Poverty

Poverty thresholds are determined by the US government, and vary according to the size of a family, and ages of the members. In 2010, the poverty threshold—known more commonly as the poverty line—for an individual was $11,139. For two people, the weighted average threshold was $14,218. Three people: $17,374; Four people: $22,314; Five people: $26,439; Six people: $29,897;Seven people: $34,009; Eight people: $37,934; Nine or more: $45,220.

In 2010, 46.2 million people lived in Poverty USA, up from 43.6 million in 2009. That’s means the poverty rate for 2010 was 15.1%, up from 14.3% in 2009.

2010 marked the fourth consecutive annual increase in the number of people living in poverty. The poverty rate, or percentage of the overall population living in poverty, has steadily increased as well, up to 15.1% in 2010 from 12.5% in 2007.  The number of people living in poverty in 2010 (46.2 million) is the largest number seen in the 52 years for which poverty estimates have been published.

Poverty does not strike all demographics equally. For example, in 2010, 21.7% of men lived in Poverty USA, but 24.1% of women. Along the same lines, the poverty rate for married couples in 2010 was only 6.2%–but the poverty rate for single-parent families with no wife present was up to 15.8%, and for single-parent families with no husband present over 31%.

Between 2009 and 2010, the poverty rate for people living with a disability rose from 25% (in 2009) to 27.9% (in 2010). That’s 4.2 million people living with a disability—in poverty.

In 2010, 22% of all children lived in Poverty USA—that’s over 1 in every 5 children.  In 2009, the National Center on Family Homelessness analyzed state-level data and found that nationwide, 1.5 million children experience homelessness in a year.

In the North Country, Franklin County's poverty rate is 14.4%.  In St. Lawrence County it is 16.9%.  In Clinton County it is 13.3%.

Thinking about the poor is something our government shies away from.  Doing something about the poor is something that we have put on auto-pilot:  Food Stamps, Social Service Assistance, (also known as Welfare), and other public assistance programs.

16.4 Million children living in the United States of America are poor.

It is not just the current state of the economy.  The real problem is how we feel about the poor and giving to them from the surplus.  And, there is a lot of surplus.

16.4 million kids in the United States of America are poor.  If only we had the will to change this.