New economic rankings put Oklahoma in the bottom ten states for resident outcomes

OKLAHOMA CITY (KOKH) — A new report puts Oklahoma in the bottom ten states for residents in key economic measures. The state has dropped in the Prosperity Now Scorecard rankings for the third year in a row.

The scorecard uses data from a variety of sources to evaluate how well states are doing to create an environment that makes it easier for their citizens to save money and move out of poverty.

According to the report, Oklahoma ranks 32nd on the prosperity of its residents and 43rd in the overall outcomes for people who live here.

" I wouldn’t say it’s a surprise," said Periann Pulliam, chief operations officer at Upward Transitions. "It’s a disappointment.The community here in Oklahoma City works very hard to help the individuals living in poverty or on the verge of poverty, and we have seen the numbers of people coming to see us, year over year, continue to rise."

Pulliam says the scorecard mirrors what's happening on the ground in Oklahoma City. She works at Upward Transitions, an agency that helps people who are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless.

"Rarely do we meet someone who has savings or has a contingency plan," she said. "They are living paycheck to paycheck, and when that unexpected medical bill, or car repair or loss of hours at work comes up – they’re in a crisis."

According to the new report, more than a third of households in Oklahoma do not have a savings account. One in six people could not see a doctor because of the cost.

"The percentage of people living in poverty in this state is staggering," Pulliam said. "Get involved. Talk to your government officials about what our community can do as a city, county, and as a state – to ensure people aren’t slipping through the cracks."

The Oklahoma Policy Institute has put forth several policy solutions to address these issues. The suggestions include instituting stronger policies to protect people from predatory lenders and increasing access to health insurance. The institute encourages people to contact their state representative and senator to see what they're doing to improve economic prosperity for people in Oklahoma.