Celinda LakeLake Research PartnersWashington, DC | Berkeley, CA | New York, NYLakeResearch.com202.776.9066

Ascend Roundtable:

Low-income women & Single Mothers Perspectives on Economic Security

Findings from two research projects: National Surveys for Wider Opportunities for Women & Center for Community Change/Ms. Foundation

March 2011

2

Summary

• The 2010 Community Voices for the Economy survey for the Ms. Foundation/Center for Community Change (2010 Nationwide Survey of 1,004 Adults with Oversamples of African American Women, Latinas, Low-Income Women, and Single Moms) showed Americans saying that the economic downturn has affected both their families and their communities.

• Latinas seem to be particularly hard hit during the downturn - especially by job loss, with two-thirds saying their personal situation has been affected by the country’s economic situation, and over half reporting that they or someone in their household has lost a job in the past year.

• Security and stability are the new frame. Job security is a major concern, key to a quality job and key to well-being. Quality jobs are preferred over good-paying jobs. Stability and security is a new concept that has emerged in this up-and-down economy where hard work, playing by the rules, savings and plans can be undermined in a moment by others’ actions. For unmarried women, opportunity is an important goal for the economy, as well as stability.

• As we learned from the 2010 research for Wider Opportunities for Women (Focus groups & a nationwide survey of 1,000 adults with oversamples of African-American, Latino, & low-Income adults), many Americans feel they do not have economic security, but that this is something they aspire to—for themselves and for their family members—and it is a goal that everyone shares.

• The strength of the frame, “building economic security” bears out in the polling—it is strong among the public overall, as well as those who are lower-income and higher-income. It is also strong cross-generationally.

Specific Experiences of Low-Income Women & Single Moms

• The 2010 Community Voices for the Economy survey found single moms and low-income women with little to fall back on, and single moms have been particularly hard hit in this recession. They have particular concerns about health care costs, everyday expenses, losing a job, and what jobs pay.

• They seek security and especially stability, and they feel they have less control over the economy. Living paycheck to paycheck is a reality for majorities of low-income women and single moms.

• Pay raises, job security, and health care costs and other costs stabilizing are their economic goals.

• Single moms especially are simply short of money and live paycheck to paycheck, while having had hours and wages reduced. They worry about their pay in the future. Single moms want an economic agenda that includes accountability and opportunity, as well as stability.

• Quality jobs are especially important to single moms. Nearly all low-income women and single moms strongly agree about prioritizing creating quality and good paying jobs.

• When it comes to policy remedies, most low-income women and single moms say health care that is more available and affordable, and that is not dependent on your job is personally important to them. Any policies that have to do with affordability and money, including lowering taxes resonates, especially with single moms.

4

Economic Impacts & Aspirations

Stability and security mark what Americans want in the economy. It is a new dialogue. Living paycheck to paycheck is a reality for majorities of low-income women and single moms.

5

Strong majorities of Americans believe those at either end of the age spectrum and unmarried women are most likely to have trouble making ends meet. Majorities also believe that working and middle class families have trouble making ends meet, but these views are less intense.

Trouble Making Ends Meet

43%

53%

53%

56%

41%

36%

37%

44%

82%

85%

85%

71%

84%

82%

79%

76%

0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100%

Women

Latinos or Hispanics

Middle-class families

Working families

Blacks or African Ams

Unmarried women

Senior citizens

Young adults

A lot Some

From your perspective, how much trouble making ends meet do you think each of the following groups faces: a lot of trouble, some, a little, or no trouble at all?*

2010: Wider Opportunities for Women Survey, May 20-27, 2010 (1,000 adults nationwide)

Most Americans say the economic downturn has impacted their family and community. Single moms are slightly more likely than low-income women and the public overall to say the downturn has had a great deal of impact on their families, though still over a third of low-income women also describe the effects this way.

Impact of Economic Downturn on Your Community

-15%

-14% 42%

38%

84%

83%

-40% -20% 0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%

Single Moms

Low-IncomeWomen

No impact at all A little impact

A great deal of impact Some impact

Impact of Economic Downturn on Your Family

-20%

-16% 45%

34%

84%

80%

-40% -20% 0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%

Single Moms

Low-IncomeWomen

No impact at all A little impact

A great deal of impact Some impact

7

Low-income women and single moms are most worried about rising health care costs, jobs, and especially everyday expenses. The cost of everyday expenses is even more a concern for them than the public overall.

