1. enough to feel human
2. covers the basic necessities
   • food
   • clothing
   • housing
   • healthcare
   • education

Why do we need a Living Wage?

• Put more money in the hands of consumers who will spend it in our community
• Re-establish the dignity and value of work
• Appropriate use of tax dollars to maintain and create decent living standards in our community
• Reduce the cost and demand for public services that subsidize poverty wages such as
  • food stamps
  • food banks
  • energy assitance programs
• Expand the tax base
• Enable families discontinued from welfare to support themselves
• Improve employee morale and reduce employee turnover
• Improve quality of services to the general public
• Ensure that workers and their families also benefit from taxpayer subsidies
• Create a level playing field for employers who want to pay decent wages and provide benefits to their employees
• Civil and human rights include the right to a decent job with a living wage
• Reduce the effects of poverty such as
  • substance abuse
  • crime

• a family of four needs two working adults, each earning approximately $9.12 per hour
• 100, 000 + working adults are living in poverty
• 100, 000 + children are living in poverty

Last Updated 03/21/2002