Georgians see poverty as an intractable problem; more than half of all Georgians (54 percent) believe that current programs to address poverty are making no difference, according to the latest Peach State Poll. Additionally, 51 percent say that even if government were willing to spend whatever it thought was necessary, the task of ending poverty could not be accomplished.
When asked what the minimum a household of four people would need to get by with just the bare necessities, the public responded with an average of $44,351 (median response was $40,000). Women, African Americans, wealthier residents and those without a college degree offer significantly higher answers than do men, whites, lower-income and college-educated residents, respectively. The average response to what a family of four needs to live comfortably in Georgia was $68,599.
Other results: Fifty-six percent of Georgians characterize people in poverty, generally, as people who work but cannot earn enough to get by.
The Peach State Poll is an ongoing survey of public opinion conducted by the university’s Carl Vinson Institute of Government.
