By the Numbers: Poverty in Door County

Did you know that…

• More than 30 percent of female-led households in Door County have incomes below the poverty level.

• In Wisconsin, nearly two-thirds of all households in poverty are headed by single-women. (Institute for Women’s Policy Research)

• In 2012, the food insecurity rate in Door County was 12 percent. Statewide, the rate was 11.2 percent, and nationally the rate was 14.7 percent. Food insecure households have uncertain access to food. (Wisconsin Nutrition Education Program – Door County UW Extension)

• From 2000 to 2012, the school free/reduced meal eligibility rates grew from 16 percent to 37 percent in Door County. Statewide, rates grew from 30.8 percent to 40 percent. (Wisconsin Nutrition Education Program – Door County UW Extension)

• Nearly twice as many women as men work in occupations with poverty wages. (Institute for Women’s Policy Research)

• 47 percent of Americans say they either could not cover an emergency expense costing $400 or would manage by selling something or borrowing money. (Federal Reserve’s 2014 “Survey of Household Economics and Decisionmaking”)

• Of all Door County residents, 7.7 poverty live in poverty. (2010 U.S. Census Data)

• Door County school children qualifying for free or reduced school lunch due to economic disadvantage: Southern Door – 32.68 percent of all students; Sturgeon Bay – 42.07 percent; Sevastopol – 41.74 percent; Gibraltar – 25.52 percent; Washington Island – 25.86 percent.

• Door County has 2,453 residents in 1,285 households who received Food Share benefits in 2015 through the end of May. (Door County Economic Support, Report June 2015)

• 71 Door County households received child care assistance in May 2015. (Door County Economic Support, Report June 2015)

• Badger Care assistance to Door County residents in May 2015 was 3,236 Door County residents, including 1,638 children and 631 childless adults. (Door County Economic Support, Report June 2015)

• Medicaid assistance to Door County residents in May 2015 was 1,102 people, including 617 who were elderly, blind or disabled. (Door County Economic Support, Report June 2015)

• In 2014, the Door County Housing Authority accepted 163 applications. More than half of the applications came from the elderly or disabled. Current wait time for assistance is six to nine months. (Door County Housing Authority, Annual Report 2014)

• 31 percent of Americans report going without some form of medical care in the 12 months before the survey because they could not afford it. (Federal Reserve’s 2014 “Survey of Household Economics and Decisionmaking”)

Compiled by Jennifer A. Moeller, for the Women’s Fund of Door County