The census bureau put out information Tuesday showing that 46.2 million Americans are officially living in poverty – the highest number since the Census bureau began tracking poverty 52 years ago.
The nation’s official poverty rate in 2010 was 15.1 percent, up from 14.3 percent in 2009 ─the third consecutive annual increase in the poverty rate. The poverty rate increased for children younger than 18 from 20.7 percent in 2009 to 22.0 percent in 2010.
In addition, real median household incomes declined by 2.3 percent in 2010 from the previous year, to $49,400.
“The poverty data, as shocking as it is, is no surprise to those helping to feed their neighbors at food pantries and soup kitchens. Unemployment and hunger are the real crisis facing our communities that our state and national politicians need to address. FDR put Americans back to work during the Great Depression with a public works program. Rather than yet another around of tax cuts, Congress and the State should be investing dollars in directly providing paychecks to the 25 million plus Americans without a job,” said Mark Dunlea, Executive Director of the Hunger Action Network of NYS.
The Growing Problem of Income Inequality is the theme of Hunger Action’s annual membership meeting in Albany on Monday September 19 at Westminster Presbyterian Church.
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For More Information Visit:
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http://www.hungeractionnys.org
