Election 2010: The 60 to 140 Percent Bite, State-by-State Data on Disability Income, Housing Costs and People with Mental Illness

Election 2010: The 60 to 140 Percent Bite, State-by-State Data on Disability Income, Housing Costs and People with Mental Illness

Arlington, VA (PRWEB) October 5, 2010

Housing costs for people living with disabilities who depend on Supplemental Security Income (SSI) can consume 60 and 140 percent of that income, according to the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI). State-by-state data is featured below.

In the past two weeks, the U.S. Census Bureau has reported that the nation today is experiencing its greatest level of poverty in 15 years while the gap between rich and poor is bigger ever. But poverty is nothing new for many Americans living with serious mental illness. Mental health—and hope for recovery—must be part of the equation in addressing the nation’s economic crisis. A key factor is the level of disability income relative to basic needs—such as a place to live.

In the fifth alert in an Election 2010 series, NAMI is reminding editors, reporters, bloggers and others to ask candidates to address these facts:

Depending on the state, the rent for a one-person efficiency apartment may be between 60 and 140 percent of federal Supplemental Security Income (SSI), one of the main sources of support for people with disabilities. (Hawaii is a dramatic outlier at 170 percent.)
SSI support is between 15 and 25 percent of the median income in each state.
Approximately 35 percent of persons receiving SSI benefits are those with mental illnesses.
About four million people receive some form of disability income for mental illness. They represent about 18 percent of all people living with mental illness, who compose slightly less than two percent of the nation’s total population.
The data below reveals states’ Supplemental Security Income recipients (SSI) with a serious mental illness, rounded to nearest 1,000; Supplemental Security Income as a percentage of one person median income in 2008 (SSI Income), and percent of Supplemental Security Income needed to rent an efficiency (studio) apartment (SSI Rent).

Source: Social Security Administration Supplemental Security Record(Characteristic Extract Record format), 100 percent data (Table 10).

Alabama: 59,000 SSI; 21% SSI Income;75% SSI Rent

Alaska: 4,000 SSI; 23% SSI Income; 69% SSI Rent

Arizona: 37,000 SSI; 19% SSI Income; 93% Rent

Arkansas: 36,000 SSI; 23% SSI Income; 70% rent

California: 438,000 SSI; 22% SSI Income; 103% Rent

Colorado: 22,000 SSI; 17% SSI Income; 90% Rent

Connecticut: 20,000 SSI; 17% SSI Income; 96% Rent

Delaware: 5,000 SSI; 17% SSI Income; 109% Rent

DC, Washington: 8,000 SSI;17% SSI Income; 157% Rent

Florida: 162,000 SSI; 19% SSI Income; 119% Rent

Georgia: 77,000 SSI; 19% SSI Income 97% Rent

Hawaii: 8,000 SSI; 15% SSI Income; 170% Rent

Idaho: 9,000 SSI; 21% SSI Income; 72% Rent

Illinois: 94,000 SSI; 17% SSI Income; 105% Rent

Indiana: 39,000 SSI; 19% SSI Income; 79% Rent

Iowa: 16,000 SSI; 19% SSI Income; 68% Rent

Kansas: 15,000 SSI; 18% SSI Income; 73% Rent

Kentucky: 66,000 SSI; 21% SSI Income; 70% Rent

Louisiana: 59,000 SSI; 22% SSI Income; 92% Rent

Maine: 12,000 SSI; 20% SSI Income; 84% Rent

Maryland: 36,000 SSI; 13% SSI Income; 131% Rent

Massachusetts: 65,000 SSI; 17% SSI Income; 119% Rent

Michigan: 85,000 SSI; 18% SSI Income; 84% Rent

Minnesota: 29,000 SSI; 18% SSI Income; 75% Rent

Mississippi: 43,000    SSI; 24% SSI Income; 77% Rent

Missouri: 45,000 SSI; 20% SSI Income; 76% Rent

Montana: 6,000 SSI; 20% SSI Income; 69% Rent

Nebraska: 9,000 SSI; 19% SSI Income; 73% Rent

Nevada: 14,000 SSI; 17% SSI Income; 109% Rent

New Hampshire: 6,000 SSI; 16% SSI Income; 100% Rent

New Jersey: 57,000 SSI; 14% SSI Income; 136% Rent

New Mexico: 21,000 SSI; 22% SSI Income; 75% Rent

New York: 234,000 SSI; 19% SSI Income; 129% Rent

North Carolina: 75,000 SSI; 20% SSI Income; 84% Rent

North Dakota: 3,000 SSI; 19% SSI Income; 62% Rent

Ohio: 96,000 SSI; 19% SSI Income; 74% Rent

Oklahoma: 32,000 SSI; 23% SSI Income; 70% Rent

Oregon: 25,000 SSI; 19% SSI Income; 84% Rent

Pennsylvania: 121,000 SSI; 19% SSI Income; 87% Rent

Rhode Island: 11,000 SSI; 18% SSI Income; 108% Rent

South Carolina: 38,000 SSI; 21% SSI Income; 83% Rent

South Dakota: 5,000 SSI; 20% SSI Income; 64% Rent

Tennessee: 59,000 SSI; 21% SSI Income; 79% Rent

Texas: 206,000 SSI; 20% SSI Income; 92% Rent

Utah: 9,000 SSI; 18% SSI Income; 86% Rent

Vermont: 5,000 SSI; 19% SSI Income; 94% Rent

Virginia: 50,000 SSI; 16% SSI Income; 115% Rent

Washington: 46,000 SSI; 18% SSI Income; 90% Rent

West Virginia: 28,000 SSI; 24% SSI Income; 69% Rent

Wisconsin: 36,000 SSI; 19% SSI Income; 71% Rent

Wyoming: 2,000 SSI; 19% SSI Income; 75% Rent

Additional Sources:

Jans, L., Stoddard, S. & Kraus, L. (2004). Chartbook on Mental Health and Disability in the United States. An InfoUse Report. Washington, DC: U.S. Department of Education, National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research.

O’Hara, A., Cooper, E., Zovistoski, A., and Buttrick, J., Priced Out in 2006: The Housing Crisis for People with Disabilities, Technical Assistance Collaborative, Inc., Consortium for Citizens with Disabilities, Housing Task Force, (Technical Assistance Collaborative, Inc.: 2009)

About NAMI

NAMI is the nation’s largest grassroots mental health organization dedicated to improving the lives of individuals and families affected by mental illness. NAMI has over 1100 state and local affiliates that engage in research, education, support and advocacy. NAMI is a non-partisan, non-profit organization and does not endorse political candidates. Previous NAMI Election Alerts includes: State Grades: 21 Ds, 6 Fs; State Suicide Rates;Top 10 States; Mental Health Cuts; and Number of People w/ Mental Illness in Each State; Percent Served by SMHA. On the web: http://www.nami.org; twitter.com/namicommunicate; facebook.com/officialNAMI

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