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bobbyw24
09-11-2009, 05:27 AM
Poverty hits 1 in 8 Americans


Joseph Weber (Contact)

About 2.5 million Americans slipped below the poverty line as recession and layoffs hammered the economy last year, driving poverty to its highest level since 1998, the U.S. Census Bureau reported Thursday.

The annual survey showed that more than one in eight U.S. residents - 13.2 percent - are living on less than $10,991 for an individual - slightly more than $200 a week - or $22,025 for a family of four.

The report came as no surprise to those who work daily with the poor and homeless.

B.J. Iacino, public affairs director for the Colorado Coalition for the Homeless, said her organization has been stretched to the limit by the heightened demand for services. "We are definitely seeing dramatic increases in the numbers of people coming here for help, both for housing and for medical and mental health care," she said.

Barbara Droher Kline, president and chief executive officer of Lutheran Social Services of Northern California

http://washingtontimes.com/news/2009/sep/11/poverty-hits-1-in-8-americans/?feat=home_headlines