WASHINGTON--Oklahoma continues to hover in the Top 10 nationally in terms of poverty levels, uninsured residents and lowest income, according to two reports released by the Bureau of the Census. Nationally, household income levels rose for the third straight year, while poverty levels remained about the same, the reports state.
Oklahoma is No. 10 nationally in the percentage of residents below the poverty level, an improvement from a tie for No. 7 in 2006.
According to the 2007 American Community Survey report, 15.9 percent of Oklahomans for whom poverty status is determined are below the poverty level.
Oklahoma is No. 8 in uninsured residents, with 646,000 Oklahomans, or 18.4 percent, having no insurance.
The state is No. 8 for having the lowest income per household at $41,567, up from No. 4, according to the report.
“It was a classic glass-is-half-full-and-half-empty type of release,” said David Blatt, director of policy of the Oklahoma Policy Institute.
Although Oklahoma saw increases in income and insignificant changes in poverty levels--like the rest of the country--it remains well behind the curve compared with other states.
Mr. Blatt said the economic downturn means that the study’s numbers, gathered in 2007, might be as good as it gets and that the 2008 numbers likely will be worse.
The ACS and the Current Population Study are nationwide surveys conducted annually to give current information on socioeconomic levels, for a community in the ACS and for a state in the CPS report.
“We are doing worse than the nation as a whole, and that number is just too high,” Mr. Blatt said. “Almost one in six are living in poverty.
“We continue to have almost one in five people without insurance, and we are just not making progress.”
With fewer people nationally and in Oklahoma insured than in 2006, families might find themselves in emergency situations, Mr. Blatt said.
“Being without health insurance puts people one illness away from poverty,” he said.
