Human Needs IndexThe Human Needs Index (HNI) is a new multidimensional measure of poverty in the United States from the nonprofit perspective, based on objective data from a nonprofit organization on the front lines of providing social services. The seven variables chosen were determined through validation and testing to be the most representative of the basic needs people have for survival.The Index: * A standardized index, the HNI employed empirical evidence, statistical methodologies and expert consultation. * More than 450 combinations of 230 organizational service variables were tested at the national, regional and state levels. * Principal Component Analysis was used to build the HNI because it allowed for both intuitive variable selection and statistical confirmation of individual variables’ utility in the overall model. Visualizing the Data: * The scale of the HNI begins at 0 – indicating a minimum level of need. * The HNI can be viewed at the national level and at individual state levels. * On the line chart: When comparing a state HNI with the national HNI over time, the most important elements to observe are whether the direction of the state line matches the national, and whether the angle of the line is sharper (indicating a greater rate of increased need). * The seven variables are combined to produce a single HNI score. When viewing both the line chart and the map, the raw numbers for the individual variables can be observed.Salvation ArmySA_eee83f80-ba71-11e5-a863-db724630016fThe Salvation Army operates more than 7,500 centers in communities across the United States, each of which collects high-quality data on a wide variety of poverty-related social services.Lilly Family School of PhilanthropyLFSP_eee84138-ba71-11e5-a863-db724630016fTo compile the Human Needs Index, researchers at the Indiana University Lilly Family School of Philanthropy, together with Salvation Army staff, reviewed 230 kinds of data to select the seven service categories that the HNI comprises.Indiana University_eee84214-ba71-11e5-a863-db724630016fTo provide poverty-related social services_eee842b4-ba71-11e5-a863-db724630016fMealsProvide meals_eee84390-ba71-11e5-a863-db724630016f1Meals provided -- served through a Salvation Army or other facility_eee8443a-ba71-11e5-a863-db724630016fGroceriesProvide groceries_eee8452a-ba71-11e5-a863-db724630016f2Groceries provided -- food items provided by voucher or distributed through a food pantry or food bank_eee84688-ba71-11e5-a863-db724630016fHousingProvide rent or mortgage assistance payments_eee84764-ba71-11e5-a863-db724630016f3Housing assistance -- the number of rent or mortgage assistance payments to establish or maintain an individual or family in their own home_eee8480e-ba71-11e5-a863-db724630016fFurnitureProvide furniture_eee84890-ba71-11e5-a863-db724630016f4Furniture provided -- the number of furniture-order providers_eee8493a-ba71-11e5-a863-db724630016fMedicines_eee84ff2-ba71-11e5-a863-db724630016f5Medical assistance -- assistance with prescription medicines and volunteers/hours served in medically related rolesAssistanceProvide assistance with prescription medicines_eee850b0-ba71-11e5-a863-db724630016f5.1VolunteersProvide volunteer hours served in medically related roles_eee850b1-ba71-11e5-a863-db724630016f5.2Energy_eee850b2-ba71-11e5-a863-db724630016f6Energy assistance -- assistance with energy bills and volunteers/hours served in energy-related rolesBillsProvide assistance with energy bills_eee850b3-ba71-11e5-a863-db724630016f6.1VolunteersProvide volunteer hours served in energy-related roles_eee850b4-ba71-11e5-a863-db724630016f6.22016-01-13http://humanneedsindex.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/Fact-Sheet.pdfOwenAmburOwen.Ambur@verizon.net