Poverty Data Day
Posted by Jeff Wiedner on Thursday, September 10, 2009
Today the U.S. Census Bureau released the first set of 2008 poverty data.
To raise awareness of poverty this country, Spotlight on Poverty and Opportunity organized a Twitter campaign [#PDD09] around the release of data.
We’re encouraging everyone to get involved by heading over to Spotlight and sending out a tweet or two in support. Let’s continue to get the word out about this.
It shouldn’t come as a surprise that the data doesn’t look good. Poverty levels have risen to 13.2%, which translates to roughly 40 million Americans. This has increased for two straight years while the median household income has declined by almost 4%. Check out the Census data for yourself.
Unfortunately, we’re all too familiar with this message.
Far too many families live in poverty and face food insecurity on a daily basis:
- 36.2 million Americans—including 12.4 million children—don’t have access to enough healthy food to thrive.
- Food insecurity exists in 11.1% of households.
- 18% of American children live in poverty, a higher percentage than any other age group.
Today’s Census numbers are a reminder that it will only get worse before it gets better. And that is why we must double our efforts to raise awareness about poverty, hunger and food insecurity.
Volunteer. Donate. And get tweeting.
September 10, 2009 | 0 comment(s) | Tags: census, poverty
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