Poverty (2024)

Poverty (1)

Tenement Housing Usually Serves Low-Income People (2018)

Official Poverty Levels by Family Size

SizeIncome
1$12,140
2$16,460
3$20,780
4$25,100
5$29,420
6$33,740
7$38,060
8$42,380

– – – – – – – – – –

For each additional family member, add $4,320. Standards for 2018 issued by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

The more general term “low income” is commonly defined as 200% of the poverty standard. Thus a family of four in 2018 with an income of about $50,000 would be a low income family.

The following is a “Summary of Highlights and Trends” from the year 2008 Report Card on Poverty in the Maine economy, produced by law by the State Planning Office.

Poverty (2)

Povertyrate 3-year moving average 1982-2016

Maine’s overall poverty rate declined since a high point of 14.3 percent in 1993 until the recession of 2001. The strong economy created a demand for workers in the labor force that led to a low unemployment rate. However the rate rose steadily again through 2004 before easing during the next three years. The recessions of the early 1980’s, early 1990’s and 2002 pushed Maine’s poverty rates up as demand for labor declined.

On the surface, more work and more income looks good for those at the lower end of the income spectrum in Maine. Yet poverty remains a stubborn and persistent fact in Maine. Those with the least appear to be helped little by what appears to be a healthy economy.

Consider the following from a 2008 report by the Maine State Planning Office: [updated]

During the past 35 years, the poverty rate has never fallen below 10 percent.

Even in 2001 when the lowest rate (10.2%) was recorded, 135,000 Mainer’s were living in poverty. In 2007 that number stood at 142,000 and 167,000 in 2017. In 2017 the rate in Maine’s 1st Congressional District was 10.2%; in the 2nd District it was 14.9%.

In 2013 to 2015, an average of nearly 16 percent of Mane people (214.000) were “food insecure,” meaning not having “enough food for an active, healthy life,” according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Food insecurity can also reinforce the detrimental effects of poverty. Inadequate nutrition limits one’s ability to focus on work and learning.

In 2017 45% Maine school children qualify for free or reduced price school lunches, based on family income.Median income in Mainewas $51,000 for the three-year average of 2012-2016.

There is great disparity in poverty levels across Maine’s regions. In easternmost Washington County, poverty is almost twice as prevalent as in southern Cumberland, York, and Sagadahoc counties.

As Maine evolves from a manufacturing–based economy to one more involved in services and information, there continue to be regional disparities in job growth and average earnings. Maine also has higher rates of people holding multiple jobs than in the nation as a whole.

Maine continues to lag behind the nation in the number of residents with post-secondary education. This has important implications for the earning power of Maine’s citizens.

Additional resources

See also Rank of Maine, Social Indicators

State of Maine, State Planning Office. 2008 Report on Poverty. February 2008. http://www.state.me.us/spo/economics/docs/publications/2008%20Report%20on%20Poverty.pdf

Maine’s Rank Nationally on Poverty Indicators

Maine’s Rank in ==>19901998-19992016Scale
1. Population Characteristics:
Percent Elderly18th 10th2nd (2017)1=highest
Percent Children 35th49th50th (2017)1=highest
2. Economic Characteristics:
% in Labor Force24th30th31st (2017)1=highest
% HomeOwner1st6th10th (2004)1=highest
3. Income Characteristics:
Poverty Rate 25th31st21st (2016)1=highest
Annual Pay of Workers 39th40th43rd (2009)*1=highest
Median Household Income 32nd33rd30th (2017)1=highest
Gap between richest & poorest (Gini index)13th (2017)1=widest
Sources:

Rankings of States, US Statistical Abstract & Center for Budget & Policy Priorities.

