Poverty Line
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thepovertyline.docxWhere would you set the poverty line?
The purpose of this project is for you to estimate the necessary income for the mere basics for a family of four. This yearly income must allow the family to survive with decency, dignity, and as full participating members of the community.
This assignment has three separate parts.
Instructions:
1) Using the worksheet below, you are to conduct a field study to determine what level the poverty line should be set. The most important point of this exercise is to obtain actual data. For example, to set the food budget you should actually develop menus first and then go to the grocery store and find the costs of the items before you specify the actual amount for food.
2) Turn in a typed report accompanying the worksheet describing the criteria you used for each budget item (for example, discuss your reasoning of why your chose for your family to have a house or if an apartment was possible what is its size or did each child have their own room, how many bathrooms, is wi-fi services or cable necessary?), cite the data collection procedure (where you obtained the information), the results and the total annual income level at which you would set the necessary income for a family of four. Therefore, anything below this income you've identified may place the family in a poverty level.
3) Reflect on the process you went through to obtain the information, your overall reaction to the assignment, as well as any new ways of thinking about the economy and the strategy for establishing the federal poverty line. How has this assignment impacted your thinking about poverty in the U.S.?
This report should be written in MLA or APA format (double spaced with headings) using appropriate citations when necessary. College level writing (sentence structure, grammar) is expected. The paper should include a title page and reference page if necessary.
Composition of your family:
Your family of four is a married couple with a three year old son and an eight year old daughter. Both parents work full-time. The family lives in a town that you are familiar with.
This assignment is based on your opinion, but make your estimates based on facts (see research sites, outside sources, etc). If you don’t think it is necessary for the 8 year old to have after school care, don’t budget for it. If you think it is necessary to give donations to the church, budget for that. Please no guessing all costs should be grounded in facts.
Budgeting Sheet for Monthly Expenses
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Housing |
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Transportation |
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Rent or Mortgage |
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Car Payments |
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Real estate taxes |
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Gas |
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Water and Sewer |
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Maintenance |
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Heat and Electricity |
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Public Transportation |
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Phone |
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Taxes |
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Maintenance |
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Total Transportation |
$ |
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Total for Housing |
$ |
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Charity |
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Food |
$ |
Church |
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Other |
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Clothing |
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Total Charity |
$ |
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Father |
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Mother |
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Durables |
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Children |
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Furniture |
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Total for Clothing |
$ |
Appliances |
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Total Durables |
$ |
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Insurance |
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Life |
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Personal |
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Car |
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Education |
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Homeowners/Renters |
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Magazines |
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Medical |
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Entertainment |
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Total Insurance |
$ |
Gifts |
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Personal Hygiene |
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Medical Expenses |
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Total Personal |
$ |
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Doctor Co-pay |
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Dentist |
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Miscellaneous |
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Prescriptions |
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Husband |
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Eye Doctor |
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Wife |
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Total for Medical |
$ |
Children |
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Total Misc. |
$ |
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Child Care |
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3-yr old |
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Other |
$ |
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8 yr-old |
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Total Child Care |
$ |
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Total Column One |
$ |
Total Column Two |
$ |
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Column One Total |
$ |
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Column Two Total |
$ |
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Total Monthly Living Expenses |
$ |
Poverty Assignment Rubric
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Poverty Assignment Rubric |
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Criteria |
Ratings |
Pts |
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This criterion is linked to a Learning OutcomeBudget worksheet completed and included |
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15.0 pts |
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This criterion is linked to a Learning OutcomeReport: criteria used for budget items |
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13.0 pts |
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This criterion is linked to a Learning OutcomeReport: data collection procedure |
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13.0 pts |
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This criterion is linked to a Learning OutcomeReport: results |
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13.0 pts |
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This criterion is linked to a Learning OutcomeReport: poverty line level discussion |
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13.0 pts |
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This criterion is linked to a Learning OutcomeReport: student reaction |
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13.0 pts |
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This criterion is linked to a Learning OutcomeReport: conclusion |
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10.0 pts |
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This criterion is linked to a Learning OutcomeWritten in APA format with little to no errors in grammar and sentence structure. |
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10.0 pts |
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Total Points: 100.0 |