% First and Second Choice (% First Choice)

Low-Income Women

Single Moms

Rising health care costs 39% (22%) 30% (16%)

Lack of jobs that pay a wage that allows you to support your family

22% (12%) 24% (16%)

Everyday expenses like food and gas 27% (14%) 34% (16%)

Federal budget deficit and national debt 14% ( 8%) 8% (3%)

Higher taxes 13% (5%) 15% (8%)

Losing your job 22% (13%) 24% (12%)

A secure retirement 12% (6%) 14% (7%)

Housing and mortgage costs 10% (4%) 12% (4%)

Expenses like child care or college tuition 10% (3%) 15% (7%)

CEOs bonuses and abuses on Wall Street 6% (2%) 3% (2%)

Credit card debt or other expenses 9% (3%) 7% (3%)

Decline of stock market and the financial crisis 4% (1%) 3% (1%)

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Americans overall say that both economic security and economic stability are more important to them than economic opportunity. Economic security is particularly strong for low-income women. For single moms, opportunity is also important.

Thinking about the economy, which is more important to you personally – economic opportunity or economic security?

35%

62%

30%

69%

43%

55%

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

Opportunity Security Opportunity Security Opportunity Security

*split-sampled question

Total Low-income women Single Moms

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Stability is important for both single moms and low-income women.

Thinking about the economy, which is more important to you personally – economic opportunity or economic stability?

35%

63%

33%

66%

34%

64%

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

Opportunity Stability Opportunity Stability Opportunity Stability

*split-sampled question

Total Low-income women Single Moms

Half of single moms associate job security with economic security. Stability is associated with health care costs stabilizing and no longer living paycheck to paycheck.

SINGLE MOMS

What Needs to be in Place to Have Economic

Stability/Security

Stability Security

Health care costs stabilize 52% 46%

I am no longer living paycheck to paycheck 49% 39%

I have job security 43% 51%

My taxes go down 42% 43%

My retirement savings stabilize and increase 41% 43%

I get a pay raise or a cost of living increase to my salary 40% 34%

Opportunities to learn new skills through education and training 30% 30%

Family members have job security 28% 33%

Unemployment decreases 22% 32%

Work supports like child care are in place for more workers 21% 21%

*split-sampled questions

Like the public, low-income women associate stabilized health care costs and retirement savings with both economic stability and economic security. They are even more focused than the public on no longer having to live paycheck to paycheck.

LOW-INCOME WOMEN

What Needs to be in Place to Have Economic

Stability/Security

Stability Security

Health care costs stabilize 41% 41%

My retirement savings stabilize and increase 40% 39%

I am no longer living paycheck to paycheck 39% 35%

I have job security 39% 34%

I get a pay raise or a cost of living increase to my salary 36% 32%

Family members have job security 34% 34%

My taxes go down 34% 33%

Opportunities to learn new skills through education and training 28% 26%

Unemployment decreases 21% 27%

Work supports like child care are in place for more workers 18% 19%

*split-sampled questions

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While Americans are hopeful for the future, most do not think they have significant control over their own economic situation, with about one in five saying they feel like they have no control at all. Women are less likely to say they have control, though only about a quarter of men say they have a great deal or a lot of control.

Level of Control over Current Economic Situation

-22%

-21%

-21%

9%

12%

10%

-42%

-40%

-41% 23%

20%

26%

-60% -40% -20% 0% 20% 40%

Women

Men

Total

No control at all A little A great deal A lot

Some control

36%

34%

38%

Low-income women and single moms are even less likely than the public as a whole to say they have a great deal or a lot of control over their personal situation. Most say they have only a little or no control at all.

Level of Control over Current Economic Situation

-27%

-28%-53%

-52%

5%

8% 19%

14%

-60% -40% -20% 0% 20% 40%

Single Moms

Low-Income Women

No control at all A little A great deal A lot

Some control

33%

29%

Three in ten low-income women and single moms have no money in savings.

Rainy Day Savings

32%

8%

7%

8%

8%

8%

4%

9%

30%

10%

8%

12%

7%

7%

6%

10%

0% 5% 10% 15% 20% 25% 30% 35% 40%

Zero

Less than $100

$100-$500

$500-$1,000

$1,000-$2,500

$2,500-$5,000

$5,000-$10,000

More than $10,000

Low-Income Women

Single Moms

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Four in ten Americans report living paycheck to paycheck at least most of the time, with this being more common among women than men.

