Using the website links, ASPE Poverty Guidelines & Living Wage Calculator, in the module, compare the federal poverty level for a family of 4 to the living wage of your hometown. How do they compare? Remember that the federal poverty level is the same in all 48 contiguous states (only Alaska and Hawaii are different) regardless of where they live in that state (rural vs. urban). In contrast, a living wage is sensitive to geography (down to your local county). Could a family of four make ends meet at the federal poverty level where you grew up? How about on the living wage? Which expenses are high or low in your hometown (housing, food, transportation, child care, etc)?
What are your thoughts on the federal proposal to raise the minimum wage to $15?
Instructions
- Please respond to the prompt or questions above in no more than 2 paragraphs and using dollar figures.