States with Less Trust in Government Welfare Programs and Policies Have Higher Levels of Need, as Measured by the HNI
According to a new analysis released by The Salvation Army and the Indiana University Lilly Family School of Philanthropy, state-level opinions and attitudes about government may influence the utilization of services by individuals in need.
The school’s research team found that lower levels of trust in government are linked to higher usage of The Salvation Army’s services to meet basic human needs.
The Human Needs Index (HNI), a joint project between The Salvation Army and the Indiana University Lilly Family School of Philanthropy at IUPUI, tracks changing levels of need across geographies and over time. The HNI is based on usage of The Salvation Army’s basic assistance programs including meals, groceries, clothing and furniture – as well as help paying for housing (mortgage/rent assistance), medical/prescription expenses and energy bills. The scale of the HNI begins at 0, indicating the lowest recorded level of need.
The study found that states with lower levels of trust in government had higher levels of need, as measured by the HNI. In other words, when the citizenry of a state is less trusting of government, they are more likely to turn to a nonprofit organization (The Salvation Army) to receive needed assistance. The reverse is also true: When state-level trust in government is higher, usage of services provided by The Salvation Army is lower.
The analysis identified Colorado as having higher need (according to its HNI value) and lower trust in government. Kentucky, North Dakota and South Dakota each showed a similar pattern of high HNI values and low trust scores. On the other end of the spectrum, trust in government was relatively high in Delaware, Virginia and Oregon, while HNI values in those states were lower.
For the analysis, the team used survey data from the General Social Survey and the American National Election Studies combined with state-level measures of need such as Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, Temporary Assistance for Needy Families, the U.S. Census Bureau’s annual Poverty Report and the HNI.
According to the Pew Research Center, public trust in government is at historic lows. Only 18 percent of Americans today say they can trust the government in Washington to do what is right either “just about always” (3 percent) or “most of the time” (15 percent). Studies such as the U.S. Trust Study of High Net Worth Philanthropy series, conducted by the Lilly Family School of Philanthropy, have consistently found that Americans have the most confidence in individuals and nonprofits to solve societal problems, as opposed to federal or state governments.
“There are several potential explanations for a greater dependence on The Salvation Army in states with lower opinions and attitudes about trusting the federal government. One potential explanation is that government welfare programs may be under-provided in low-trust states, prompting people in need to turn to other sources of help,” said Una Osili, Ph.D., associate dean for research and international programs at the Lilly Family School of Philanthropy. “Another possibility is that individuals in those states may be facing barriers or prefer to receive services from community organizations and nonprofits instead.”
In addition to looking at data on trust in government, the research team explored other state-level attitudes that might influence the provision and utilization of services, including opinions about federal government spending levels on programs such as Social Security and welfare. The results were similar to the findings on the relationship between trust and the HNI. In states where residents prefer that the government spend less on specific programs or policies such as Social Security and welfare, there is a higher level of need, as measured by the HNI. In such states, residents are more likely to seek The Salvation Army’s services to meet basic human needs.
“This new way of looking at how trust in government influences the way people get help fighting poverty underscores the importance of government and charities working hand in hand,” said Lt. Col. Ward Matthews, The Salvation Army’s national community relations and development secretary. “It’s also a wake-up call for nonprofits who rely on the generosity of the American people to meet human need. If trust in government continues to decline, our role will be increasingly important in meeting the daily needs of our fellow Americans.”
The HNI is the first multidimensional measure of human need based on objective data from a nonprofit on the front lines of providing social services. It serves as a powerful tool to track need with different indicators and less lag time than conventional government data.
About The Salvation Army
The Salvation Army, established in London in 1865, has been supporting those in need in His name without discrimination for more than 135 years in the United States. About 25 million Americans receive assistance from The Salvation Army each year through a range of social services: food for the hungry, relief for disaster victims, assistance for the disabled, outreach to the elderly and ill, clothing and shelter to the homeless, and opportunities for underprivileged children. 82 cents of every dollar donated to The Salvation Army are used to support those services in 5,000 communities nationwide. The Salvation Army tracks the level of need across the country with the Human Needs Index (HumanNeedsIndex.org). For more information, go to salvationarmyusa.org or follow on Twitter @SalvationArmyUS.
About the Indiana University Lilly Family School of Philanthropy
The Lilly Family School of Philanthropy at IUPUI is dedicated to improving philanthropy to improve the world by training and empowering students and professionals to be innovators and leaders who create positive and lasting change. The school offers a comprehensive approach to philanthropy through its academic, research and international programs and through The Fund Raising School, Lake Institute on Faith & Giving, the Mays Family Institute on Diverse Philanthropy and the Women’s Philanthropy Institute. Follow us on Twitter @IUPhilanthropy and “Like” us on Facebook.