The state in which I live: Michigan Average
Children represent a disproportionate share of the poor in the
United States; they are 24 percent of the total population, but 36 percent of
the poor population. In 2010, 16.4 million children, or 22.0 percent, were
poor. The poverty rate for children also varies substantially by race and
Hispanic origin, as shown in the table below[4].
|
Children
Under 18 Living in Poverty, 2010
|
||
|
Category
|
Number (in thousands)
|
Percent
|
|
All children under 18
|
16, 401
|
22.0
|
|
White only, non-Hispanic
|
5,002
|
12.4
|
|
Black
|
4,817
|
38.2
|
|
Hispanic
|
6,110
|
35.0
|
|
Asian
|
547
|
13.6
|
SOURCE: U.S. Bureau of the Census, Income, Poverty, and
Health Insurance Coverage in the United States: 2010, Report P60, n. 238,
Table B-2, pp. 68-73.
Lansing, Michigan: 34.4%
State: 22.1%
The Detroit area is where I grew up. With a population of
just over 700,000, 54 percent of Detroit children, 100,000 are officially living
in poverty. The federal “poverty level”—a miserable $22,314 per year for a
family of four—is so inadequate for modern life that Kids Count also provides
the statistics for 150 percent, 200 percent and 250 percent of the poverty
level, which still means an inability to meet basic needs. In fact, the
official federal poverty threshold is only 30 percent of the national median
household income, whereas in 1960, it was nearly 50 percent. When these more
realistic numbers are taken into account, then an overwhelming majority—71
percent—of Detroit children are poor, that is living at or below 150 percent of
the federal poverty line. The youngest children, ages 0 to 5, are the most
affected, with a full 58 percent living in families below the poverty line.
Reference (1)
http://apps.detnews.com/apps/history/index.php?id=131#ixzz22209nQpf
KIDS COUNT Detroit (here)
Children under age 18 make up nearly 48 percent of the
population of the world's least developed countries, compared with 21 percent
of the population of the world's industrialized nations. http://www.compassion.com/poverty/poverty.htm
http://www.unicef.org/sowc05/Flash/photoessays/english/E_2_poverty.html
It is hard to believe that in a country like the U.S., that poverty even exists. We hear of it all the time in less developed nations, but seem to ignore the statistics in developed nations. Hopefully these families are aware of services available to at least provide for the basic needs of their children. Do the schools in Michigan offer free meals to low income families? This would be a great incentive for these children to go to school, thus giving them the education to better their situations.
ReplyDeleteIt is astounding to see that the numbers of children living in poverty are so high (almost half of all children to the age of 18). This time of year in the United States we see many people holding fundraisers for food and clothing for families in need, however I wish people would be more willing to see that poverty is an ongoing issue, not just a seasonal need for children. The news is constantly running segments on Kids for Hunger, Toys for Tots and the Salvation Army Bell Ringers, however outside of the months of November and December you do not see the newscasters broadcasting stories as much about the needs of children in poverty. This needs to be an ongoing central issue to the people in the United States that not only in our country but in all countries innocent children are not having their basic needs met. We have learned that development is affected by socioeconomic status. The amount of stress the children are living in, including the parents, along with the opportunities and needs of young children all are effecting the key development years of children causing lifelong consequences. It is just so frustrating to know that so many people are in the ‘giving spirit’ around the holidays but fail to retain that gift of giving throughout the entire year.
ReplyDelete