1. Poverty In Oklahoma

2. Poverty Inequality in Oklahoma

3. Race and Wealth

4. Historical background to the gap in wealth by race in Oklahoma
     Homestead Act (1862)    Reign of Terror (1920s)    Tulsa Race Riots of 1921    GI Bill and Mortgage  

5. Welfare Programs in Oklahoma
    Oklahoma Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP)  Oklahoma Special Milk Program  Oklahoma Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children  Oklahoma Summer Food Service  Oklahoma Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)  Oklahoma Unemployment Insurance  Oklahoma Weatherization Assistance Program 

6. Poverty in Oklahoma
    Statistics of Poverty in Oklahoma  Lack of Funding in The School Systems 

7. References

8. External links

Poverty In Oklahoma

As we look at the spread of poverty through Oklahoma, we are compelled to trace the history that led to its rise and spread. By understanding the history, we can attribute unique aspects of poverty and wealth gap through the races and in Oklahoma in general. To measure gap in wealth between the races and between the wealthy and poor we need to look at 3 things: foundational assets, which are requirements for income generating employment, such as transportation, education, and health. Then comes employment and income, which is generative assets. Finally regenerative assets, such as saving, owning a home and other assets that generate wealth without work.^[1]

Poverty Inequality in Oklahoma

Race and Wealth

According to the Pew Research Center, the median net worth of American households in 2009 was 20% higher for white households than for those of black households. Wealth is very distinct from income.^[2] Wealth can be measured by financial assets, like property, holdings, and saving accounts. In OK, households of color experience almost double the rate of poverty than the rate for white households.^[3]

Historical background to the gap in wealth by race in Oklahoma

Homestead Act (1862)

This law allowed applicant ownership of public land at almost no cost as long as they had never fought against the US government. This was the land redistribution from independent native tribes to farmers. This law gave paved the way for the Oklahoma Land Runs (1880-90s).^[4]

Reign of Terror (1920s)

Most recent was the Osage Reign of Terror (1920s), where white men murdered the Osage people for their headrights and for their mineral rights. At the time, the Osage people (natives) were some of the wealthiest people in the world.^[5]

Tulsa Race Riots of 1921

Also, the Tulsa Race Riots of 1921, where white mobs attacked residents and businesses of African-American community, destroying 35 blocks of the district which had the wealthiest black community in the nation.^[6]

GI Bill and Mortgage

Bill was enacted into law in 1944 after WWII to reward veterans for their service. During this time in US history, Jim Crow laws were still the law of the land in many parts of the US, and the early version of it was designed to accommodate these laws.^[7] Since the benefits of the GI bill were directed by white officials, many or most color veterans did not reap the benefits from it. There were less than 100 mortgages taken out by non-whites that were insured by the GI Bill, from the 67 thousand first taken out.^[8]

Blacks who applied for educational benefits did not fair any better, even when applying at historically black colleges and universities; by 1947, only one fifth of the 100,000 that applied, registered in a school.^[9] These historically black colleges and universities were already the poorest schools and could not handle the influx of applicants and had to turn away over 20 thousand veterans. Also, we know that during this time schools were segregated and most would not accept people of color.^[10] Furthermore, the VA had a strong affiliation to the all-white American Legion and VFW (Veteran of Foreign Wars), who were very much against and made it very difficult for many people of color to pursue an education, and could deny claims to GI bill benefits. Also, banks were not lending to black people, making the GI bill basically useless for people of color.^[11]

Welfare Programs in Oklahoma

There are numerous welfare programs in Oklahoma to help the poor and needy; a large portion of these programs are carried out in conjunction with federal assistance.

While Oklahoma does have the many well-known federally funded programs such as Oklahoma Medicaid, Oklahoma Medicare, and Oklahoma Temporary Assistance for Needy Families, etc., the state has even more personal welfare programs it provides to its citizens. Below is a list of these programs, their purposes, and the eligibility requirements.

Oklahoma Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP)

The purpose of this program is to help low income families pay their energy bills (especially during the winter) and have access to heating and energy.To be eligible for this program, the recipient must be an Oklahoman resident and meet the financial needs requirements.

Oklahoma Special Milk Program

The purpose of this program is to provide milk to low income children in schools that do not have, or follow, a federal meal plan.To be eligible for this program, the recipient must be an Oklahoman resident and meet the financial needs requirements.

Oklahoma Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children

The purpose of this program is to help low income women and children receive the nutrition they need before and after childbirth. To be eligible for this program, the recipient must be either a pregnant, breastfeeding, or postpartum woman or a child who is under five years of age who is at “nutrition risk.”

Oklahoma Summer Food Service

The purpose of this program is to help feed children during the summer months while school is out of session. During school, many children eat one or two meals provided by the school; during the summer months, the costs of food on the family go up because school lunches are no longer being provided. To be eligible for this program, the recipient must be a resident of Oklahoma and meet the financial needs requirements.

