Census Releases 2009 Poverty Data
California’s Poverty Rate Skyrockets
How Can You Take Action?
September 17, 2010
Yesterday, the UnitedState’s Census Bureau released new data showing that the number of Americans living below the federal poverty line increased to the highest level in 35 years in 2009. 14 percent of all Americans are now living in poverty. According to the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, unemployment rates are expected to climb even higher in 2010 and 2011.
But the news was even worse for California. California’s official poverty rate is now 15.3 percent and 20 percent of all children in California are living in poverty. The California Budget Project (CBP) reports that the state’s poverty rate in 2009 was higher than it has been in the last 11 years. Click here to see poverty charts published by CBP.
Continued Public Investments Required to Reduce Poverty
The new poverty data and lingering double digit unemployment across the country should be a clear signal to national and state policymakers that increased public investment in safety net programs is essential. Because, as bad as the new poverty numbers are, they would have been far worse but for the federal stimulus funds and the existence of a state safety net for families.
Unfortunately, federal and state programs that have helped keep a roof over families head’s is under threat in both Washington and Sacramento. Governor Schwarzenegger and members of the Republican party continue to push for elimination of programs like CalWORKs, subsidized child care and drastic reductions in many health programs. Their proposals would eliminate 400,000 jobs and reject more than $5 billion in federal funds that gets spent in every corner of California.
There is a growing coalition of health and human services advocates who are working to prevent this from happening. Join us and other health and human services advocates on September 22nd in Sacramento, and every Wednesday until the budget is passed, to demand that law makers chose families over corporate tax loopholes.
Congress must realize that their first priority must be people, not deficits. Instead due to pressure to reduce federal deficits, Congress is failing to extend critical assistance for subsidized employment, unemployment insurance and is has already reduced nutritional assistance to pay for yet another round of business tax cuts.
A current example of the delay is the failure of Congress to extend the TANF Emergency Contingency Fund beyond the end of this September. These funds have paid for 80 percent of the increased cost of CalWORKs grants and have created 36,000 subsidized jobs for CalWORKs families. Without an extension CalWORKs families may face cuts to grants and families will lose their subsidized jobs. If that occurs it is reasonable to believe that the 2010 state poverty rate will be even higher.
According to a new report issued by the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities earlier this month, over 250,000 jobs will be lost if Congress fails to act. It makes no sense to shut down an effective jobs program and put more people out of work right now,” said LaDonna Pavetti, co-author of the Center’s report. “It’s the opposite of what the country needs.”
Take Action!
Call your Congressional Representative today to ask them to put people first, stop making cuts to food stamp benefits and quickly move to extend TANF ECF!
For more information, contact Mike Herald or Jessica Bartholow.