Most Wisconsinites struggle to afford basic needs, report finds

Article Summary –

Sixty-nine percent of Wisconsinites struggle to afford basic needs like housing, food, healthcare, or childcare, mirroring national statistics where 70% of Americans face difficulty in paying for at least one of these essentials. The Family Economic Well-Being Index highlights that financial burdens extend beyond low-income groups, affecting middle and upper-middle income families, particularly with childcare costs. The report underscores the need for systemic policy reforms, as recent legislative decisions have exacerbated financial hardships by cutting essential benefits and failing to extend tax credits.

Sixty-nine percent of Wisconsinites face challenges in affording basic needs such as housing, food, healthcare, or childcare, as per a new report by the Georgetown Center on Poverty and Inequality.

The Family Economic Well-Being Index, released on Sept. 24, reports 27% of Wisconsin residents struggle with food expenses, 26% with housing, 39% with healthcare, and 25% with childcare. Nationally, 70% of Americans struggle with at least one basic need.

Lelaine Bigelow, executive director of the Georgetown Center on Poverty and Inequality, noted, “Affordability issues now affect people across all income levels, not just the lowest income brackets.”

Bigelow explained, “Our data highlights that affordability problems extend beyond poor families and affect the middle class. Seven out of ten people face financial burdens.”

To develop the index, researchers used data from the American Community Survey and various agencies. The study reveals mounting expenses, especially for families with children. Sixty-nine percent of middle-income families with children under six struggle with childcare costs, and 68% of upper-middle-income families share this burden. Even those earning over $156,719 annually face childcare affordability issues, with half reporting struggles.

Bigelow hopes this data informs lawmakers on the financial challenges Americans face. An increasing number of Americans report financial difficulties as healthcare costs rise. Congressional Republicans’ failure to extend federal tax credits exacerbates these struggles. Budget cuts signed into law by President Trump have reduced Medicaid and SNAP funding, as grocery prices increase and energy costs surge due to the Iran conflict.

Bigelow remarked, “Current policy debates reflect a backlash against supporting families, with cuts in childcare and SNAP benefits. People across all income levels are working hard but still face financial burdens. Systemic solutions are needed, not individual blame.”