Anyone who has ever paid a monthly rent in Arlington knows that the cost of living here is much higher than other parts of Virginia. Yet the federal government uses a one-size fits all formula for determining poverty. That means that an Arlington family of four making $22,000 or more would not be counted in poverty statistics even though the median household income in Arlington is $102,000.

"We are currently undercounting the number of poor people in Arlington," said Robert Ruiz, an urban planner for the county government. "The way we do it now, we are only picking up the desperately poor."

That may change in the coming year, as Del. David Englin (D-45) works with a newly created task force appointed earlier this month to reduce poverty in Virginia. Democratic Gov. Tim Kaine appointed Englin to the task force during a May 7 summit on the issue of poverty. Englin will chair a subcommittee of the task force focused on methods to define and measure poverty, and he will serve on the task force’s workforce training and education work group.

"Rethinking how we define and measure poverty is a critical overarching issue that will affect how we focus resources and whether we are actually making a difference in people’s lives," said Englin. "So I’m particularly excited for the opportunity to chair that part of the effort."

KAINE’S TASK FORCE was announced during a summit in Richmond earlier this month, with Secretary of Health and Human Resources Marilyn Tavenner and Richmond attorney Robert Grey named as co-chairs. The governor asked task force members to identify challenges and opportunities to lift children and families out of poverty — everything from asset development to workforce training. At the conclusion of its research, the panel will make short-term and long-term policy recommendations

"Helping Virginians lift themselves out of poverty will not be easy or quick, but it is imperative that we find ways to protect children in poverty and provide economic opportunity for all Virginians," Kaine said in a written statement. "With the current economic challenges we face, the work of the taskforce is even more urgent, and I eagerly anticipate positive results."

Although current data shows that about 6 percent of Arlington residents live in poverty, county officials say that statistic does not reflect the true amount of need. If the higher standard of living were taken into account, they say, more people would be eligible for assistance through community development block grants. That means that Englin’s work with the task force could eventually steer more federal money to Arlington by changing the funding formulas used by the Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources.

"More people would qualify for programs if the cost of living was taken into account," said Jane Eboch, community development coordinator for the county’s housing division. "It costs so much to live here that people are stretched much further than in other jurisdictions."

IN THE COUNTY’S school system, administrators have created a number of sliding scales that have been designed to adapt to the cost of living in the county. That way, they can raise the income thresholds for programs like free-and-reduced lunch, summer school and preschool in a way that will allow more participation than merely using the federal poverty standard. But even then, school officials say, poverty is more widespread than the statistics indicate.

"Some students don’t report that they are in need," said School Board chairwoman Libby Garvey. "Especially at the high school level."

In announcing the task force, Kaine expressed a concern that living in poverty can lead to poor nutrition during infancy, increased risk for academic failure in school age children, poor overall health in adults and decreased access to prescription medication for seniors. The governor said he intends to hold regional community meetings — including one being planned for Northern Virginia — in partnership with the Family and Children's Trust Fund of Virginia. At the conclusion of its research, the task force will make short-term and long-term policy recommendations in its assigned areas.

"We're reaching out to a diverse group of people to identify solutions and resources that work in Virginia," said Tavenner in a written statement. "What we're all committed to is making sure that our recommendations result in solid policy proposals for state lawmakers to consider."