Oklahoma Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)

The purpose of this program is to help feed low income families who have trouble feeding themselves. The program also helps educate the public on nutrition and spreads nutritional awareness. To be eligible for this program, the recipient must be an Oklahoma resident, meet the financial needs requirements, and provide detailed information regarding the financial statuses.

Oklahoma Unemployment Insurance

The purpose of this program to help unemployed individuals and families who have become unemployed “through no fault of their own.” To be eligible for this program, the recipient must have met the minimum wage requirements, have worked in Oklahoma in the past year to year and a half, and able to work each week that benefits are received.

Oklahoma Weatherization Assistance Program

The purpose of this program is help insulate the houses of those who are needy. By doing this, energy is conserved, helping the environment, and the energy bills of those who are needy are lowered. This program is directed to help the families who are low income, are large, or have high energy usage. To be eligible for this program, the recipient must have met the financial needs requirements and be a resident in Oklahoma.

Poverty in Oklahoma

Oklahoma and poverty get along very well. One of the biggest issues is the amount of kids who live in poverty. The state’s 61 percent student poverty rate — based on students who qualify for free or reduced lunch — is the fourth highest percentage in the nation (Felder). This is one of the biggest challenges for Oklahoma school systems. Most kids in Oklahoma schools come from poor homes. Schools in Oklahoma have implemented programs such as free lunches for students whose parents make a low enough salary.

Statistics of Poverty in Oklahoma

Oklahoma’s teen birth rate, as of 2014, ranks 50th in the country with 38.5 births per 1,000 women ages 15 to 19 (http://www.talkpoverty.org/). All of these children may be put into a low-income home due to their parents having children at such a young age. These parents generally haven’t been able to spend time in school or working on their career as much as other people their age. Oklahoma’s higher education attainment is very low as well coming in at 33.5%; this ranks 48th out of all the states (http://www.talkpoverty.org/). Oklahoma also ranks 48th in the country for children living away from their parents by foster care. All of these things can contribute the poverty problem in Oklahoma and can keep the problem from getting better. One key element in fixing the poverty problem is teaching the kids in poverty homes how to be successful.

Lack of Funding in The School Systems

Another big poverty problem in Oklahoma is the lack of funding for the school systems. With the lack of funding, it only makes it harder for the schools to teach kids who live in poverty. Oklahoma ranks dead last in the country for education cuts at -23.6%. Oklahoma has this dubious honor of having made the deepest cuts to school funding in the nation since the start of the recession in 2008 (Perry). With this mind, the future of Oklahoma poverty doesn’t look bright. It’s harder for kids to make it out of this poverty hole than a child in a successful home. Without the proper funding, Oklahoma’s education may begin to show negative results compared to other states. Oklahoma also ranks dead last in assets and savings. This is the “Percentage of households that used high-cost, high-risk forms of credit to make ends meet during 2013. This includes payday loans, automobile title loans, refund anticipation loans, rent-to-own, and pawning” (http://www.talkpoverty.org/). This not a good statistic for the state of Oklahoma. Barring any economic fall like in 2008, a lot of Oklahoma residents may be in trouble. The poverty rate for Oklahoma has dropped slightly, new Census data shows (Franklin). Oklahoma incidence of poverty continues to top the national rate, though, but both are on the decline for the better.

References

"Oklahoma Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) Benefits." Oklahoma Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP). N.p., n.d. Web. 26 Feb. 2017. .

"Oklahoma Special Milk Program Benefits." Oklahoma Special Milk Program. N.p., n.d. Web. 26 Feb. 2017. .

"Oklahoma Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) Benefits." Oklahoma Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC). N.p., n.d. Web. 26 Feb. 2017. .

"Oklahoma Summer Food Service Benefits." Oklahoma Summer Food Service. N.p., n.d. Web. 26 Feb. 2017. .

"Oklahoma Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) Benefits." Oklahoma Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). N.p., n.d. Web. 26 Feb. 2017. .

"Oklahoma Unemployment Insurance Benefits." Oklahoma Unemployment Insurance. N.p., n.d. Web. 26 Feb. 2017. .

"Oklahoma Weatherization Assistance Program Benefits." Oklahoma Weatherization Assistance Program. N.p., n.d. Web. 26 Feb. 2017. .

Felder, Ben. "Student poverty challenges more than schools." Oklahoma Gazette. N.p., 21 Jan. 2015. Web. 27 Feb. 2017.

Franklin, Dallas. "New Census data shows Oklahoma has slightly improved its poverty rate." KFOR.com. N.p., 15 Sept. 2016. Web. 27 Feb. 2017.

"Oklahoma Report - 2016." Talk Poverty. N.p., n.d. Web. 27 Feb. 2017.

Perry, Gene. "Oklahoma continues to lead U.S. for deepest cuts to education." Oklahoma Policy Institute. N.p., 19 Apr. 2015. Web. 27 Feb. 2017.

External links

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