Collaborative study focuses on helping the working poor

New London — Twenty-six percent of people in southeastern Connecticut are characterized as working poor and the median debt in collections for New London County is $1,119, according to a new study from the Southeastern Connecticut Economic Task Force.

The task force is a collaboration of the United Way of Southeastern Connecticut, Council of United Way Agency Executives, Community Foundation of Eastern Connecticut, Thames Valley Council for Community Action, Child & Family Agency and The Arc New London County.

The report also included input from the Southeastern Connecticut Council of Governments and Cultural Coalition of Southeastern Connecticut. Economist Don Klepper-Smith provided data for the report, while planner Donald Poland was a consultant.

Members of the task force discussed the study, and made a call for deeper collaboration between nonprofits, during a meeting at The Day on Friday.

The task force's goals are to present “straightforward economic markers and goals for our region,” measure progress toward goals and target “inclusive prosperity.”

The economic markers it seeks to track include quantity and quality of new jobs, accessible housing, public and private debt levels and population growth.

A map in the report shows that while most municipalities in southeastern Connecticut are considered comfortable or prosperous, New London is considered distressed while Norwich is at-risk and Groton is midtier.

“We really do have a mixed message,” said Kathleen Stauffer, CEO of The Arc New London County. “We have a mixed experience.”

Stauffer also noted that nonprofits have seen caseloads go up by 40 percent while resources have dropped by 20 percent. She questioned: How would Electric Boat persuade a prospective employee who has an autistic child to come to Connecticut, given the state's declining track record for social services?

The report shows that 8 percent of households in southeastern Connecticut are poverty households while another 26 percent are ALICE: asset-limited, income-constrained, employed.

Those in ALICE households are “one step away from poverty if their car breaks down or their furnace breaks,” noted Dina Sears-Grave, vice president of community impact for United Way of Southeastern Connecticut.

The median debt in collections is $1,119, which includes medical debt but does not factor in recent college graduates paying off student loans.

The report lays out multiple action steps, such as allowing home-based businesses, updating local zoning, acquiring or demolishing blighted housing, providing budgeting training for public officials and talking to businesses and residents about the return-on-investment of philanthropic giving.

It also recommends establishing working groups in defined areas — such as housing, transportation and employment — and developing pilot programs.

Stauffer also believes there needs to be an honest conversation about how other states pay for things versus how Connecticut pays for things.

The Southeastern Connecticut Economic Task Force acts as a “sequel” to the 2014 study on the “economic, fiscal and social impacts of health and human services public charities in New London County.”

Stauffer said the Chamber of Commerce of Eastern Connecticut has agreed to host a forum for businesses about the results of the new study.