The D.C. Self-Sufficiency Calculator

Wider Opportunities for Women (WOW) is developing an on line calculator tool to utilize the recently updated 2005 Self-Sufficiency Standard for the Metropolitan DC Area. The Standard measures what it costs families of different sizes to make ends meet on a county by county basis and in the District. The use of the calculator will facilitate the expansion and integration of the concept of self-sufficiency into a number of programs in community-based organizations and public agencies in the District. Initially, the calculator will be used as a counseling tool for individual families, but over time aggregate data can be used to form policy and program goals. In 2006, WOW will design; review and pilot test the calculator at two community-based sites.

The calculator will be designed to educate residents what it costs to live in the District, how their current income compares to their specific self-sufficiency wage and how to develop short and long term plans to move closer to a self- sufficiency income. The calculator will inform users about the top growing industries in the DC area offering self-sufficient wages not requiring four year degrees, hiring criteria and where to obtain training for these positions. The calculator will also demonstrate how wages and public benefits can help a family move toward self-sufficiency in the short term and will explore what public benefits a resident and her family may be entitled to. Users will be able to link to other websites of public or private agencies that will complement the information available through the Self-Sufficiency Calculator.

Marshall Heights Community Development and Housing Corporation and Lydia’s House, located in Wards 7 & 8, will serve as the pilot sites to test the self-sufficiency calculator with their clients. Once the calculator design has been finalized, we will place it on the WOW’s website and also make it available to other organizations. In Year II, we hope to develop a train the trainer curriculum that will accompany the calculator that will enable other community-based programs and public agencies to incorporate the calculator into their services.

WOW will convene a Calculator Taskforce that will include local partners to the DC FESS Project, potential users of the calculator, public and community agencies, businesses, and others with relevant expertise. The taskforce will meet on a quarterly basis to provide WOW with guidance of the contents of the calculator, information gathering, how to make the calculator user friendly and replicable in varied sites.

The Freddie Mac Foundation is providing funding to develop the initial calculator as part of its current commitment to support the DC Area Family Economic Self-Sufficiency Project (FESS) which is lead by Wider Opportunities for Women. DC FESS includes over 50 organizations and provides tools to low- income families, case managers, policy makers and advocates helping working family’s makes ends meet.