Definition: Percentage of Sarasota County residents ages 60+ whose annual income is lower than the federal poverty guideline

Source: Department of Elder Affairs, Florida County Profiles

2025 Target: 6.3%

Below is a comparison of the value for this indicator among seven coastal counties: Charlotte, Sarasota, Collier, Lee, Manatee, Hillsborough, and Pinellas. These counties have been recommended as comparable counties by Sarasota County Government.

Elders in Poverty (2015)

In 2015, 7.1% of seniors (60+) in Sarasota County earned an annual income below the federal poverty line. This rate increased 37% from 2008 to 2010. Since 2010 the elder poverty rate has been increasing gradually, with a 6% increase from 2010 to 2015. The elder poverty rate in Sarasota County is 3.5% lower than that of Florida (10.6%). However, the poverty guideline does not take into account medical and housing costs and therefore does not provide a comprehensive depiction of the population of elders that are struggling financially. According to the Department of Elder Affairs, about 11% of elders in Sarasota County have incomes below 125% of the poverty threshold, which is $19,912 annually for a two person household.

Elders living in poverty are vulnerable to being housing cost burdened, food insecure, and lacking access to transportation. According to subject matter experts, accessibility to affordable housing and transportation are major priorities for ensuring that seniors are able to live with dignity and independence. Affordable housing ensures that seniors are able to “age in place” (in their own homes) and accessible transportation ensures that seniors are less likely to be socially isolated, food insecure, and unable to reach essential community support and health services. According to the Florida Housing Data Clearing house, 89% of severely low income homeowners (household income is 30% or less of area median income) ages 65 and over in Sarasota County were housing cost burdened in 2015. 88% of severely low income renters ages 65 and over were cost burdened as well. Low income seniors are also more likely not to own cars and have easy access to alternatives to driving, which in turn affects access to food, healthcare and social engagement.