Frequency of Living Paycheck to Paycheck*

-16%

-24%

-20%

-15%

-15%

-15%

30%

19%

24%-54%

-51%

-58%

44%

47%

40%

-65% -45% -25% -5% 15% 35% 55%

Women

Men

Total

Never Once in a while Some of the time All of the time Most of the time

*split-sampled question

-- One third of African-American women (34%) and Latinas (32%) report living paycheck to paycheck all of the time.

Half of single moms and over a third of low-income women say they live paycheck to paycheck all of the time, the most of any group.

Frequency of Living Paycheck to Paycheck

-10%

-10%

-11%

-12%

52%

36%

-29%

-39%

71%

60%

-65% -45% -25% -5% 15% 35% 55% 75%

Single Moms

Low-Income Women

Never Once in a while Some of the time All of the time Most of the time

*split-sampled question

Single moms are also more likely than Americans overall to say they worry that they will not have enough to cover their expenses and bills. The majority of low-income women also worry about this most or all of the time.

Frequency of Worrying Total Family Income Will Not be Enough to Meet Expenses and Bills

-10%

-11%

-14%

-13%

40%

35%44%

-46% 54%

55%

-70% -50% -30% -10% 10% 30% 50% 70%

Single Moms

Low-Income Women

Never Once in a while Some of the time All of the time Most of the time

*split-sampled question

“I can spend whole nights…I haven’t done it in the last few weeks, but I have spent whole nights laying awake at night worrying about money.” – Low-income White Woman (Portland, Maine)

More than half of Latinas report that they or someone in their household lost a job in the past year, significantly higher than the public overall and African American women. Single moms and low-income women are also somewhat more likely to have experienced job loss, either themselves or a member of their household, than the public as a whole, though not nearly as high as Latinas.

You or Someone in Your Household Has Lost a Job in Past Year

31%

56%

37%40%

68%

44%

63%60%

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

African American Women Latinas Low-Income Women Single Moms

Yes No

*split-sampled question

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The majority of women of color say they or someone in their household has had their wages, hours or tips reduced in the past year. More than half of low-income women and single moms report that they or someone in their household has had their wages, hours or tips reduced during the past year – the highest of any of our subgroups.

You or Someone in Your Household Has Had Wages, Hours or Tips Reduced in Past Year

50%53%

56%60%

48%45% 43%

40%

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

African American Women Latinas Low-Income Women Single Moms

Yes No

*split-sampled question

About half of single moms say they are very concerned that they or someone in their household will be out of a job in the next 12 months. The majority of low-income women share this concern, though intensity is 13 points lower.

*split-sampled question

Concerned You or Someone in Your Household Will be Out of a Job in the Next 12 Months

-25%

-34%

-42%

-48%

49%

36% 52%

58%

-75% -55% -35% -15% 5% 25% 45% 65%

Single Moms

Low-Income Women

Not at all concerned A little concerned Very concerned Somewhat concerned

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Potential Policy Remedies

Most low-income women and single moms say health care that is more available and affordable, and that is not dependent on your job is personally important to them. Any policies that have to do with affordability and money, including lowering taxes resonates, especially with single moms.

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% Personally Important (% One of the Most Important)

TotalLow-Income

WomenSingle Moms

Lower taxes 71% (38%) 73% (35%) 81% (58%)

Equal pay and benefits for men and women 74% (37%) 82% (46%) 77% (48%)

Health care that is more available and affordable, and that is not dependent on your

job72% (36%) 81% (48%) 83% (50%)

More jobs with decent wages and benefits for low-income families

73% (32%) 84% (46%) 89% (52%)

More affordable education and training opportunities

69% (32%) 74% (35%) 81% (46%)

End discrimination based on race, gender and age

63% (27%) 72% (38%) 79% (47%)

Providing some income to workers when they take family and medical leave to care for a new

baby, a sick child or an aging parent61% (23%) 62% (24%) 67% (32%)

Flexible and alternative work schedules 47% (17%) 48% (19%) 66% (31%)

Available and affordable child care 51% (16%) 55% (22%) 61% (27%)

*split-sampled questions

Lower taxes are the most important policy proposal for single moms, followed by affordable health care and more jobs with decent wages and benefits for low-income families. The latter two policies, along with equal pay and benefits, resonate the most with low-income women.

