The U.S. Census Bureau released new data showing 19.0% of individuals and 27.2% of children under the age of 18 in Arizona lived in poverty in 2011. Both figures are slight increases from 2010, where 18.6% of individuals and 24.4% of children lived in poverty. These new rates tie Arizona for both the 6th highest percentage of individuals and the 5th highest percentage of children living in poverty in the U.S. Nationwide, 15.9% of individuals and 22.5% of children under the age of 18 lived in poverty in 2011.

The Census figures align with recently released food hardship and food insecurity data, all of which paint the same picture: In Arizona, one in five individuals and one in four of our children struggle with hunger and poverty. These figures have not changed significantly since the recession began in 2008.

Gallup Healthways Well-Being Index polling data showed 19.9% of Arizonans struggled to afford enough food to feed their household during the first six months of 2012, which ranked as the 13th highest food hardship rate in the U.S. Meanwhile, the most recent Feeding America Map the Meal Gap food insecurity data from 2010 estimated 19.0% of Arizonans suffer from food insecurity—the inability to provide enough food to feed the household. Both Arizona figures were above the national averages of 18.2% and 16.1% respectively.

“When three different respected data points all show essentially the same thing, it’s a clear reminder and wakeup call that hunger and poverty remain huge issues for Arizona,” says Ginny Hildebrand, president and CEO of the Association of Arizona Food Banks. “Many of our households, especially those with children, are barely getting by, or may not be getting by at all. This is an issue that should concern all Arizonans.”

While the 2011 poverty rate is essentially unchanged from 2010, it still represents a 32.9% increase over the pre-recession 2007 poverty level of 14.3%. Federal Poverty Level (FPL) guidelines in 2011 were set at an annual gross income of $22,350 for a family of four.
Also worth noting is two- and three-year poverty estimates are considered more statistically stable. The two year estimates show poverty in Arizona has decreased slightly from 19.6% in 2008-09 to 18.0% in 2010-11, while the 2009-11 three-year estimate shows 19.1% lived in poverty in Arizona, virtually unchanged from the 19.2% estimate for 2008-10.

By Arizona county poverty rates, Apache (37.0%; 8.2% increase over 2010), Navajo (33.0%; 19.6% increase over 2010) and Coconino Counties (21.9%; 15.4% decrease over 2010) had the highest levels of poverty in 2011. Pinal (17.1; 24.8% increase from 2010), Maricopa (17.4%; 5.5% increase from 2010) and Yavapai Counties (19.0%; 1% decrease from 2010) had the lowest levels of poverty in 2011. In Pima County, 20.4 % of individuals lived in poverty in 2011, a 14.6% increase from 2010.

By Arizona metropolitan area poverty rates, Phoenix (22.9%; 1.8% increase over 2010), Flagstaff (24.3%; 6.2% decrease from 2010) and Tucson (26.6%; 13.2% increase from 2010) had the highest levels of poverty in 2011. Gilbert (7.1%; 2.9% increase from 2010), Goodyear 8.3% (9.8%; decrease from 2010) and Scottsdale (8.9%; 12.7% increase from 2010) had the lowest levels.

By percentage of children under of the age of 18, Navajo (46.7%; 33.0% increase from 2010), Apache (44.3%; 10.5% increase from 2010) and Mohave Counties (37.5%; 17.2% increase from 2010) had the highest child poverty rates. By comparison, 25.1% of children in Maricopa County lived in poverty in 2011, a 7.3% increase from 2010. In Pima County, 29.7% of children lived in poverty in 2011, a 20.2% increase from 2010.

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