Census Bureau survey … where are all those Americans struggling to hold on by their fingernails?

Based on the survey numbers below 35% of households may be finding it difficult paying their bills. 11% are finding it a struggle to obtain adequate food. To hear some politicians tell the story, half of America is barely hanging on financially.

If we focused more on those in need instead of relying on generalized pandering, perhaps more of value would be accomplished.

Based on responses collected January 6 through January 18, the US Census Bureau Household Pulse Survey estimates that:

• 27.0% of American adults expect someone in their household to experience a loss in employment income in the next 4 weeks
• 38.4% of adults live in households where at least one adult substituted some or all in-person work for telework because of the coronavirus pandemic
• 11.3% of American adults lived in households where there was either sometimes or often not enough to eat in the previous 7 days
• 8.9% of adults are either not current on their rent or mortgage payment, or have slight or no confidence in making their next payment on time
• Of adults living in households not current on rent or mortgage, 34.2% report eviction or foreclosure in the next two months is somewhat or very likely
• 35.1% of adults live in households where it has been somewhat or very difficult to pay usual household expenses during the coronavirus pandemic
• 80.7% of adults in households with post-secondary educational plans had those plans cancelled or changed significantly this fall
• 7.7% of adults have received a COVID-19 vaccine
• Among adults who have yet to receive a COVID-19 vaccine, 50.9% definitely will get one when available