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For reference, the ALICE threshold or a family of four is about $68K in San Antonio: https://www.uwsatx.org/alice/ https://www.uwsatx.org/alice/ If you go by t
by mariojv 3y ago
For reference, the ALICE threshold or a family of four is about $68K in San Antonio: https://www.uwsatx.org/alice/ https://www.uwsatx.org/alice/
If you go by the federal poverty rate, the rate is 14%, which is about average for the US.
I'm not saying it wouldn't be hard raising a family on $68K here. I think it would be challenging, especially factoring in childcare, but the ALICE budget gives you $819/month for transportation. This seems excessive given you can get a $10k used car for about $228/month (I think). The pickings aren't amazing at that level, but I regularly drive a car that would currently be valued around $6-8k. It's safe and reliable. I haven't broken down other parts of the budget.
Statewide, the percent above ALICE threshold matches exactly that of California, at 57%, although there are slightly more in poverty (lower threshold than ALICE) in Texas: https://www.unitedforalice.org/national-overview https://www.unitedforalice.org/national-overview
Is there data on what % of those are single earner households?
- MuffinFlavored 3y ago> This seems excessive given you can get a $10k used car for about $228/month (I think). Does the $228/month number include maintenance + fuel or is it just financing/depreciation?
- mariojv 3y agoNo, and that's a fair criticism. At $68K/year I would think you'd have to consider going down to 1 car for the family if feasible, or do that for several years until car 1 is paid off. The main point I wanted to bring up with my comment was that San Antonio is just about average nationally wealth-wise, but the original comment I was replying to made it seem like half the population was living in very dire straits.