Stats of the day

I heard these numbers at a presentation this week by Linda Young, executive director of Welcome House of Northern Kentucky in Covington. It's something to think about when you hear the presidential candidates talking in generalities about the impact of poverty, or when you hear state politicians talking about our Kentucky budget woes.

Percentage of jobs in the eight counties of NKY that pay less than $8 per hour: 10%
Percentage of jobs that pay between $8 per hour and $12.84 per hour: 54%
Total jobs paying $12.84 per hour or less as a percent of all NKY jobs: 64%

Why $12.84 per hour?
That's what it takes to afford a market-rate apartment in Kenton County, Linda said.

Two more statistics:
Waiting list to receive subsidized rent support in Northern Kentucky: 12-15 months.
Waiting list to move into subsidized housing units in Northern Kentucky: 12-36 months.

And this is happening in a part of the state that others see as prosperous. The impact of so many people living so close to the edge ripples out everywhere, most obviously in the schools and courts.