Census release ranks Arizona’s poverty rate 13th highest in nation

by Adnan Alam

By CHRISTINE ROGEL
Cronkite News Service

PHOENIX (Wednesday, Nov. 18) _ Arizona’s poverty rate stood at 14.7 percent in 2008, 13th highest in the nation, according to U.S. Census Bureau data released Wednesday.

In all, 935,000 Arizonans were estimated to live in poverty, defined by the federal government as less than $14,489 per homeowner under 65. That was up from 876,000 in 2007.

“It’s worrisome because behind the numbers are real people and families struggling, and during the recession it has gotten worse,” said Timothy Schmaltz, coordinator for Protecting Arizona’s Family Coalition. “We’re living in a state where we have food boxes, but they’re smaller than they were a year before because they are serving more people.”

The national poverty rate was 13.2 percent in 2008, up from 13 percent in 2007. Mississippi had the highest rate at 20.8 percent; New Hampshire’s was lowest at 7.8 percent.

In Arizona, Yavapai and Greenlee counties had rates that fell below the national average: 12.9 percent and 11.3 percent, respectively. Maricopa County’s rate was 13.4 percent.

The report said that one in three Apache County residents lived in poverty, giving that county the 45th-highest rate among more than 3,000 counties analyzed in the report.

Elizabeth Segal, professor of social work at Arizona State University, said that cuts in social services due to the state’s budget crisis have exacerbated the problem of poverty. She said early childhood education is key.

“I think you have a short-term problem and the perpetuation of a long-term problem,” Segal said. “Short-term cutbacks on education and training means there are less jobs being developed. You set the stage for long-term poverty for children without sufficient options to education.”

John Burk, associate director for Arizona State University’s Partnership for Community Development, said that 14.7 percent sounded low in comparison to the recent demand on social service agencies.

“The total number of people seeking poverty-related services has increased one or two times the normal amount,” Burk said. “This has been true for the last 12 to 18 months.”

Burk said that agencies expect the poverty rate to hold or increase.

“It’s a real downward spiral, as the economy worsens there are fewer tax dollars to meet the budget gap and in turn social services are cut,” Burk said.

Rep. Anna Tovar, D-Phoenix, said poverty is prevalent in Arizona because of low-paying jobs and a reliance on tax dollars generated by volatile industries such as tourism and consumer services.

She said the states needs to invest in infrastructure to create higher-paying jobs.

“There is a lot of opportunity within renewable energy and the creation of green jobs and that needs to a priority for Arizona to get industries and companies into Arizona so we can have those jobs,” she said.

Milton Ollerton, community development director for Apache County, said the poverty rate is high there because 75 percent of the county is on the Navajo reservation.

“It’s just that the Navajo Nation is pretty secluded, and it’s difficult when you try to grow a business or industry when natural resources and transportation are scarce,” Ollerton said.

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Web Link:

_ U.S. Census Bureau: www.census.gov