NY poverty rate tops national average

Published: Thursday, March 18, 2010

By Jessica M. Pasko
The Record

TROY — Close to 14 percent of New Yorkers live in poverty, the highest rate among Northeastern states, according to a new report released by the New York State Community Action Association.

More than 2.6 million New Yorkers live in poverty, including 852,000 children. That makes for a poverty rate of 13.8 percent, slightly higher than the national rate of 13.2 percent. The city of Buffalo was ranked as the third poorest city in the U.S., with close to 30 percent of the population there living in property. The poverty rate is defined as the percentage of the population living in households below or at the federal poverty line.

NYSCAA, which represents 52 communication action committees across the state, released the annual New York State Poverty Report Wednesday. The report is based on the latest poverty data available from the U.S. Census, covering 2006-2008, and doesn’t reflect the current economic crisis. Data from 2000 had to be used for some counties, including Hamilton and Schuyler.

“The recession has hit all New Yorkers hard and while parts of the economy are beginning to recover, we still have more families struggling to keep their head above water every day,” said NYSCAA CEO Denise Harlow.

A family of three would have to make $18,310 or less to be considered living under the poverty line, based on the federal guidelines. A family of four would need to make less than $22,050 to be counted in the poverty rate according to those same guidelines.

“The current poverty levels are unacceptable and we know the number of families struggling is even greater, especially when a family of three making more than $18,310 is not considered poor and [is] therefore uncounted in the rates on poverty our report discusses.”

According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, poverty thresholds were originally developed in the 1960s based on then assumption that 30 percent of household income is spent on food costs. In today’s economy, that’s not always the case. The federal government sets the poverty line threshold across the board, regardless of the costs of living in a particular area.

“There is work being done statewide and nationally to redefine what poverty levels are set at,” said Harlow.

In the breakdown by county, Rensselaer County has a 10.1 percent poverty rate, compared to 12 percent in Albany County, 10.8 percent in Schenectady and just 6.9 percent in Saratoga County.

The city of Troy has a much higher poverty rate, with 21.4 percent or about 9,520 individuals living in poverty, including nearly 3,200 children.

New to the report this year is data highlighting the plight of the working poor and families headed by single women.

Nearly 50 percent of all families in poverty statewide are headed by single women with children, and 70 percent of Troy’s poor families are headed by single mothers.

The report also found that a major issue continues to be what’s called working poor – those employed but still living in poverty. Close to 28 percent of those living in poverty are employed, and the state’s unemployment rate reached nine percent in December.

Race continues to play a disproportionate role when it comes to poverty statistics, according to NYSACC. More than one in five black New Yorkers and one in four Hispanic residents live in poverty, as compared to one in 10 white residents.

New York State:

Total population: 19,428,881

Number/percent of individuals in poverty: 2,603,930/ 13.8 percent

Number/percent of children in poverty: 852,700/ 19.5 percent

Percent of senior citizens in poverty: 11.8 percent

Percent of poor who are employed: 27.5 percent

Rensselaer County:

Total population: 154,939

Number/percent of individuals in poverty: 15,158/ 10. 1 percent

Number/percent of children in poverty: 4,620/ 14 percent

Percent of senior citizens in poverty: 9.4 percent

Percent of poor who are employed: 33.4 percent

City of Troy:

Total population: 47,229

Number/percent of individuals living in poverty: 9,521/ 21.4 percent

Number/percent of children in poverty: 3,192/ 33.2 percent

Percent of senior citizens in poverty: 13.7 percent

Percent of poor who are employed: 32.6 percent

—Statistics from the New York State Community Action Association

Jessica M. Pasko can be reached at 270-1288 or by e-mail at jpasko@troyrecord.com.

Comments
The following are comments from the readers. In no way do they represent the view of troyrecord.com.

WellRed wrote on Mar 18, 2010 7:34 AM:

" Aint that something? And NY with the largest tax rates. Where is all the $$$ going? To the dirty politician and their friends and supporters, thats where. Thats one thing the article forgot to mention; NY has one of the most corrupt political systems in the nation too..right "up there" with Washington, DC. "




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