NC poverty on rise, agencies feeling the effects, WBTV (10.02.2011)
CHARLOTTE, NC (WBTV) – Michelle Hamilton says a day at Crisis Assistance Ministry often begins with a long line of people waiting for help.
In the last three years, the agency has seen a 100% increase in families seeking assistance.
“We’ve never seen this many people in need of assistance in the 36 year history of our agency,” Hamilton said.
It’s a tell-tell sign of a sluggish economy that’s contributing to the increasing poverty rate in North Carolina.
Census data released earlier this week show more than 700, 000 North Carolinians are living in deep poverty, meaning they earn around $11,000 a year.
Among those thousands, some of the state’s youngest.
Those same census numbers show one in four kids in the Tarheel state lived in poverty last year.
“A child who doesn’t have a meal…utilities to do their homework or who is moving from house to house is not going to perform at capacity at school,” Hamilton said.
And as report by Action for Children North Carolina shows that could have long lasting effects, from poor health to lower income earning potential.
“It will be two or three years after real recovery before families in poverty feel recovery in our community,” Hamilton said.
As an agency that works with the working poor, Hamilton believes that recovery begins with jobs.
It’s been three weeks since President Obama sent the American Jobs bill to Congress.
In his weekly video address he once again urged for its support.