44% of Copper Country Households Struggle Financially

Nearly half of households in the Copper Country don’t bring in enough income to be considered financially stable. That figure comes from a report prepared by the Michigan United Way. The report used the costs of housing, child care, food, transportation and health care to determine the cost of living in various areas around the state. The standard set for a household of three in our area is 40-thousand dollars per year – it’s adjusted up and down for larger or smaller households. The study found that 44 percent of the households in Houghton, Keweenaw, Baraga and Ontonagon Counties fell short of the mark.

Across the state, 1.4-million households didn’t meet the standard, including around 600-thousand households that fall below the federal poverty level. Michigan Association of United Ways President and CEO Scott Dzurka says that blows away the misconception that poverty exists only below the federal line… DZURKA. The report also graded Michigan counties on three factors – housing affordability, job opportunities, and community support for those with low incomes. Houghton County was rated fair for housing, poor for jobs, and good for support. Baraga and Keweenaw Counties were rated good for housing, but poor for jobs and support. Ontonagon County was rated good for housing, poor for jobs, and fair for support. You can link to the full report here.