Poverty in Ohio

Ohio

Poverty is a social determinant of health with intergenerational impacts. It is associated with poorer environmental conditions and health outcomes, as well as increased risk of mortality and chronic disease. Those with incomes below the federal poverty level may struggle to consistently meet basic needs such as stable housing, food and health care. Poverty is driven by a variety of factors, including low wages and unemployment, lack of affordable housing, racism and discrimination, and insufficient access to quality education and health care.

The percentage of individuals living below the poverty level is higher among:

• Women compared with men.
• Children compared with adults. 
• American Indian/Alaska Native, Black and Hispanic individuals compared with Asian and white individuals. 
• Adults who have a disability compared with those who do not.
• Adults with less than a high school education compared with college graduates.

Many federal, state and local government programs and community interventions exist to support and help reduce the number of people living in poverty. Some of them include:

• Policy initiatives that supplement income, such as Social Security, Supplemental Security Income (SSI) and the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) for those with limited income and few resources.
• Programs that improve access to health care by reducing costs, such as Medicare and Medicaid.
• Food and nutrition assistance programs such as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC).
• Affordable housing policies such as rental vouchers, subsidized housing and utility assistance programs.
• Policy initiatives that address racial and ethnic health disparities in income, housing and health.

Healthy People 2030 has several economic stability objectives, including a goal to reduce the proportion of people living in poverty. 

Brady, David, Ulrich Kohler, and Hui Zheng. “Novel Estimates of Mortality Associated With Poverty in the US.” JAMA Internal Medicine 183, no. 6 (June 1, 2023): 618–19. https://doi.org/10.1001/jamainternmed.2023.0276.

Khullar, Dhruv, and Dave A. Chokshi. Health, Income, & Poverty: Where We Are & What Could Help. Health Affairs Health Policy Brief. Bethesda, MD: Project HOPE, October 4, 2018. https://doi.org/10.1377/hpb20180817.901935.

Shrider, Emily A. Poverty in the United States: 2023. U.S. Census Bureau, September 2024. https://www2.census.gov/library/publications/2024/demo/p60-283.pdf.