US child poverty ignored in election campaigns
- 12 years ago
The US presidential election campaign has focused a lot on strengthening the country's middle class, but little has been said about low-income families, particularly those in poverty.
There were more than 46 million Americans living in poverty last year (15 per cent of the population) a figure that has been steadily rising from about 33 million people in poverty a decade ago.
When the economic crisis hit in 2008, about 40 million were affected and the poverty threshold for a family of four in the US is just over $23.000.
But some people have criticised that definition as too low, particularly for families living in cities.
Al Jazeera's Andy Gallacher reports.
There were more than 46 million Americans living in poverty last year (15 per cent of the population) a figure that has been steadily rising from about 33 million people in poverty a decade ago.
When the economic crisis hit in 2008, about 40 million were affected and the poverty threshold for a family of four in the US is just over $23.000.
But some people have criticised that definition as too low, particularly for families living in cities.
Al Jazeera's Andy Gallacher reports.