Mississippi
Economic Policy Center

In partnership with the William Winter Center for Racial Reconciliation and the Center for Women's Welfare at Washington State University and the Mississippi Economic Policy Center, the Women's Fund is a proud co-sponsor of the Self Sufficiency Standard Report for Mississippi. The Women's Fund firmly believes that effective public policy is driven by quality, nonpartisan research. The Self Sufficiency Standard calculates how much a family needs to earn to live in their county without any government or private assistance.  The Standard is unique in that it varies based on the county of residence, the type of family (1 parent or 2 parents) and the number and ages of children. For example, a family of two adults, one infant, and one preschooler needs $43,956 to afford housing, child care, food, transportation, health care, and taxes in Hinds County, Mississippi. This is almost double the federal poverty measure ($22,050) for the same size family.  Unlike the federal poverty measure, which was developed in the 1960s and accounts only for the cost of food, the self sufficiency standard varies by county and the size and composition of families, and includes actual costs associated with living and working, such as child care and housing. In fact, child care for infants can be more expensive than tuition at the University of Mississippi for one year.

The Women's Fund hopes this report will help the public at large understand what is involved in making the transition to self-sufficiency, as well as help policymakers understand the need for and impact of work programs on low-wage workers' family budgets. Click here for the Mississippi Economic Policy center website.