23

Framing & Language

“Building economic security” stands out as a good description of government programs and policies that help lower and middle-class Americans make ends meet. “Family economic security” is also strong.

24

Confirming our focus group findings, descriptions that focus on “economic security” are well received while “standards” is more problematic.

10%

11%

13%

13%

15%

19%

29%

29%

32%

24%

35%

23%

0% 5% 10% 15% 20% 25% 30% 35% 40%

Economic SecurityStandards*

Safety net*

Financial safety net*

Family economic stability*

Family economic security*

Building economicsecurity*

"10" "8-9"

*split-sampled questions

Now I am going to read you a list of words and phrases some people use to describe government programs and policies in existence to help lower and middle-class Americans make ends meet. For each, please tell me on a scale that goes from 0 to 10, where 0 means it is not at all a good description of the programs and policies in place to help lower and middle-class Americans make ends meet and 10 means it is a very good description.

2010: Wider Opportunities for Women Survey, May 20-27, 2010 (1,000 adults nationwide)

Appendix

Over six in ten adults say they are worse off economically than compared to four years ago. However, as is typical of Americans, they prove optimistic about the future, with similar numbers expecting to be better off four years from now.

Family Better/Worse Off

-23%

-7%

-63%

-24% 15%

29%

64%

-80% -60% -40% -20% 0% 20% 40% 60% 80%

Four Years Ago*

Four Years From Now*

Much worse Somewhat worse Much better Somewhat better

*split-sampled questions

Though most low-income women and single moms say they are worse off now than four years ago, they prove optimistic about the next four years. Almost one in four single moms says she expects to be much better off four years from now. Single moms are some of the most pessimistic about the past and most optimistic about the future.

Family Better/Worse Off

-10%

-37%

-29%-69%

-68%

-22%

-27%

24%

12%

23%

25%

69%

62%

-80% -60% -40% -20% 0% 20% 40% 60% 80%

Single Moms: Four Years FromNow

Single Moms: Four Years Ago

Low-Income Women: Four YearsFrom Now

Low-Income Women: Four YearsAgo

Much worse Somewhat worse Much better Somewhat better

*split-sampled questions

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Community Voices for the Economy: Survey Methodology

Lake Research Partners designed and administered this survey which was conducted by professional interviewers. The survey reached a total of 1,004 adults nationwide, with oversamples of 100 African American women, 100 Latinas, 100 single mothers, and 200 low-income women. Relevant cases in the base were folded into the oversamples. The survey was conducted January 19 to February 3, 2010.

Telephone numbers for the base, African American women, and Latina samples were drawn from random digit dialing (RDD) sample. Telephone numbers for the low income-women and single mother oversamples were drawn randomly from listed files based on gender for both samples and age for the single mother oversample. The base sample was stratified by gender and geographically to reflect the population. Data in the base sample was weighted slightly by gender, age, region, party identification, marital status, parental status, education, and race to reflect the attributes of this universe. Data in the African American women and Latina oversamples were weighted slightly by age. Data in the single mother and low-income women oversamples were weighted slightly by race. The margin of error for the base survey is +/- 3.1%. The margin of error for the African American women and Latina oversamples is +/- 7.6%. The margin of error for the single mother oversample is +/- 8.1%. The margin of error for the low-income women oversample is +/- 5.1%

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WOW Research Methodology

Focus Groups: 10 focus groups, held in March 2010

Philadelphia:– White seniors, HHI under $50,000– Women aged 18-25 Berkeley, CA:– White women, under 200% FPL, without college degrees– Latinas ages 36-65, HHI under $50,000. Atlanta, GA:– Seniors, HHI under $18,000– African-American women, HHI under $50,000Chicago, IL: – Seniors, racial minorities, HHI under $50,000– White non-college educated women, HHI under $100,000Denver, CO:– Women aged 26-39 (mixed race) – White, non-college educated men, HHI under $100,000.

National Telephone Survey: – RDD survey of 1,000 adults, 18+– Oversamples: 100 African-Americans, 100 Latinos, & 100 adults annual incomes

$10,000-15,000– May 20th to 27th, 2010– Margin of sampling error +/- 3.1 percentage points