Recession Raises Poverty Rate to a 15-Year High
The article that I have chosen is focused on how the recession has effected our nation's poverty level. It also describes the statistics on poverty and what can effect the calculation of who falls into the poverty category. It is very surprising that our nation is at the highest poverty level that it has been for 15 years, the worst economic crisis since the Great Depression.
The article also states that the reason that the levels may not be higher is due to the fact that people are sharing their living space with others when times have gotten hard. Poverty climbed to 14.3% in 2009 and the article states that the highest rise was for children. Many things are assisting those in need like the stimulus bill given last year. However, this article states that the government may be changing how they determine if someone is in the poverty category. For example, food stamps and tax credits are not currently included in the calculation. With these things, which can provide at least hundreds more in extra income, may change whether someone falls above or below the poverty line which can then effect whether some qualify for Medicaid or even free school lunches for their children. It states that the federal government will issue an alternate way of calculating the poverty line next year.
This article is interesting to read to see how much the recession has effected the United States. It may not seem like it when you go, shop and see many people out but the statistics show that it has strongly impacted us. These numbers that have been collected by the Census Bureau prove how many Americans are struggling with their finances today.
