Poverty spreads in Ohio

We’ve known it is happening for some time, but seeing it in black and white on the front page of the newspaper is still a bit disconcerting. Ohio’s economic indicators are poor and getting worse. The article reflects this trend through the lens of a Salvation Army Officer, Maj. David Hathorn.

Marietta Times reporter Connie Cartmell writes, “The apparent local downturn comes in the wake of a report from the U.S. Census Bureau Population Survey and the American Community Survey that puts Ohio among states with the highest rates of poverty and lowest household income. Ohio is losing manufacturing jobs, adding low-paying service-related jobs, and steadily falling behind, a recent report shows.”

“From what I have read of this U.S. Census Bureau study, there is nothing specific about areas, such as southeastern Ohio,” said Jon Allen, deputy director for communications with Ohio Department of Job and Family Services. “There are a lot of economic factors that complicate this picture. Fewer jobs is one.”

While some look to the politicial races in 2008 to bring about a regional seachange, the somber reality is that the only way things will change is if we change. The current trends indicate that we are not yet ready to change.