Charlotte Jewish News, February 2025

By Howard Olshansky, JFS Executive Director

A recent study conducted by the Tulane University Grant Center for the American Jewish Experience, in collaboration with Rosov Consulting, highlights that a significant portion of the American Jewish population faces economic hardship. The study, titled “On the Edge: Voices of Economic Vulnerability in U.S. Jewish Communities,” was commissioned by The Harry and Jeanette Weinberg Foundation. Using a mixed-methods approach, the study gathered data from a survey of 1,958 respondents, in-depth interviews with 175 participants, and conversations with 38 human service professionals. The Network for Jewish Human Service Agencies, the national membership organization for Jewish Family Service organizations, played a key role in recruiting participants for the study.

The findings challenge the myth that poverty isn’t a Jewish issue. Like households across the United States, Jewish households with children, individuals with disabilities or chronic health issues, and single parents are more likely to experience financial vulnerabilities.

Others within the Jewish community also face economic challenges. Orthodox households, people of color, LGBTQ+ individuals, and Russian-speaking Jews are particularly vulnerable.

The study defines economic vulnerability as financial insecurity or instability. According to the findings, situational vulnerability affects 61% of respondents who are currently or recently struggling. This vulnerability is often triggered by unexpected life events such as job loss, health crises, or family dissolution. Other contributing factors include divorce, incarceration, substance abuse, and caregiving responsibilities. In fact, 74% of respondents reported experiencing one or more of these events.

At JFS, these findings come as no surprise. While we lack specific data about poverty in the Charlotte Jewish community, we know that many local families are struggling. Rising housing costs in the Charlotte area, coupled with national inflation and increasing day-to-day expenses, are taking a toll on vulnerable populations—especially single parents and those more likely to be unemployed.

One group JFS sees frequently is older adults. Many seniors living on fixed incomes are just barely getting by. The numbers tell the story: the average monthly Social Security income in North Carolina is approximately $1,800. Meanwhile, the average rent for a one-bedroom apartment in Charlotte is $1,400, not including utilities. Add food, healthcare costs, transportation, and other essentials, and expenses far exceed income.

This issue has worsened over the past few years as rents in Charlotte have risen. Seniors receiving case management services at JFS called their case managers in a panic after receiving notices that their rents were increasing by $200-$400. Without additional support, many faced eviction and homelessness. Thanks to philanthropic support, JFS created a fund to help supplement rent increases for Jewish seniors at risk of losing their homes.

However, seniors are not the only members of our community who are struggling to make ends meet. Many working families, particularly those with a single income, are also under financial strain. According to the Charlotte Business Journal, the annual salary required to live comfortably in Charlotte is $101,388, with $50,700 needed just for basic expenses. This equates to $24.38 per hour for one individual to cover essentials. By comparison, the average salary for a teacher in Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools is $46,715—or $22.60 per hour.

At JFS, we see many individuals struggling with basic finances and facing additional challenges that impact their ability to manage. These may include mental health issues, a child with a disability, or an aging parent in need of care. Services like the JFS food pantry and case management are critical in connecting clients with the resources they need. For instance, using the food pantry might allow a senior to purchase medications instead of groceries, or help a family pay their utility bill. Case management services may assist with budgeting or connect clients to caregiving support, transportation resources, credit counseling programs, or government-funded housing and utility assistance programs.

Most importantly, the face of poverty doesn’t always look the way we expect. It’s not confined to one specific area of Charlotte. While lower-income neighborhoods certainly face greater challenges, financial hardship can affect individuals and families in any zip code. If you’ve donated food to the JFS Food Pantry or made a financial contribution, you have been helping someone in need, wherever they may live.

Charlotte Jewish News, February 2025

By Rachel Green, MSW, LCSW, JFS Director of Programs and Services

As a community, we all have dreams for our children and the young people in our lives. We envision them growing up to be kind, confident, and successful— finding their place in the world with the support of healthy relationships. What kind of partner do you hope they find? What kind of partner do you hope they become?

It’s easy to picture them excelling in school or sports. We might even imagine dates to prom or fun college romances. But it can be harder to envision them navigating the complexities of romantic relationships. Yet, as we reflect on what we want for our children, we must also consider our critical responsibility to guide them through the complicated—and potentially harmful—world of dating and relationships. By learning about teen dating violence and how to talk to the children in our lives about consent and healthy relationships, we can empower them to grow into the thriving adults we hope they will become.

Understanding Teen Dating Violence

February is National Teen Dating Violence Awareness and Prevention Month (TDVAM), and the reality is that teen dating violence is more common than many of us would like to admit. According to Loveisrespect. org, one in three U.S. teens will experience physical, sexual, or emotional abuse from someone they’re in a relationship with before becoming adults. Nearly half (43%) of U.S. college women report experiencing violent or abusive dating behaviors.

TDVAM emphasizes that prevention starts with awareness. By understanding the warning signs of teen dating violence, we can provide our children with the tools they need to form healthy relationships.

When we think of teen dating violence, we may picture physi-

cal abuse or yelling. While these are forms of abuse, teen dating violence also includes emotional abuse, controlling behaviors, intimidation, stalking, and more. When talking to teens, it’s important to use clear and relatable language so that they can identify red flags.

Forms of Teen Dating Violence

• Emotional abuse: Controlling behaviors, name-calling, humiliation, threats to ruin a reputation or spread rumors, or threats to disclose sensitive information.
• Intimidation: Physical threats to the teen, their friends, family, or loved ones.
• nline stalking: Monitoring online accounts, demanding social media logins, checking private messages, or restricting private social media usage.
• Online intimidation: Threatening to post sensitive material, spreading rumors, or making other harmful online threats.
• Isolation: Efforts to separate the teen from friends and family.
• Power and control: Dictating what the teen wears, who they see, what activities they participate in, or how they spend their time.
• Physical abuse: Hitting, slapping, shoving, or any form of physical harm. While this is often the most obvious form of abuse, teens may hesitate to speak up due to fear or shame.
• Stalking: Repeated, unwanted attention or contact that causes fear or safety concerns. This may occur in person or online.
• Sexual violence: Any unwanted sexual act without consent. Teens may not fully understand what constitutes consent, making it crucial to have these conversations early.

Teaching Consent

If we recognize the red flags of unhealthy relationships, how do we teach our children the skills to build healthy ones? One answer is to teach the concept of consent.

Consent is not just about sexual activity—it is the foundation of any healthy relationship. According to Loveisrespect.org, “Consent is an ongoing mutual agreement between partners about what they want to experience.”

The familiar phrase “no means no” oversimplifies the complexities of mutual decision-making and respect. As Loveisrespect. org explains, consent is not reactive but proactive. It is a shared expression of comfort and desire within a relationship.

We can start conversations about consent with our teens by asking: What do you want in a relationship? What feels safe or unsafe to you? What have you observed in movies, shows, or real life that reflects healthy or unhealthy relationships?

Teaching consent isn’t just for teens; it’s something we can instill in children from a young age. Encourage them to ask permission before touching someone, respect others’ boundaries, and understand the importance of saying “no” when something doesn’t feel right. These lessons will prepare them to navigate relationships throughout their lives.

Building a Better Future

By helping our children envision relationships built on mutual respect, safety, and consent, we can work toward the prevention of teen dating violence. Let’s equip young people with the tools they need to thrive and create a future filled with healthy, meaningful relationships.