January is Poverty in America Awareness Month
To bring attention to this national crisis, the Catholic Campaign for Human Development has designated January as “Poverty in America Awareness Month.”
During this special month of observance, Catholic Charities of Central Texas devotes its efforts to heightening the Central Texas communities’ understanding of the breadth and depth of the problems of poverty.
Statistics
The newest data released through the American Communities Survey of the of the U.S. Census, showed that large percentages of people in our nation, state and Diocese lived at or below the federal poverty line in 2008.
Statistics showed that:
- in the U.S, 13.2% of the population lived below the federal poverty line;
- in Texas, the number was even higher at 16.3%
What does the 2008 American Communities Survey data from the U.S. Census, tell us about the Diocese of Austin and the Catholic Charities service area?
Snap shot of Catholic Charities Service area:
Of all 25 counties of the Diocese of Austin:
- 24 of the 25 counties have double digit poverty rates of 10% or higher
- 18 or 72% of our counties have poverty rates that met or exceeded the national average and,
- the overall average for the Diocese is almost 15%
MORE INFORMATION
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- Catholic Charities of Central Texas Blogspot
- USCCB - Poverty in America Awareness Month
- Catholic Charities USA - Campaign to reduce Poverty by 2010
- Basic Needs Coalition of Central Texas- Poverty Fact Sheet