Challenges Facing Families Today

It is shocking to learn that that over 28% of working families living in the Triangle - our community - are struggling to pay for basic life expenses, as reported by the News & Observer in 2001. These families are the -working poor,-? and they make up the majority of our workforce.

Despite differences of race, income, or geographic origin, most families in the Triangle are working toward the same goals: preserving healthy relationships; raising their children; maintaining a quality standard of living; coping with major medical illnesses; adapting to the needs of aging parents; and keeping their families safe. Unfortunately, low-income families have fewer -family assets-? to defend against crises when they occur.

A recent study by the UNC-CH Jordan Institute for Families - -Income and Family Strengths in North Carolina-? - identified -family assets-? that can be used to determine a familys ability to cope effectively with life challenges it faces.

These include:

• Economic Strength - being able to manage money and make ends meet
• Social Support - having connections to others and the ability to access help
• Communication - being able to talk and share ideas with others
• Problem-Solving - being able to work together to solve problems
• Family Cohesion - sharing a sense of unity and common values
• Religious Support - having a quality spiritual life
• Safety - living in a home and community free of violence and/or emotional abuse

The study also found that more than two-thirds of low-income families in our community - those with annual incomes of $20,000 or less - live in homes that need major repairs and live in neighborhoods with high levels of crime, making life for their children unsafe.

Living in a state of perpetual fear and insecurity inevitably leads to social isolation. Communication and problem solving skills are compromised; families talk less about important life decisions, operating in -crisis mode-? rather than planning mode. Families are also less likely to seek help from outside their social sphere due to the fear of embarrassment or shame. Dr. Dennis Orthner, coauthor of the Family Strengths study states, -This kind of relational independence does not bode well for building economic security since it is through strong internal and external connections that most people get the help they need to improve their lives.-?

The -Welfare to Work-? program has proven to be a powerful tool, helping significant numbers of Raleigh families leave public assistance and join the workforce. But having a job does not ensure an escape from poverty, greater family stability, or entry into the middle class. In fact, less than one-third of low-income wage earners in the Triangle make enough money to save, placing them at risk to creditors, fraud, payday lenders, and financial scams. Many low-income families dont have health insurance. Others cannot pay for daycare, leaving many children unsupervised for hours every day. These families are trapped in a cycle of debt, making it impossible for them to deal effectively with crises when they inevitably occur.

Children are especially vulnerable in this type of situation. Parents must often choose between work demands and the need to take a child to the doctor, attend school functions, or supervise children on school holidays. Housing costs in our community are so high that it often takes more than two full-time incomes to afford the rent of a two-bedroom apartment. Many parents take on two - and even three jobs to make ends meet. Raising children while holding down two or more jobs makes it nearly impossible for either parent to obtain additional training to increase their wage-earning potential.

There is a high correlation between poverty and serious health problems. Families with inadequate health insurance are far less likely to seek medical assistance when needed, and medical problems tend to become more serious - and more expensive - when medical intervention is finally required. Eventually, problems multiply, and financial and emotional resources break down.

Despite these challenges, the Family Strengths study found that low-income families in North Carolina are working harder than ever to be successful. They have the same dreams and aspirations for their children that higher-income families do, and most work to be productive members of their community. The good news: with even a little bit of support - many families can and do overcome their challenges and are able to achieve life-long independence and success.

For thousands of families in our community - our neighbors - Triangle Family Services is providing the help they need to gain, and maintain control of their lives.