2014 National Convening Skills Presenations Portland Plan

THE PORTLAND PLAN Economic Prosperity and Affordability Element 8 Household Economic Security Expand upward mobility pathways for the working poor and unemployed so that the 77 percent share of economically selfsufficient households in Multnomah County in 2005 exceeds 90 percent by 2035. Guiding Policies Work toward more effective poverty reduction through aligning major P-45 public systems responsible for housing, social services, community development and workforce development. Reduce racial, ethnic and disabilityrelated disparities in economic selfP-46 sufficiency. Portland households have been predominantly middle-class in terms of income (2000). Nationally, households in core cities typically are low- or moderate-income, while suburban households are middle and upperincome. Nationally, the type of jobs that pay middle income wages have declined from 55 percent in 1986 to 48 percent in 2006. Despite Portland’s large, diverse employment base and large middle-class, much of our population continues to be left out of economic prosperity. An estimated 23 percent of Multnomah County households are classified as working poor as measured by the Self Sufficiency Index. This tracks households by family type with adequate income to cover local costs of basic needs (e.g., housing, health care, childcare and transportation). Among measures of economic need, the Self Sufficiency Index has been used in a few states and has advantages in considering key factors that result in wide variation in the household costs of making ends meet, including family composition, age of children and local costs of living. The Self Sufficiency Index is also addressed in Measures of Success. Local programs and national research reveal a range of factors that limit upward mobility out of poverty and suggest responsive best practices including assertive engagement, tailored job-readiness assistance (including culturally-specific services), affordable childcare, rent assistance and stable housing, improving the safety net for the unemployed, and improving opportunities for children in poverty. These best practices also reveal opportunities for intergovernmental and private sector alignment that achieve more with existing resources. 68 April 2012 | www.pdxplan.com

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