New tools show how public policies shape Ohio family budgets

Online tools enable policymakers and advocates to see how work supports make a difference.

For immediate release

Contact: Amy Hanauer, 216.375.9274

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Policy Matters Ohio and Columbia University’s National Center for Children in Poverty today launched new online tools that show costs of basic family needs in Ohio and how work supports such as child-care assistance can make a difference. Nearly one in four children in Ohio live in poverty, and sound policy is one of the most important tools for helping their families. The online tools help shed light on the real impact public policies have on average families. The tools are:

• A Basic Needs Budget Calculator, which shows how much it takes for families to afford minimum daily necessities in seven Ohio communities. It also allows you to create customized results by changing assumptions about basic family expenses.
• A Family Resource Simulator, which illustrates the impact of “work supports”