Poverty on the Rise Making Use of Supports Increasingly Importanر
CHESTER, PA (November 25th, 2013) – PCCY’s latest report, “The Bottom Line is Children: Economic and Food Security in Delaware County” that finds that compared to 2008, the share of children in poverty in the county rose by a dramatic 30 percent.
The report also points out:
- Of the 21,000 children in poverty in the county, nearly half (47%) are living in families with incomes at half the poverty line
- Consistent with national trends, children in the county are more likely to be in poverty than any other age group
- Across the County there is a 20% increase in number of students eligible for free and reduced meals at school since 2008
- Less than a third of low income students who qualified participated in school breakfast program in 2012
- 16% of children are in families who face hunger or food insecurity
Hunger and food insecurity are proven to have lasting effects on a child. The value of increased poor educational outcomes and lost lifetime earnings as a result of hunger and food insecurity was $19.2 billion in 2010, according to the national report- Hunger in America, published by the Center for American Progress and co-authored by PCCY’s executive director.
“A growing number of parents all across Delaware County are having trouble putting food on the table for their children,” said Kathy Fisher, Family Economic Security Director for PCCY. “County leaders and school districts must do more to help parents access safety net programs so that every family can provide for their children, particularly those who are earning low wages or having difficulty finding steady work.”
The number of families using food stamps (SNAP) increased but benefits were cut earlier this month causing a typical family of four to lose about $36 a month in benefits. The reduction equates to about 21 meals lost each month.
“Families in Delaware County saw their benefits cut overnight,” said Julie Zaebst, Policy Center Manager for the Coalition Against Hunger. “Now, more than ever, it is important for County leaders do everything they can so children don’t go hungry in Delaware County.”
The rise in poverty across the county is causing more families to turn to food pantries for help.
"The number of parents with small children looking to us for help continues to rise, said Sister Sandra Lyons, Director of the Bernardine Center. “It’s heartbreaking to think that more children are going hungry in the county."
PCCY recommends that County officials, service providers, community groups, schools and parents work together to:
- Dramatically increase participation in school breakfast, including pressing schools to enter the PA Department of Education’s School Breakfast Challenge, which rewards districts who achieve the highest gains in school breakfast participation (deadline is Dec. 20th)
- Increase efforts to connect all eligible families to income and work supports such as Food Stamps (SNAP) and the Earned Income Tax Credit and Child Tax Credit
- Build county-wide understanding and support for these programs so they are strengthened at the federal level.
PCCY’s report, “The Bottom Line is Children: Family Economic Security in Delaware County,” is the latest in a four-part series looking at issues affecting children in each of Philadelphia’s suburban counties. PCCY’s previous reports on education can be viewed at www.childrenfirstpa.org/bottomlinecountyreports
Upcoming reports will focus on child health and early childhood education.
The full report “The Bottom Line is Children: Family Economic Security in Delaware County” can be viewed online at www.childrenfirstpa.org/blfamilyecodelco