Beyond the walls of dorms, frat houses and Uptown bars exists a population not as financially fortunate as many students. Low-income families and individuals represent a significant amount of Athens County's population.
We're below low (income) now
said Eric Stout, a Coolville sub-contractor and father of two. The construction business is slow especially towards winter.
Stout resides with his fianc+ he said.
ACJFS provides about 40 programs for those who financially qualify, including medical assistance, which the Stout family also uses.
April Crites, Stout's fianc+
(the county) is willing to help you
Stout added.
Second Harvest Food Bank of Southeast Ohio is down 42 percent in donations, said Marilyn Sloan, food bank coordinator. Pressure to help the hurricane victims has concentrated donations in the South, she said. The food bank serves nine of the poorest counties in Ohio, including Athens County.
Ohio University has a huge effect on the city of Athens, said Tracy Galway, community relations coordinator at ACJFS.
It is the largest employer
paying competitive
decent wages that have benefits
Galway said.
According to the most-recent 2000 census, the city has a population of a little more than 21,000 people, most of which are students. Only a little more than 6,100 are permanent residents. More than half the population is living below the poverty line.
For a family of four to be considered at the 100 percent poverty line, its gross annual income must be less than $19,350, according to the 2005 Federal Poverty Guidelines.
Athens' unemployment rate is 6.2 percent as of August, Galway said.
This makes Athens the 39th-poorest county out of Ohio's 88, according to the Tracy Galway, community relations coordinator at ACJFS.
Looking at the unemployment rate doesn't really give a good picture of Athens county
said Galway. We still have the highest poverty in the state
which means people are working
but they aren't getting out of poverty.
Coal-mining companies' closings and large plants' layoffs have reduced most available jobs to the retail and service sectors, Galway said. These jobs have little or no benefits and pay minimum wage - which is impossible for a family to survive on, Galway said.
The culture of Appalachia and the culture of poverty tend to get meshed together a little bit
