WASHINGTON, DC – Today, the U.S. Census Bureau released new data showing that the number of children living in poverty has skyrocketed, reaching its highest rate in a decade. The Census report shows that in 2007, 13.3 million children were living in poverty.
This new data indicates that 18 percent of children living in the U.S. are in poverty, as compared to 17.4 percent in 2006. It is the highest percentage of child poverty since 1998, when it reached 18.9 percent. However, the national percentage of all Americans living in poverty has only increased from 12.3 to 12.5 percent of the total population, meaning that in 2007, 35.7% of all people living in poverty were children, a significant increase from 2006 numbers.
“Today’s figures show a stunning increase in the number of children living in poverty, a disturbing sign of what my lie ahead in 2008,” said Bruce Lesley, president of First Focus. “These 2007 figures do not take into account the last six months of a struggling economy, and as a result it is likely these numbers will be worse in 2008. Indeed, as unemployment rates continue to climb, home foreclosures skyrocket, and the costs of health insurance rises, the number of children living in poverty certainly will increase. Congress and the President must take notice of what is happening to our children, and provide families with the assistance they need. This means investing in successful, common sense measures such as an expansion of the Earned Income Tax Credit, the Child Tax Credit, and others.”
In addition, 2007 saw the number of children without health insurance fall from 2006, to 8.2 million children. This represents 11 percent of the child population, down from 11.7 in 2006.
“We are pleased to see the number of children fall from 2006, but with over eight million kids living without insurance, there is much yet to be accomplished,” Lesley added. “While this decline is a temporary victory for kids, we fear next year’s data will paint a worse picture for America’s children than ever before, as the effects of a sluggish economy will be coupled with the inability of Congress to pass renewal of the State Children’s Health Insurance Program over President Bush’s two vetoes.”
“Our future deserves better, and we must renew our investment in America’s children, so that all kids have the opportunity to achieve the American dream.”
Recently, First Focus published Children’s Budget 2008, a comprehensive analysis of the over 180 federally funded programs that are aimed at enhancing the well-being of our nation’s children, and how their appropriations levels have changed over the past five years. After adjusting for inflation, Children’s Budget 2008 finds that just one penny or one percent of every new, real non-defense dollar spent by the federal government has gone to children.
Related:
Report: Children’s Budget 2008