Poverty

Why Poverty Matters

Poverty is highly correlated with most negative social outcomes. People who live in poverty are more likely to:

• live in social isolation
• have poor health
• be less literate
• be less skilled
• participate in criminal activities
• be dependent on social services
• be less productive members of society.

Children who are born into poverty are 1.6 times as likely to die in childbirth and 1.9 times more likely to be born with a low birth weight.^[1]

According to a study of the incidence of child abuse and neglect in Washington children living in families with income below $15,000 were 15 times more likely to be abused, 44 times more likely to be neglected and 22 more times likely to die or be seriously injured as a result of abuse or maltreatment.^[2]

Children in poverty have been shown to

• have math and reading scores that are 7 to 8 points lower than average
• be 2 times more likely to repeat a grade
• be 3.4 times more likely to be expelled from school.^[3]

Poverty Statistics

In King County 9.5% of all people and 11.9% of all children under 18 live in households with income below the federal poverty level.  Family Poverty in King County^[4]:

Source: American Community Survey, 2006

Download Data | Source: Claritas 2006 Update (Census Tract Level)

Measuring Poverty

The common definition of poverty is associated with a single national income threshold established annually by the federal government based on a multiple of the price of a common market basket of goods and services deemed essential for individuals and families to live at a subsistence level. In reality the definition of poverty is much more complex. Read more about measuring poverty

Race and Poverty

Race and poverty remain closely associated nationally and locally. Income poverty is much more prevalent among certain racial and ethnic groups when compared to whites.

In King County 16.9% of African American households, 16.2% of Latino households and 22.7% of Native American households live in income poverty while 5.8% of white households are considered poor.^[5]

Twenty two percent of white King County households are asset poor while 52.6% of African American, 53.2% of Latino and 44.3% of Native American households are asset poor.

The average net worth of a white household in the State of Washington is $105,000 or 6.8 times the average net worth of a household of color which is $15,500.^[6] 
Read more about racial equity

Download Data | Source: Claritas 2006 Update (Census Tract Level)
 

Barriers to escaping Poverty

People who live in poverty, or who regularly have insufficient income to meet their basic needs, face a number of systemic and practical barriers to achieving financial stability. Poor health and poor nutrition are closely associated with lower educational and job performance outcomes which makes it more difficult for people to advance in school or in a job to a wage that is self sustaining. Low income people, especially those living in concentrated low income neighborhoods, are more likely to pay a greater amount of money for goods than residents purchasing similar goods in a more affluent neighborhood.. Read more about barriers to escaping poverty

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^[1] Children’s Defense Fund, 2005
^[2]  “Got Prevention; It’s a Question of Value.” Washington Council for the Prevention of Child Abuse and Neglect, 2005.
^[3] Children’s Defense Fund, 2005
^[4] American Community Survey 2006
^[5]“Local Asset Poverty Index for WASHINGTON.” Asset Policy Initiative for California, 2006
^[6] Asset and Opportunity Scorecard, 2005.” Corporation for Enterprise Development. http://www.cfed.org/home.m