On August 29, 2006, the U.S. Census Bureau released a report: “Income, Poverty and Health Insurance Coverage in the United States: 2005”. The report found that, while overall income increased nationwide, the number and rate (officially 37 million people, 12.6 percent) of people living in poverty stayed statistically similar between 2004 and 2005. The poverty rate for children under 18 also did not increase but remained steady at 17.6%. The rate of poverty among children remains higher than the 18-64 year old age group as well as those aged 65 and older and represents nearly 35% of all people in poverty. Perhaps one of the greatest concerns is that 43.1% of those in poverty are living in deep poverty, with incomes below fifty percent of the poverty line. Every day these individuals are forced to ignore health problems and forego heat or even food because their incomes can’t cover the basic necessities.

To see the report, visit http://www.census.gov/prod/2006pubs/p60-231.pdf

Over and over again, research has shown that households living in poverty experience a much higher rate of hunger than those with incomes above the poverty line. While this report did not examine hunger in the United States in 2005, one such report is expected later this fall. The 2004 report by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) found that from 1999-2004, the number of households in America living with hunger rose 43% to 13.5 million households and over 38 million people.

To read the 2004 USDA report, visit http://www.ers.usda.gov/publications/err11/

Local, state and federal governments have many programs in place that are meant to help low-income individuals rise out of poverty. These programs include Food Stamps, Temporary Aid for Needy Families (TANF), the Women, Infants and Children program or WIC and Low-income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP).