New Self-Sufficiency Simulator Reveals the True Cost of Living in Ohio

CINCINNATI (March 12, 2025) — The Women’s Fund of the Greater Cincinnati Foundation is unveiling a new Self-Sufficiency Simulator—a powerful tool designed to show what it truly takes to afford basic necessities like housing, food, childcare, healthcare and transportation in every county across Ohio.

Unlike traditional poverty measures, the Self-Sufficiency Standard calculates the real income families need to meet basic expenses without public assistance, factoring in local costs and family composition. This tool will be invaluable for nonprofits, employers, advocates, and community leaders working to improve economic mobility.

“Our mission is to ensure that women in Greater Cincinnati can support themselves and their families,” said Camilla Worrell, executive director of the Women’s Fund. “The Self-Sufficiency Simulator helps people understand how much money they really need to live independently. It’s designed for anyone—from individuals planning their finances to employers setting fair wages, to organizations making a case for better community support. We hope this tool sparks a shared effort to create a stronger, more self-sufficient community for everyone.”

“Data-driven decision-making is essential for crafting effective policies and programs,” explained Dr. Travis Speice, applied research director at the Women’s Fund. “The Self-Sufficiency Simulator provides clear, localized data that can guide employers, nonprofits and community leaders in making informed choices that promote economic stability and opportunity.”

To showcase the tool and its applications, the Women’s Fund is hosting a webinar on Thursday, March 13 at noon, featuring a live demo and an expert panel discussion on how self-sufficiency data can inform wage policies, workforce development and advocacy efforts.

The Self-Sufficiency Simulator is available for public use, offering insights that can help drive meaningful change across sectors at https://www.gcfdn.org/womensfund/self-sufficiency-simulator/

To register for the webinar, visit cincinnatiwomensfund.org.

###

About Women’s Fund of Greater Cincinnati Foundation
The Women’s Fund is designing a community where all women can participate, prosper, and reach their full potential. Through research, advocacy, and strategic initiatives, we are addressing systemic issues to create a more equitable future.

Media Contact
Felicity Tao
Senior Vice President, Marketing & Technology, Greater Cincinnati Foundation
513-768-6132
felicity.tao@gcfdn.org