On the Edge of Poverty: Health problems follow money problems

KLAMATH FALLS, Ore. -- Richard and Michelle Phillips go without lunch or dinner several times a week to make sure their children have enough to eat.

“I have three growing children, 13, 10 and 9,” said Michelle Phillips, 33. “How do I feed that, you know?”

Making sure their children eat properly is important, but the Phillipses’ income makes it tough to buy groceries and pay all the bills. The Klamath Falls family receives $134 in food stamps a month, and about $350 a week in unemployment benefits from Richard’s last job. The checks will stop coming in five weeks.

Klamath County health officials said living near, at or below the poverty line is a risk factor to an individual’s health.

“It’s just one more thing,” said Bob Marsalli, executive director for the Klamath Open Door Family Practice. “(It’s) one more risk factor to health the way driving fast is a risk factor to health.”

Marilyn Sutherland, director of Klamath County Public Health, said this risk factor tends to be a more hidden, subtle detriment to individual health than, say, drug or alcohol abuse.

“It’s just not very visible. People deal with it in private and at home,” she said.

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