This report assesses the needs of rural communities in Northeast Missouri. It finds that the region has higher poverty rates than the state average, with nearly half of poor households being female-headed single mothers. The region lacks resources like emergency housing, public transportation, healthcare access, and affordable housing. It also has lower educational attainment and median income. The report recommends improving coordination between social services, expanding transportation options, and increasing attention to challenges facing rural communities to help address poverty in the region.

1. 11/1/2012
Rural Poverty
A Needs Assessment of Northeast Missouri
Authored by: Jerry Best, Samantha Shaul, Betsy Smith, Carol
Vidacac, and Marissa Wood

2. Rural Poverty
A Needs Assessment of Northeast Missouri
Jerry Best, Samantha Shaul, Betsy Smith, Carol Vidacac, and Marissa Wood
2
This report is intended to assess the needs, resources, and population characteristics of
the Northeast Missouri (NEMO) community including Lewis, Macon, Marion, Monroe,
Ralls, Randolph, and Shelby Counties. County selection was based on a review of
poverty data available as well as the likelihood of utilizing the assessment and included
recommendations to improve systems and services in the region based on one author’s
current employment in social services in the area.
Historical Context
1
Since the first measurements of poverty began in 1965, the populations most effected
by poverty have been inner-city, urban populations and rural communities. Factors
correlating to
experiencing poverty
include age, race,
ethnicity, family
structure,
educational
attainment, and
employment.
Current measures do
not sufficiently
reflect changing
needs resulting from
economic, social,
policy changes that have taken place over the last fifty years. Out of date methodology
for determining poverty data contributes to insufficiencies in existing safety nets.
Programs are inadequate in meeting the needs of the population and are unable to
create significant change to remove systemic inequality.
1
Institute for Research on Poverty (n.d.). Who is poor? Retrieved from
http://www.irp.wisc.edu/faqs/faq3.htm/

3. Rural Poverty
A Needs Assessment of Northeast Missouri
Jerry Best, Samantha Shaul, Betsy Smith, Carol Vidacac, and Marissa Wood
3
Community Boundaries
The community boundaries selected for this project
include the county lines of Lewis, Macon, Marion,
Monroe, Ralls, Randolph, and Shelby Counties in
Northeast Missouri.
Community Characteristics
The community is largely rural, but it includes two large
communities Hannibal, in Marion County, and Moberly,
in Randolph County. To the right, there is a map
estimating the population distribution of the
community area.
The community is characterized by a poverty
rate that is slightly higher (15.2%) than the
state of Missouri (14%). However, in this
region, almost half of the households living in
poverty are female-headed households and
many of these households are single mothers
with children.
Although, unemployment rates (below, left) for thisregion are comparable to
unemployment rates across the state of Missouri, the median household income
(below, right) is much lower. This indicates that while most people are working, there
are many low income jobs that do not provide enough for families to support
themselves.

4. Rural Poverty
A Needs Assessment of Northeast Missouri
Jerry Best, Samantha Shaul, Betsy Smith, Carol Vidacac, and Marissa Wood
4
The region is also characterized by a lack in population growth. This region showed a net
population increase of 0.39% while Missouri showed an increase of approximately 7%
and the United States experienced 9.7% population growth. The NEMO region recently
lost a representative district in the House of Representatives. People in the area who
can afford to move are moving out of the area causing the region to become
geographically segregated as an impoverished and depressed area.
Needs Assessment
 Lack of emergency housing
 Absence of public transportation causing lack of access to resources
 Inadequate access to health care and mental health services
 Inaccessibility of health insurance: Missouri has not expanded Medicaid
 Lack of affordable housing

5. Rural Poverty
A Needs Assessment of Northeast Missouri
Jerry Best, Samantha Shaul, Betsy Smith, Carol Vidacac, and Marissa Wood
5
 Limited educational attainment: Students are more likely to be a high school
dropout (16.23%) than a college graduate (15%); low literacy skills
Community Values
There are certain values and characteristics that are commonly found among rural
communities in America. In many rural communities, there is a strong sense of family-
centeredness and family honor. Families are closely knit and are proud of their heritage.
This may be a valuable strength for families who have a strong support system.
However, families in rural communities may be less likely to seek assistance.
Additionally, the scarcity of resources inherent in a rural community may be a barrier for
families who are willing to reach out.2
Resource Availability
A limited number of hospitals, including only one federally qualified health center, and
the absence of community mental health agencies suggest inadequacies in available
health services. There is one homelessness shelter in Hannibal, and one domestic
violence shelter in Moberly. These are the only emergency housing shelters in the area.
2
Randall, E., and Tower, L. (2010). Appalachia: addressing domestic violence in the rural environment.
Lockhart, L. and Danis, F. (Eds.), Domestic violence: intersectionality and culturally competent practice (pp
339-401). New York, NY: Columbia University Press.

6. Rural Poverty
A Needs Assessment of Northeast Missouri
Jerry Best, Samantha Shaul, Betsy Smith, Carol Vidacac, and Marissa Wood
6
There is one alcohol and drug use rehabilitation facility in the region located in Hannibal.
There are private mental health agencies in the area located in Hannibal and Moberly.
Many of these resources are inaccessible to the community due to a lack of
transportation. For families without means of transportation, it can be very difficult to
access to employment, health resources, and groceries.
Strengths and Opportunities
The Northeast Community Action Corporation (NECAC) provides a wide range of
services for individuals and families living in poverty in the region. NECAC has offices in
each county offering housing subsidy, weatherization, home ownership counseling,
financial counseling, foreclosure counseling, WIC, family planning, and family and
community development workshops.
Avenues is another community-based organization located in Hannibal. Avenues
provides assistance to women experiencing domestic violence and economic abuse.
Churches often take an active role in the community serving as networks for crisis
shelters, food pantries, and counseling and guidance centers.
Moberly Area Community College has been a proactive community partner for decades
offering free GED and literacy programs to community members 16 and older.
Barriers and Threats
A major weakness in the area is the breakdown of communication between agencies
allowing families to fall between the gaps. Many clients who are referred from one
agency to another are forgotten by both the referring agency and the agency receiving
the referral. This is especially true for the individuals who are living in poverty and/or
those who are uninsured/underinsured.
The lack of transportation in the area is also a significant barrier. The only public
transportation available is the OATS bus serving people over the age of 60 on specific
days of the month according to the county they live in.

7. Rural Poverty
A Needs Assessment of Northeast Missouri
Jerry Best, Samantha Shaul, Betsy Smith, Carol Vidacac, and Marissa Wood
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Recommendations
OVERCOMING INVISIBILITY
Little attention has been given to rural poverty. As indicated in the chart above (see
historical context section), rural poverty has been a longstanding problem. Attention
and intervention focused on urban poverty have begun to curb the poverty rates for
families in inner-city settings. However, due to the lack of attention and intervention to
rural communities living in poverty, the trend of rural poverty continues to increase.
The political climate of the region adds to the invisibility. The region is a politically
conservative and efforts to increase funding for service expansion and to improve the
infrastructure of service delivery have been met with resistance by communities
unwilling to support funding needed to create change. Additionally, there is no pressure
on elected officials to support the change.