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Poverty: We Can't Afford to Ignore It
- 1 in 7 residents, an estimated 144,336 (15%) Travis County residents were living in poverty in 2008, higher than the national poverty rate (13%);
- 1 in 5 children 47,723 (19%) children under the age of 18 in Travis County were living in poverty in 2008;
- 1 in 3 children raised in poverty remain in poverty as adults.
- Boys raised in poverty are twice as likely to be arrested and three times as likely to be incarcerated.
- Girls raised in poverty are five times as likely to bear a child out of wedlock prior to the age of 21.
- Texas has the fastest growing child population in the country and the Central Texas child population is growing at twice the state rate.
- The cost of living in the Austin area is significantly higher than the recognized "poverty level" -- families need incomes 2-3 times greater than the Federal poverty guidelines ($21, 200 for a family of 4) to be able to afford basic monthly expenses;
- 84% of Travis County families living in poverty did not receive any type of cash assistance and 72% of families in poverty did not receive food stamps in 2008;
- In Texas childhood poverty costs $57.5 billion dollars annually.
Take Action Now
Donate your time and money to local organizations dedicated to providing basic needs and services to people affected by poverty in Central Texas, learn how at:
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