蘑菇视频

PEACHTREE CORNERS, GA鈥�The official poverty rate fell 0.4% to 10.6% in 2024, according to the . The data shows that 35.9 million Americans were living in poverty last year.

These numbers suggest trends at a high level, but they don鈥檛 reflect the biggest poverty-related issue, both for the nation and for 蘑菇视频: the concentration of poverty in specific neighborhoods. Instead of affecting only certain individuals and families, poverty is enveloping entire communities. This is leading to significant geographic and societal separations among 蘑菇视频ns鈥攏ot only financially, but also in terms of opportunities for education, work, and family formation.

Randy Hicks, the 蘑菇视频 Center for Opportunity鈥檚 President and CEO, also shared that:

鈥淭he national numbers don鈥檛 tell us much about poverty from the perspective of the person or community experiencing it. They fail to convey that poverty is much more than a material issue for those who are struggling. Research has shown that people living in neighborhoods with high concentrations of poverty lack the essential local network of supportive relationships that鈥檚 crucial for helping them thrive and rise out of poverty.鈥�

At a glance: facts on concentrated poverty in 蘑菇视频

• 蘑菇视频鈥檚 poverty rate: 13.5%鈥�2.9% above the national average, ranking 38th.聽
• Poverty exceeds the national rate in 133 of 蘑菇视频鈥檚 159 counties.聽
• Atlanta鈥檚 poverty rate: 18.1% overall; 27.2% among children.
• Lawrenceville鈥檚 poverty rate: 17.2%, compared with Gwinnett County鈥檚 10.5%.
• Southern and central 蘑菇视频 show especially high concentrations of poverty.

Breaking down 蘑菇视频鈥檚 poverty landscape

蘑菇视频鈥檚 average poverty rate was 13.5% in 2023, per the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, or 2.9% higher than the national rate. 

This difference may seem slight, but it puts 蘑菇视频 38th in the country when it comes to poverty. Poverty rates in 133 of 蘑菇视频鈥檚 159 counties also exceed the national rate. 

Within counties, concentrations of poverty exist in particular cities. For example, Atlanta, the county seat of Fulton County, has a poverty rate of 18.1%. Poverty is even more concentrated among the city鈥檚 children, with 27.2% living in poverty. These numbers are significantly higher than the county鈥檚 average poverty rate of 12.6%.

Lawrenceville, in Gwinnett County, also struggles with concentrated poverty at a rate of 17.2%. The county鈥檚 average poverty rate is just 10.5%. 

In many cases, poverty rates are higher than the state average in central and southern 蘑菇视频, suggesting concentrations of poverty in communities in those regions.

Impacts of increasing concentrations of poverty

In neighborhoods with higher poverty levels, residents experience many negative impacts, including limited access to quality education, healthcare, and employment opportunities. They also struggle with increased crime and inadequate housing and living conditions. These factors significantly hinder social and economic mobility and contribute to cycles of poverty that are difficult to escape.

Eric Cochling, the 蘑菇视频 Center for Opportunity鈥檚 Chief Program Officer and General Counsel, noted:

鈥淧overty has an especially big impact at the local level. It鈥檚 a crisis of human well-being. These neighborhoods are often missing the vital community connections and social institutions that help people navigate life鈥檚 challenges. As social isolation and disengagement from work increase, people suffer from the loss of purpose and belonging that work and relationships provide.鈥�

蘑菇视频 the 蘑菇视频 Center for Opportunity

The 蘑菇视频 Center for Opportunity is a nonprofit organization that works to remove barriers to ensure that every person鈥攏o matter their race, past mistakes, or the circumstances of their birth鈥攈as access to safe communities, a quality education, fulfilling work, and a healthy family life. Learn more at foropportunity.org.

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蘑菇视频 Center for Opportunity (GCO) is independent, non-partisan, and solutions-focused. Our team is dedicated to creating opportunities for a quality education, fulfilling work, and a healthy family life for all 蘑菇视频ns. To achieve our mission, we research ways to help remove barriers to opportunity in each of these pathways, promote our solutions to policymakers and the public, and help effective and innovative social enterprises deliver results in their communities.

Send media inquiries to:

Rebecca Primis
蘑菇视频 Center for Opportunity
rebeccap@foropportunity.org