The level of need among residents of Cuyahoga County earning $35,000 and less increased between 2019 and 2023. Unfortunately, 30 percent of individuals surveyed in 2023 did not receive the help that they needed. Over half of individuals who sought help reported feeling ashamed or embarrassed to ask for help at times.
While the 2023 ranking of needed services is similar to the 2019 rankings, the percentage of those reporting need is much higher now.
Cleveland is the second poorest large city in the United States, yet policymakers and community leaders rarely have the opportunity to hear from large numbers of people who have incomes at or near the poverty threshold. The Center for Community Solutions and Step Forward have collected new information directly from Cuyahoga County residents with low incomes about the issues and challenges they face. This survey was first conducted with residents in 2019 and resulted in a series of reports detailing the needs of residents and the challenges in having those needs met. In 2023 the survey was repeated, with additional questions related to COVID. The results from the 2019 and 2023 surveys provide insight to how people with incomes below $35,000 are doing post-pandemic. While the 2023 ranking of needed services is similar to the 2019 rankings, the percentage of those reporting need is much higher now. There was an increase of nearly forty percent in the top two greatest needs identified, healthcare and food. Even not having childcare, the least common issue in both 2019 and 2023, is more prevalent now than 4 years ago.
Not having childcare, the least common issue in both 2019 and 2023, is more prevalent now than 4 years ago.
Most of the top services needed but not resolved were related to basic needs including healthcare, food, housing and utilities. But needing tangible items like clothing and car repairs were also unmet needs. Cash assistance/Ohio Works First was the top service requested in which individuals did not receive the help they requested, 30% of people needed cash assistance but did not receive help.
The Ohio Works First program provides cash assistance to eligible low-income families with children for up to 36 months. Overall, at least 1 in 4 people who requested services from the largest unmet needs did not receive the help that they needed. COVID-related needs including vaccinations and tests had the lowest percentage of unmet needs. Ohio's COVID response proves that a need with high attention and high investment of public dollars can be adequately addressed for the majority.
Ohio's COVID response proves that a need with high attention and high investment of public dollars can be adequately addressed for the majority.
Over 80 percent of individuals reported that they waited too long on the phone to get the services they need. In 2019 58% of individuals experienced waiting too long on the phone, when compared to 82% of individuals experiencing this in 2023.
In 2023 issues with customer service continue to be a major challenge to receiving needed services. In both 2019 and 2023, customer services issues far outweighed problems with applications being denied or individuals not qualifying for service as a barrier to services. Over 80 percent of individuals reported that they waited too long on the phone to get the services they need. On top of this, over 7 in 10 individuals report that poor customer service or not being able to reach someone to answer your questions is a top issue when seeking help. However, almost all the issues experienced have become more prevalent when compared to the 2019 report. For example, in 2019 58% of individuals experienced waiting too long on the phone, when compared to 82% of individuals experiencing this in 2023.
Fifty-eight percent of individuals reported that they sometimes or often feel badly asking for help.
One of the more concerning statistics is the number of people who feel ashamed or embarrassed to ask for help. Fifty-eight percent of individuals reported that they sometimes or often feel badly asking for help. Women are more likely than men to report feeling ashamed asking for help, with 62 percent of women reporting so, compared to 52 percent of men. Feelings of shame or embarrassment are more common in younger people (aged 18-44) compared to older people (over 45 years of age) and decrease with income; lower-income individuals (incomes below $30,000) feel more shame or embarrassment around seeking help compared to those with higher incomes. These feelings of shame or embarrassment likely are tied to many stereotypes around people living in poverty, such as the “welfare queen” or the “couch potato” or that poverty results from “the wrong mindset.” The truth about living in poverty? It takes all your time and effort. Worrying about money management, worrying about the new promotion that may cause you to lose your Medicaid, worrying about having to make choices on whether to give up food or medication for the week, and experiencing shame and embarrassment around seeking help is exhausting. Having unmet needs will only worsen the exhaustion and embarrassment as people continue to seek help but are turned away or don’t receive the help they need due to poor customer service.
The truth about living in poverty? It takes all your time and effort.
Poverty and race
Due to the systematic disinvestment and exclusion of wealth-building opportunities for Black Americans and other communities of color, poverty and race are linked together. When exploring the experiences of those living in poverty, it is critical to analyze these experiences with race and ethnicity in mind. Exploring the top six reported needs from 2023 shows variations in the rates at which individuals from different races/ethnicities experienced these problems. Regarding service needs related to insurance and healthcare, as well as SNAP or food pantries, the greatest proportion of respondents were Black respondents. Much greater proportions of Hispanic/Latino respondents endorsed service needs for Medical Bills and Clothing and Household Items. Greater proportions of Hispanic/Latino respondents also reported not receiving help with service needs, with striking disparities in things like receiving services for help with medical bills, and receiving services related to medical insurance/healthcare.
Another meaningful way to interpret this data with race and ethnicity in mind, is to explore the top unmet needs for respondents of different race/ethnicities. While there are some overlaps, there is also considerable difference in the types and rates of unmet service needs by race/ethnicity in Cuyahoga County. For instance, 55 percent of Hispanic/Latino respondents indicated needing assistance with household items and clothes while 32 percent of Black and 22 percent of white respondents indicated this need.
Read the 2023 Poverty Speaks series
Part 1 focuses on the challenges people living below the poverty line in Cuyahoga County face when trying to move out of poverty.
Part 2 focuses on the tough choices our neighbors who live in poverty have to make.
Part 3 focuses on the help our neighbors who live in poverty need and what they get.
Part 4 focuses on how on nearly every economic measure, people of color fare worse than whites in Cuyahoga County.
