1 in 5 Children Live in Poverty in the U.S.

January 15, 2013

According to the American Community Survey conducted by the U.S. Census Bureau, an estimated 1.9 million people in Illinois were living below the federal poverty line last year. More than 260,000 are in Chicago alone. And many of these are children. It is estimated that nationwide, approximately 1 in 5 children live in poverty, according to a Census Bureau report.

Among the growing ranks of the poverty stricken are the working poor who hold minimum wage jobs, seniors living on fixed incomes, and those who lost their jobs due to the sluggish economy or an unexpected health issue. These people live day-to-day, desperately trying to make ends meet.

At Metropolitan Family Services, more than 80 percent of the clients we see live under the poverty line. That is, they have household incomes under $20,000. Last year, we helped 53,000 individuals in the city and surrounding suburbs with vital services they need, but otherwise couldn’t afford.

Our programs and services promote Education, Economic Stability, Emotional Wellness and Empowerment to give those in need a hand up. We know families are the heart of strong communities. That’s why our approach to meeting a client’s needs also involves the client’s family. Stronger individuals mean stronger families and stronger communities.