Family living arrangements

Trend Data

GROWING
- IMPROVE Family Stability
GOCF outcome indicator: family living arrangements

Children In Georgia By Income Level, 2008
21%

Above low income
Below 100% of federal poverty level Below 100-200% federal poverty level

A stable family structure is important when securing a child's future. An indicator of family stability is the family's income level. Parental education impacts

family income level with

21%

58%

poorly educated parents

receiving significantly less

income than college

Graduates, even with a full

time job.

Data Source: Georgia Demographics of Low Income Children.

Low-income families face extraordinary challenges in providing basic necessities for their children such as housing.

Home ownership is a major indicator of family stability, with 67.5% of Georgians owning homes as of 2000. According

to the Department of Housing and Urban Development, families should not pay more than 30% of their annual salary

on housing. Unfortunately, 33% of all households in the United States rent their homes, with an estimated 12 million

renters paying more than 50% of their income on housing. The chart below depicts the number of Georgia children

living in poverty.

The national average for persons per household is 2.59, but there are still 6.1 million American families that live in

overcrowded conditions. As of 2008, there are 14.7% of Georgia residents living below the poverty line. Living in

extreme poverty puts a strain on family relationships and stability, and is the leading cause of family homelessness.

According to the Georgia Alliance to End Homelessness, there are over 20,000 people in Georgia that are homeless

at a single point in time. Homelessness has a profound impact on children. Eighty-seven percent of homeless youth

are enrolled in school but only 77% of them attend regularly consequently causing the poverty cycle to repeat.

Parental education level is a determinant of income level and can affect family stability. Families that pay more than 30% of their annual income for housing are considered cost burdened and may have difficulty affording necessities
such as food, clothing, and transportation. On average, over 20,000 people are homeless daily in Georgia. In the 2007-2008 academic year, 22,888 children in Georgia public schools were reported to be homeless
Data sources: Affordable Housing, 2010. Community Planning and Development. US Department of Housing and Urban Development. Affordable Housing Statistics. Habitat for Humanity. Causes of Homelessness. Georgia Alliance to End Homelessness. Homeless in Georgia 2008. Georgia Interagency Homeless Coordination Council. Department of Community Affairs. Parents Low Education Leads to Low Income, despite Full-Time Employment. National Center for Children in Poverty. Kids Count Data Center. Annie E. Casey Foundation. National Center for Children in Poverty.
May 2010