Poverty Facts

Families

Families need income equivalent to twice the official poverty standards to become economically sufficient. To become self-sufficient, families must attain 200% of the poverty level.2
Generational poverty is defined as being in poverty for two generations or longer. Situational poverty is a shorter time and is caused by circumstance (i.e., death, illness, divorce, etc.).5

Health

Low-income people are nearly five times more likely to be without health insurance than people with incomes at self-sufficiency levels.3
Disabilities and health conditions are an over-looked cofactor in poverty. One fourth of all adults in poverty collect Social Security Disability Income (SSDI) or Supplemental Security Income (SSI). Almost a third reports a health condition that limits or prevents work.3

Children

The United States child poverty rate is substantially higher - often two to three times higher - than that of most other major Western industrialized nations.5
Poor children are twice as likely to repeat a grade and are more likely to move frequently that their more advantaged peers.2
Children born into poverty are more likely to have been low birth weight babies and are more likely to die in the first month than other children.2
People are most vulnerable to poverty when they turn 18.4
Children under 6 remain particularly vulnerable to poverty.5
Poor inner-city youths are seven times more likely to be the victims of child abuse or neglect than are children of high social and economic status.5
Poor children at twice as likely to repeat a grade.2

For more information about our studies completed by Cincinnati Works, please contact Rick Wegmann at 937.528.6484.

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