RSS

Living on the Edge

EileenQ

Eileen Quigley

Posted Jul. 22, 2008
Tagged: , , , ,

Do you feel that you are living on the edge financially? I sure hope not, but if you do, you’re not alone.

Today, Qvisory is releasing a report that we commissioned, Young People: Living on the Edge. The results show that young people are facing tremendous and growing financial stress. Financial concerns top the list of problems facing young adults today, at 55 percent, an 11-point jump over the past year.

In addition, young adults face a growing credit crisis:

  • Three out of four young people report having gone deeper in debt over the past year.
  • More than half of young adults say they are only paying their minimum monthly amount on their credit card.
  • Nearly one in five (19%) report having had their phone, cable, or utilities cut off, and more than one in seven (15%) have faced repossession or had their credit card cancelled due to non-payment.
  • One in three young people who owe money on a credit card owe more than $10,000 overall.
  • 28% of all young adults are carrying medical debt.
  • More than half of all young people have gone without health insurance at some point in the past five years – including 75% of those who are now carrying medical debt.

Watch a presentation by Anna Greenberg who conducted the research for Qvisory.

[youtube: ]

Our findings come during what seems to be a rising tide of corroborating evidence. The Rockefeller Foundation, which partially funds Qvisory, released similar data last week. And recent reports by Demos and the Center for American Progress  also highlight the significant challenges that young people face today.

Another crucial finding from our survey is that only 32% of respondents think the leadership in Washington, DC represents their interests well, in contrast to their views about how well corporations (79%), veterans (52%), and seniors (53%) are represented. We know that advocating on behalf of young adults is desperately needed to help solve these problems, and that’s why we’re here.

I served as Qvisory's Executive Director from March 2007 until October 2008.

I have a broad range of experience managing for-profit and 501(c)(3) and 501(c)(4) nonprofit businesses. From 2003 – 2006, I ran my own consulting business; my work included serving as Chief of Staff to the Chairman of the Board of Air America Radio. From 1997 to 2003, I was a General Manager at RealNetworks, Inc., where I ran the company’s Nonprofit Affairs division and the RealNetworks Foundation. While at Real, I created a business dedicated to providing high-quality web, streaming media, and strategic consulting services to progressive nonprofit organizations. From 1988 to 1996, I ran two Seattle-based nonprofit organizations: the Municipal League of King County and The New Pacific Publishing Association. Prior to that, I worked in journalism for the Los Angeles Times, the National Journal, and NBC News.

I have a Master of Science in Journalism from Columbia University and a BA in Literature from Yale University.

I live in Seattle with my husband and two children. See EileenQ's other posts and profile.

Qvisory's educational content is supported in part by the Qvisory Education Fund.

Got an opinion? Speak out on news and issues. Submit a blog post or video to Qvisory.

1 Comment

Buster
08/03/08 01:58 PM

I seem to fit several catagories that Qvisory doesn't care for! I'm a senior, I'm a veteran, I have excellent health insurance, and I'm retired, on Social Security and a Civil Service pension. Please don't hold it against me; I'm also a caring human being!

As a senior, I'm glad to be alive, and I am well aware that the future of my country, and the world, depends on today's under-thirty generation. As a veteran, I am appalled at the way this government has thumbed its nose at the world! As a pensioner, I worry about how much longer I'll be able to afford my home.

I am, I fear, one of those oddities: an old-school FDR New Deal liberal, who still believes in the inherent good in man. Silly me...

Comment on this

To create a hyperlink, simply type the URL.

YouTube video links like http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=abCxyZ will automatically be converted to embed the actual video in your comment.

(Your name will be displayed next to your comment.)

(Your email will not be shown, or shared.)


Yes, I'd like to receive emails from Qvisory with information about the organization’s activities and advocacy campaigns.

(optional)


Log in or Register (Not required to submit your comment.)

Spread the word

Get Involved

Get updates with tips, tools, and action alerts on money, work, and health.

Email

Take action. Make change in the corridors of power.

Take control. Manage your life and reach your goals.

Got an opinion? Speak out on news and issues. Submit a blog post or video to Qvisory.

 

Also on Tools for Life

All Posts

Other Posts

Related Posts - Recent Posts