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46.2 Million Americans Living In Poverty, Highest Rate Since 1983
By
John Del Signore
Published Sep 13, 2011
Modified Sep 13, 2011
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By
John Del Signore
Published Sep 13, 2011
Modified Sep 13, 2011
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Today the Census Bureau released its report [pdf] on income, poverty and health insurance, and doggone it, would you believe these statistics are not specifically too good? According to the most recent census numbers from 2010, approximately 1 in 6 Americans are impoverished. That's 46.2 million people, up from 43.6 million in 2009—15.1 percent of the population were below the poverty line last year, the highest percentage since 1983. But hey, that was last year. We've still got more than three months left in 2011 to turn this thing around!
The downward spiral of the middle class also continues apace; median household income in the U.S. fell 2.3% in 2010 from a year ago, to $49,445. And the number of people lacking health insurance increased to 49.9 million last year, largely due to people getting laid off and losing their benefits. The Obama health care program won't start kicking in until 2014, so in the meantime anyone without health insurance who needs medical attention should go die politely, as the crowd roars.
The LA Times reports that "other factors understate the real level of poverty in the U.S. Many more young adults have stayed or moved back home because they can’t find jobs, and others have doubled up with friends and relatives." Also: The U.S. set the official poverty threshold in 2010 at an income level of $11,139 for one person and $22,314 for a family of four. Those levels are laughably low, so we're going to assume there are many millions more across America feeling bitterly impoverished right now.
Tagged
american poverty
census
economy
Middle Class
poverty
recession
John Del Signore
Originally from the Albany area, John Del Signore has called NYC home since 1995. In addition to his thousands of meticulously-crafted bespoke blog posts for Gothamist, his writing has also been published in The Awl, Deadspin, The Nervous Breakdown, and performed at The Brick Theater in Brooklyn.
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Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
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