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About Portland observer. (Portland, Or.) 1970-current | View Entire Issue (Dec. 21, 2011)
Decem ber 21, 2011 ®'* ^Jordanit (Obstruer Page 9 Augustana Lutheran Church NE 15th& Knott 503-288-6174 We invite you to join us Christmas Eve Joy to Every Heart •M «< 7 pm Candlelight Jazz Carol Service 9 pm Candlelight Gospel/ Jazz Carol Service 11 pm Candlelight Carol Service w/organ & choir CHRISTMAS DAY Worship at 10 a.m. A multicultural, welcoming and affirming church Zenobia Bechtol, 18, and her seven-month-old baby girl Cassandra play in the dining room o f her m other's apartment in Austin, Texas where they live. Bechtol and her daughter were recently evicted from their apartment after her boyfriend, an electrician, lost his job. Half of Americans Deemed Low-Income Status grows with joblessness and fraying safety net (AP)— Squeezed by rising living costs, a record number of Americans — nearly 1 in 2 — have fallen into poverty or are scraping by on earn ings that classify them as low income. The latest census data depict a middle class that's shrinking as un employment stays high and the government's safety net frays. The new numbers follow years of stag nating wages for the middle class that have hurt millions of workers and families. "Safety net programs such as food stamps and tax credits kept poverty from rising even higher in 2010, but for many low-income fami lies with work-related and medical expenses, they are considered too 'rich' to qualify," said Sheldon Danziger, a University of Michigan public policy professor who spe cializes in poverty. Robert Rector, a senior research fellow at the conservative Heritage Foundation, questioned whether some people classified as poor or low-income actually suffer material hardship. He cited poor people who live in decent-size homes, drive cars and own wide-screen TVs. Mayors in 29 cities say more than 1 in 4 people needing emergency ni loki? - ¡d food assistance did not receive it. Many middle-class Americans are dropping below the low-income threshold — roughly $45,000 for a family of four — because of pay cuts, a forced reduction of work hours or a spouse losing a job. Housing and child-care costs are consuming up to half of a family's income. States in the South and West had the highest shares of low-income families. Overall, about 97 million Americans fall into a low-income category. About 49 million fall be low the poverty line and are counted as poor. Together, they represent about 48 percent of the U.S. popu lation. That's up by 4 million from 2009. Broken down by age, children were most likely to be poor or low- income — about 57 percent — fol lowed by seniors over 65. By race and ethnicity, Hispanics topped the list at 73 percent, followed by blacks, Asians and non-Hispanic whites. Paychecks for low-income fami lies are shrinking. The inflation-ad justed average earnings for the bot tom 20 percent of families have fallen from $16,788 in 1979 to just under $ 15,000, and earnings for the next 20 percent have rem ained flat at $37,000. In contrast, higher-income brackets had significant wage growth since 1979, with earnings for the top 5 percent of families. Rev. W J . Mark Knutson www.augustana.org THE LAW OFFICES OF Patrick John Sweeney, P.C Patrick John Sweeney Attorney at Law 1549 SE Ladd Portland, Oregon Portland: Hillsoboro: Facsimile: Email: (503) 244-2080 (503)244-2081 (503) 244-2084 Sweeney @ PDXLawyer.com Dentures Worth Smiling About! Avalon Flowers 520 SW 3rd Ave., Portland, OR 97204 • 503-796-9250 A full service flower experience •Birthdays • Funerals »Anniversaries • Weddings Open: Mon.-Fri. 7:30am til 5:30pm Saturday 9am til 2pm. Cori Stewart— Owner, Operator • Professional Services • Affordable Prices • Over 20 years experience • Full & Partial Dentures • Natural Appearance Full Service Lab • Accepting Oregon Health Plan Website: avalonflowerspdx.com email: avalonflowers@msn.com We Offer Wire Services Melanie Block, L.D. D enturist 503-230-0207 200 NE 20th Ave., Suite 100 Portland OR 97232 Free parking
