COLUMBUS (July 30, 2020) — The
Ohio Association of Community Action Agencies (OACAA),
in cooperation with Strategic Research Group (SRG), will release the 2021 State of Poverty in Ohio Report on Monday, August 9, 2021, at The Ohio Statehouse Ladies Gallery. The press conference will begin at 1:30 p.m.
To overcome poverty, it must first be understood—only then can solutions be created to help Ohioans. With easy-to-understand infographics, a straightforward narrative, and data tables, this report aims to clearly illustrate the experience of poverty in Ohio.
“As contributing factors of poverty evolve, the needs of Ohioans—as well as the targeted approaches to address those needs—must be evaluated,” said Philip E. Cole, executive director of OACAA. “The pandemic has created new challenges and barriers that have rippled out, impacting all of us—especially the most vulnerable Ohioans. I believe this report will highlight some of those impacts to help us recover together.”
The 2021 report highlights the pandemic effect, housing, employment, broadband access, and Ohio’s Medicaid expansion. New this year is Ohio’s Well-Being Dashboard, which examines socioeconomic and poverty indicators of each county and compares them to the overall state data. The dashboard is meant to serve as an early indicator of socioeconomic challenges at the local level.
During the press conference, Cole and Tina Kassebaum, Partner and Principal Investigator of SRG, will highlight the report’s findings, discuss the methodology, and answer questions. Copies of the report will be available at the press conference, as well as online immediately following.
