The Impact of
Deprivations
on Poverty
A N A L Y S I S O F H A R R I S C O U N T Y
a collaboration with Kristen Campbell, Liza Hurtubise, Kelley Reece, Kristingail Robinson, Jessica Ruland, & Edith Santamaria
Harris County
Population &
Characteristics
I N T R O D U C T I O N
Between the Port of Houston & the Texas Medical Center, Harris County offers job seekers an abundance of opportunities
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4.7M population
Diverse - Over 25% of the population is foreign-born; no dominant ethnic group
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• Employs 2.27M people
• $60,232 Median household income
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• Construction (248,492)
• Retail & Trade (238,008)
• Health Care & Social Assistance (234,224)
Demographics of Poverty
H A R R I S C O U N T Y
Despite the employment options available and a robust economy, the community also struggles with severe economic inequality.
16.2% of the Harris County population lives below the poverty line (739K of 4.56M); 3.1% higher than the national average 1
Females ages 25-34 and 35-44 are overrepresented in the set of individuals living in poverty in Harris County 1
The gender wage gap contributes to the over-representation of women living in poverty - Men earn 1.37 times more. 1
Regional Concentrations of Poverty
H A R R I S C O U N T Y
FIG 01 • HARRIS COUNTY POPULATION IN POVERTY,
0-200% POVERTY RATE IN 2015
(percentage of the total population by PUMA)
FIG 02 • HARRIS COUNTY POPULATION IN POVERTY,
0-200% POVERTY RATE IN 2019
(percentage of the total population by PUMA)
United Way conducted research on ALICE (Asset Limited Income Constrained Employed) populations that are employed and don’t fall under the Federal Poverty Level and still struggle to afford basic necessities like food, clothes, medicine, and wifi. 17
Who is ‘ALICE’?
W H A T P O V E R T Y L O O K S L I K E
HARRIS COUNTY RESIDENTS... 2 4
FIG 03 • ALICE HOUSEHOLD SURVIVAL BUDGET 4
H Y P O T H E S I S
Social Conditions & Poverty
so•cial con•di•tions
/ˈsōSHəl/ /kənˈdiSH(ə)n/
challenges experienced by large groups of people within society resulting from factors outside of personal control; unequal access to certain resources contribute to social conditions and social problems 3
research links social conditions to chronic and transient poverty 4
Research
Purpose
This study examines the relationship between poverty in Harris County and social conditions using a random effects regression model.
In particular, this study focuses on five key social indicators associated with poverty, including health care insurance, education, internet access, housing, and contact with the criminal justice system.