CHESTER — Childhood poverty in Delaware County has increased by 30 percent since 2008, according to a report released by a child advocacy organization.

More than 21,000 children are living in poverty, a total that equates to 16.7 percent of all Delaware County children. Nearly half of them are living in deep poverty — $11,755 annually for a family of four.

Công dân cho trẻ em và thanh thiếu niên announced the findings of its report at a press conference Monday at the Bernardine Center. The report, dubbed “The Bottom Line is Children: Economic and Food Security in Delaware County,” examined various poverty-related statistics primarily from 2008-2012.

The 10-page report is part of a broader examination of public education, health, family economic security and child care in suburban Philadelphia. Last week, PCCY released a report claiming Delaware County schools are underfunded by $45.3 million.

The latest report found that children are more likely to be living in poverty than any other Delaware County age demographic. Nearly 20 percent of children under age 6 are living in poverty. More than 15 percent of grade-school children live in poverty.

“The best way to make sure that children are fed and that children have stable lives is to make sure that their parents have jobs and jobs that pay a decent wage,” said Donna Cooper, PCCY executive director. “What we’ve seen is some rebound since the economic recession in terms of the number of jobs and the number of people employed, but family incomes have not recovered.”

The report found that the share of Delaware County families earning less than $45,000 grew by more than 20 percent since 2008. Delco’s median family income dropped 7 percent to $76,905 during that span.

The report noted the number of Delco families using tax credits designed to elevate families from poverty increased by sizeable margins between 2007 and 2011. Families utilizing the Earned Income Tax Credit grew by 12 percent, while families using the Child Tax Credit increased by 30 percent.

To alleviate and mitigate childhood poverty, PCCY recommended increasing participation in school meal programs, improving awareness of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program and connecting eligible families to income and work support.

The report also called on Delaware County leaders to help increase awareness and enrollment in programs designed to mitigate poverty. Delaware County Council Chairman Tom McGarrigle could not be reached for comment.

The number of students eligible to participate in free- and reduced-price school meals has increased by 20 percent since 2008, according to the report. Eligible students increased in 13 of 15 Delco school districts. However, countywide participation in meal programs has decreased by more than 10 percent.

“That’s a real missed opportunity,” said Kathy Fisher, PCCY family economic security director. “That’s the kind of program that’s there to help students learn and achieve in school, but a lot of districts haven’t stepped up those programs. Parents may not know that their kids are eligible because they’re eligible (at 185 percent) above the poverty line.”

Though children account for less than 25 percent of Delaware County’s population, they make up 41 percent of the county’s SNAP participants. The number of children enrolled in SNAP increased by 31 percent from Fiscal Year 2009-10 to 2012-13.

“When times are tough, the program is meant to be there to serve more people in need and to protect children from hunger and all of the adverse impacts we know it has on their healthy development,” said Julie Zaebst, policy center manager for the Coalition Against Hunger. “As the economy recovers, we expect that fewer families will need the program as they get back to work and back on their feet.”

Congress did not renew federal stimulus funding to SNAP benefits, permitting a $5 billion reduction to the $80 billion food stamps program. Further reductions — potentially deeper — are likely to pass as part of a farm bill being debated on Capitol Hill.

Conservatives argue the program has become bloated, noting its cost has more than doubled in the last five years. Liberals claim cuts hurt the people who can least afford it.

Delaware County Daily Times – November 25, 2013 – Đọc bài báo trực tuyến