite having jobs, cannot afford fundamental necessities.

Implications for Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

The high rate of financial instability in Rockland County presents significant challenges to achieving several key United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.

1. SDG 1: No Poverty
   The finding that half of the county’s families are unable to make ends meet directly conflicts with the primary objective of SDG 1, which is to end poverty in all its forms everywhere. The prevalence of the ALICE population highlights a substantial segment of the community living in or on the brink of poverty.
2. SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth
   The existence of a large “working poor” population indicates that employment alone is not guaranteeing financial security. This situation undermines SDG 8’s goal to promote sustained, inclusive, and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment, and decent work for all.
3. SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities
   Such a stark division, where 50% of families are financially insecure, points to significant economic inequality within the community. Addressing the needs of the ALICE population is crucial for making progress toward SDG 10, which aims to reduce inequality within and among countries.
4. SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities
   A community cannot be considered truly sustainable if a large portion of its residents lacks economic stability. The financial precarity of half of Rockland’s families impacts community resilience and hinders the achievement of SDG 11, which focuses on making cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient, and sustainable.

SDGs Addressed in the Article

1. SDG 1: No Poverty

   • Explanation: The article’s central theme is poverty and financial hardship in Rockland County. It explicitly states that “50% of Rockland County families were living below the poverty line or were the working poor,” which directly addresses the goal of ending poverty in all its forms.

2. SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth

   • Explanation: The article introduces the concept of ALICE, which stands for “Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed.” This highlights a situation where people have jobs, but the income from this employment is insufficient to cover basic living costs. This connects to the goal of achieving decent work for all, as the employment described is not providing a sustainable livelihood.

3. SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities

   • Explanation: The statistic that half of the families in the county are struggling financially points to a significant economic inequality within the community. This disparity between those who are financially stable and the 50% who are “barely making ends meet” is a core issue addressed by the goal of reducing inequality within and among countries.

Specific Targets Identified

1. Target 1.2: Reduce poverty in all its dimensions

   • Explanation: The article directly relates to this target, which aims to “reduce at least by half the proportion of men, women and children of all ages living in poverty in all its dimensions according to national definitions.” The United Way’s study and the ALICE threshold serve as a specific, localized definition of poverty and financial hardship, and the article quantifies the proportion of the population affected (50% of families).

2. Target 8.5: Full and productive employment and decent work for all

   • Explanation: This target is relevant because the article discusses the “working poor” (ALICE). These individuals are employed, but their work is not “decent” or “productive” enough to provide a living wage that meets real local costs. The article implies a gap between employment and economic security, which this target seeks to close.

3. Target 10.2: Promote universal social, economic and political inclusion

   • Explanation: The article’s finding that 50% of families are either in poverty or income-constrained demonstrates a lack of economic inclusion for a substantial portion of the population in Rockland County. This situation is precisely what Target 10.2 aims to address by empowering and promoting the economic inclusion of all, irrespective of their economic status.

Indicators Mentioned or Implied

1. Indicator 1.2.1: Proportion of population living below the national poverty line

   • Explanation: The article explicitly mentions families “living below the poverty line” and provides a combined statistic of 50% for this group and the “working poor.” This figure serves as a direct measurement for this indicator at a local level.

2. Indicator 1.2.2: Proportion of people living in poverty in all its dimensions according to national definitions

   • Explanation: The ALICE threshold, as described in the article, is a multidimensional measure of poverty. It is defined by the United Way as the income level needed to meet real local costs for a basic household budget. The statistic that “50% of Rockland County families” fall below this threshold or the poverty line is a direct application of this indicator.

3. Implied Indicator for Target 8.5: Proportion of employed population with earnings below the cost of living

   • Explanation: While not a formal UN indicator, the article’s data on the “working poor” (ALICE) implies this measurement. The core of the ALICE definition is being “Income Constrained, Employed,” meaning earnings from employment are insufficient. The 50% figure (which includes this group) acts as a proxy indicator for the lack of decent, well-paying work.

Summary of Findings

Source: lohud.com