U.S. Census. “American Factfinder.” 2007 data. http://factfinder.census.gov/servlet/GRTSelectServlet?ds_name=ACS_2007_1YR_G00_

U.S. Census. “Income, Earnings, and Poverty Data From the 2006 American Community Survey.” http://www.census.gov/prod/2007pubs/acs-08.pdf

Maine Equal Justice Partners. “Federal Poverty Levels.”http://www.mejp.org/content/federal-poverty-levels (accessed February 24, 2018)

2008-2016 data from “Poverty Rate in Maine from 2000 to 2016” statista athttps://www.statista.com/statistics/205471/poverty-rate-in-maine/(accessed February 24, 2018)

U.S.Census. “Quick FactsMaine.” https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/ME/PST045216
(accessed February 25, 2018)

“Kids Count data center” http://datacenter.kidscount.org/data/tables/1566-school-children-eligible-for-subsidized-school-lunch?loc=21&loct=2#detailed/2/any/false/871,870,573,869,36/any/12834,3339
(accessed February 25, 2018)

U.S. News. “Best States About Maine.”
https://www.usnews.com/news/best-states/maine
(accessed February 25, 2018)

*U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, “Employment and Wages Online Annual Averages, 2009,” <http://www.bls.gov/cew/cewbultn09.htm>.
(accessed February 25, 2018)

Poverty (2024)

FAQs

What is poverty best answer? ›

Poverty is a state or situation in which a person or a group of people don't have enough money or the basic things they need to live. Poverty means that a person doesn't make enough money from their job to meet their basic needs.

How can poverty be solved? ›

Eradicating poverty through education

If all adults completed secondary education, we could cut the global poverty rate by more than half. Education develops skills and abilities, corrects some of the imbalances that come out of marginalization, and decreases both risk and vulnerability.

Does poverty mean not having enough? ›

Poverty is about not having enough money to meet basic needs including food, clothing and shelter.

Where is poverty the worst? ›

Other states with low poverty rates in 2018 include Hawaii (8.8% poverty rate), Maryland (9.0% poverty rate), and Minnesota (9.6% poverty rate). Among U.S. states, Mississippi had the highest poverty rate in 2018 (19.7% poverty rate), followed by Louisiana (18.65%), New Mexico (18.55%) and West Virginia (17.10%).

Why is it so hard to get out of poverty? ›

There are several factors that make it difficult for people to escape poverty. A lack of access to capital is a major contributor to poverty traps as is poor education, infrastructure, and healthcare.

How to not be poor? ›

Here, some ideas for how to get out of poverty:
  1. Getting a Sound Education. ...
  2. Having a Close Mentor. ...
  3. Working With Well-Informed Organizations. ...
  4. Utilizing Community and Government Resources. ...
  5. Changing Your Money Mindset. ...
  6. Setting Financial Goals. ...
  7. Cutting Expenses and Spending Wisely. ...
  8. Paying Down Your Debt.
Aug 30, 2022

What is poverty vs. poor? ›

Poverty is measured in the United States by comparing a person's or family's income to a set poverty threshold or minimum amount of income needed to cover basic needs. People whose income falls under their threshold are considered poor. The U.S. Census Bureau is the government agency in charge of measuring poverty.

How to tell if someone is poor? ›

Signs of Poverty & Neglect:
  1. Poor hygiene and cleanliness*
  2. Inappropriate uniform, shoes or clothing*
  3. Lack of food provided or money for food*
  4. Malnutrition*
  5. Missing school equipment or other required items*
  6. Poor or inappropriate living conditions*
  7. Negative impact on mental health and self-worth*
Jul 20, 2023

How serious is poverty? ›

The poorest in the world are often undernourished, without access to basic services such as electricity and safe drinking water; they have less access to education, and suffer from much poorer health.

What is poverty in your own words? ›

Poverty is a state or condition in which a person or community lacks the financial resources and other essentials for a minimum standard of living. Poverty-stricken people and families might go without proper housing, clean water, healthy food, and medical attention.

How do they define poverty? ›

Poverty means not having enough resources to meet household needs and participate in society.

What are the three main points of poverty? ›

In America, the three main causes of poverty are lack of jobs, education, and healthcare. Families who have a head of household who is unemployed experience poverty at a rate of 26.4%. People without a high school education have a poverty rate of 23.7%.

What is the difference between poor and poverty? ›

The Oxford dictionary gives the definition of poverty as “the state of being extremely poor” and the definition for poor as “lacking sufficient money to live at a standard considered comfortable or normal in a society”.

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