• 
• 
• 
  • Chicago
  • Twin Cities
  • Greater New York
  • North Texas
  • Pacific Northwest
  • Southern California
  • National Capital Area
  • West Virginia (Appalachia)
• 
• 
  • Mentoring/Tutoring
  • School Tools
  • Volunteer
  • Advocate
  • MOVE - Youth Pages
  • Youth Empowerment Program
  • U.S. Mission Trips
  • Targeting Hope
  • Disaster Response
  • Upcoming Events
• 
• 
  • By U.S. Location
  • Where Most Needed
  • Disaster in the U.S.
  • Feed U.S. Families
  • Youth Empowerment Program
  • Training/Capacity Building
  • Rural Development
  • Distribution Centers
• 
• 
• 

U.S. Poverty Rate at Highest Level Since 1993

U.S. Child Poverty Rate Also Increases

Help a U.S. child in poverty now. Your gift will help to provide essentials like food, clothing, and school supplies to U.S. children and families in need.

 

 

 

A record 46.2 million Americans lived in poverty in 2010, the highest number since the Census Bureau began keeping track more than a half-century ago, according to a new report by the federal agency.

The poverty ranks grew by 2.6 million people – more than one-third of them children under age 18 – in the U.S. last year. Overall, nearly 1 in 7 people live in poverty. The poverty rate of 15.1 percent is the highest since 1993.

"It's even worse for children. More children are struggling," said Romanita Hairston, vice president of U.S. Programs for World Vision. She noted that the child poverty rate climbed to 22 percent, up from 20.7 percent a year earlier.

"My heart goes out to families experiencing a greater level of poverty and vulnerability," Hairston said. "I'm deeply saddened, but not surprised, by the report. The downturn in the economy has a direct impact on families, given that so many families are the working poor."

The federal poverty level is income of $22,314 or less for a family of four.

Research clearly points to poverty as the single greatest threat to the well-being of children, affecting their learning abilities and contributing to social, emotional, and behavioral problems.

In response, Hairston said World Vision continues to serve vulnerable youth through programs that promote leadership and empowerment, provide capacity-building expertise to community organizations that serve youth, and distribute school supplies and clothing.

For children whose parents can barely afford rent and groceries, new school supplies are simply a luxury. To help level the playing field for those students as the school year starts, World Vision is providing new backpacks filled with school supplies to approximately 25,000 children across the country. Thousands more children are on backpack waiting lists.

The Census Bureau report also showed that 16.3 percent of Americans lacked health insurance in 2010, a rate statistically unchanged from the previous year. About 15 percent of children in poverty are uninsured, compared to nearly 10 percent of children overall.

 

Help Now

Help a U.S. child in poverty now. Your gift will help to provide essentials like food, clothing, and school supplies to U.S. children and families in need.