FOR RELEASE: September 16, 2014

CONTACT: Stephanie Niedringhaus, 202-347-9797 x224, sniedringhaus@networklobby.org

Washington D.C.: Today, the U.S. Census Bureau provided data showing that the state of poverty in the U.S. did not change significantly from 2012 to 2013 although there has been a slight improvement in the rate of persons in poverty for the first time since 2006. Overall, the poverty rate fell from 15% in 2012 to 14.5% in 2013, which means that 45.3 million of our neighbors remained below the poverty threshold of $23,834 for a family of four.

Noteworthy are the differences across races, ages and family structures. For example, we continue to see unconscionably high poverty levels among African Americans (27.2%) and Hispanics (23.5%), and especially among their children: 38.3% of African-American children and 30.4% of Hispanic children.

The report shows that 5.8% of families headed by a married couple are in poverty while 30.6% of female-headed households and 15.9% of households headed by a male are below the poverty threshold.

Overall, children continue to live in poverty to a greater degree than do adults. In 2013, 19.9% of our children were in poverty, down from 21.8% in 2012. There is minimal improvement, but far too many of our children are growing up without what they need to thrive. Too many are still unable to access sufficient healthy food, too many are living in shelters or on the streets, too many are still in inadequate schools.

NETWORK, A National Catholic Social Justice Lobby is glad to see some movement toward smaller numbers of people in our nation in poverty. However, we are anxious to take a much deeper look at who is in a better situation, who is holding steady, and for whom the situation has deteriorated. Until 100% of us live and thrive above the poverty line, our entire nation will be hurt.

Watch for more commentary and analysis over the coming days. We will continue to call for federal investments in programs that lift people out of poverty. The need is clear.

“In a world where there is so much wealth, so many resources to feed everyone, it is unfathomable that there are so many hungry children, that there are so many children without an education, so many poor persons. Poverty today is a cry.”

-Pope Francis, 6/7/13