Youth Opportunities United

YOU Fact Sheet YOUTH OPPORTUNITIES UNITED Summer 2004 Economic Deprivation

Nueces County clearly demonstrates worse economic conditions than the Nation or the State. One way of looking at economic deprivation is through the use of per capita Per Capita Income income figures. In 2002, per capita income for the Nation was $30,832. For Texas, it 29,000 was $28,401. It was only $25,961 for Nueces 27,000 25,000 County. Therefore, in 2002 the per capita 23,000 21,000 income in Nueces County was only 91.4% of 19,000 $4,871 Gap the State figure and 84.2% of the National 17,000 15,000 figure. 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 0 0 0 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 0 0 0 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 2 2 2 National State County Similarly, Nueces County’s median household income of $36,023 in 2002 was only 82.3% of the national median and 84.9% of the State median. It becomes obvious that with more dependents and fewer dollars, families in this community are more likely to be under greater economic stress.

Unemployment in the County has historically been higher than State levels. It is possible to demonstrate this with data extending back more than forty years. More recently, Percent Unemployed from 1994 to 2003, State unemployment increased a slight .4 percentage points for 9 an increase of 5.8%. For the County, 8 unemployment dropped 3.1 percentage 7 points for a 36.4% improvement. In 2003, the Nueces County unemployment rate 6 increased to 6.6%, while the State’s 5 unemployment rate was 6.0%. 4

3 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003

National State County The proportion of families living below the poverty level has remained relatively stable for the Nation and gradually decreased for the State. Families Living In Poverty In Nueces County, however, the proportion of families living below the poverty level has decreased 25 by 2.8 percentage points or a decrease of 13.5% 20 between 1989 and 2002 figures. The poverty level in 15 2002 for Nueces County was 18.0%. The proportion 10 of families in poverty for Nueces County in 2002 5

0 was 28.3% higher than that for the State. 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 National State Nueces That families with children are impoverished can best be seen by the school district data on children from economically disadvantaged families. A greater proportion of Nueces Countychildren in its Percent of Students from Economically Disadvantaged Families largest school district are from economically 90 disadvantaged families than the State. Pockets of 80 even greater poverty are reflected by the Robstown 70 60 ISD and West Oso ISD data. The proportions of 50 students from economically disadvantaged families 40 30 in most Nueces County school districts have 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 remained stable over the past three years. Summed State CCISD Robstown West Oso across all of the reporting districts in the County, it appears that a majority of local school children come from economically disadvantaged families.

Recipients of Food Stamps, Medicaid, and TANF had declined in Nueces County from 1994 to 2001. Between 1994 to 2001, the number of Food Stamps recipients decreased 39.0%, Medicaid recipients decreased by 17.1%, and recipients of TANF decreased by 50.5%. However, from 2002 to 2003 an increase of 16.0% occurred for food stamps recipients, 6.5% for Medicaid, and 10.9% decrease for TANF. Nueces County poverty has not decreased. It should be noted that the upturn in poverty indicators for 2001 predates the increased unemployment of 2002.

The number of families and children in poverty has increased in Nueces County since 1989, while it has decreased nationally and statewide. Economic growth has not extended to Nueces County families in poverty. This lack of growth is reflected in the fact poverty indicators have remained stable or have recently increased even prior to a return of a higher unemployment rate. Per capita income and median family income for Nueces County residents remain well below that for the State, and are even lower when compared to national data.