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There was a time when all you had to do was get a job. In the 1950s and '60s, most full-time jobs paid enough to support a family and even buy a house. But times have changed. Today, you can work 40 hours a week and still not be able to buy health insurance, let alone a house of your own. Many people in Minnesota are working, but poor. They hold down not just one, but two jobs, and barely get by.

It's a challenge for many Minnesotans to make ends meet on an income of $20,000 or less. Here's the monthly budget for one single mother living in Mankato. Many college students fall into debt quickly, and then have a difficult time getting out. MPR reporter Cara Hetland knows this situation first-hand. Here's her story. Do you live paycheck to paycheck? Can you keep up with your bills on one 40 hour a week job? What are the greatest risks to a family that is just getting by? Discuss these and other issues that confront the working poor. Minnesota Community Action Agencies County by county income and expense data Minnesota Workforce Center Facts on Minnesota's labor force The McKnight Foundation Background information on issues facing working poor Minnesota Department of Human Services Information on services for the poor Broadcast editor: Kate Smith Online editor: Melanie Sommer Researcher: Betsy Cole Art director: Ben Tesch Interactive producer: Julia Schrenkler Web production supervisor: Michael Wells Web manager: John Pearson

A day with Rhonna
by Chris Julin
Rhonna Kalstad of Bovey and her two kids are up at 7 every morning, and don't get to bed until after midnight. Spending a day with Rhonna illustrates how exhausting it can be to live on a limited income. (01/27/2003)

The high cost of housing
by Dan Gunderson
Thousands of Minnesota families struggle each month to pay for the roof over their heads. Mortgage payments or rent eat up so much of their income there's not enough left for other necessities. Hundreds of millions of dollars are pumped into affordable housing programs every year, but the need continues to grow. (01/27/2003)

Health insurance is a luxury for many
by Bob Reha
Good health is important to everyone, especially if you're struggling to make ends meet and have no health insurance. Health plan officials are predicting double-digit increases in health care premiums in Minnesota, which makes it even more difficult for some families to buy coverage. (01/27/2003)

Struggling to find affordable daycare
by Tom Robertson
Each day, two-thirds of school age children in Minnesota are cared for by someone other than their parents. For many families, that's a huge expense. While lower income families can receive financial assistance for child care, many working families don't qualify for help. Child care costs are pushing many working families to the financial edge. (01/27/2003)

Working to drive
by Mark Steil
Getting to work is the first step in holding a job. For people without a vehicle, that trip can be as difficult as the job itself. The role of the car is important in the lives of the working poor. (01/27/2003)

Starting out without falling behind
by Cara Hetland
There were more bankruptcies filed in 2002 than ever before, when 1.5 million people filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy. Many blame poor spending habits and high credit card debt, which can begin in college. The choices young people make about money can stay with them for years. (01/27/2003)

Walk a mile in my shoes
by Stephanie Hemphill
One of the obstacles people with low incomes often face is isolation. There's a deep divide between the haves and the have-nots. Last month, people in Duluth tried to bridge that gap. Ten low-income families were paired with school board members, city councilors -- people who make policies that affect families. They walked a mile in each others' shoes. (01/27/2003)


Made possible by a grant from the Blandin Foundation

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