Knowledgebase

National Overview: Poverty


Quick Facts: A Nationwide Perspective

According to Poverty in the United States, 2008:

  • In 2008, more than 1 in eight Americans were poor.
  • Nineteen percent of children live in poverty.
  • The poverty rate among black children is three times higher than that of white children.
  • Poverty rates are higher for unmarried female headed families than for married couple families.
  • In 2008, New Mexico, Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Kentucky, West Virginia and the District of Columbia each had more than 16% of its population living in poverty.

 

According to Kids Count Data Center:

  • In 2012: 16,397,000 or 23% of children were living in poverty.
  • Thirty-five percent of children were living in a single-parent home.

 

Local Needs?

  • Organize a food drive
  • Share resume building skills with someone looking for a job
  • Offer to help someone with home repairs
  • Volunteer at a free health clinic for those who do not have insurance
  • Become a mentor or tutor
  • Volunteer to teach a financial literacy course
  • Volunteer at a homeless shelter

Other Resources

 


Added 05/12/2010 by asblackwood, Modified 09/03/2015 by rhinehartj

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