Poverty in Illinois

           Since before the decline in the American economy, Illinois has been suffering financially. The end of 2009 showed unemployment at 10.2% which the state has not seen since the 1930s. The increasing numbers in poverty also reveal stratification on a different levels. Statistics since 2008 reveal that there is an increased likelihood for poverty and homelessness for non-whites in Illinois (though the numbers ultimately reflect the nation as a whole). Black residents in Illinois suffered a massive 17.1% unemployment rate where as white residents were at 9.0%. unreported cases suspect that the gap between these two numbers is far greater. Similar numbers exist for younger workers. Approximately 16% of Illinois residents ages 20-24 are unemployed as opposed to 9% of workers older than 24. Also, a resident with an education level less than a high school diploma is 4 times less likely to be unemployed than a resident with a bachelors degree. The worsening economy has shown us that many of the biases that exist within the United States are far from being abolished, in fact, are growing worse as money is becoming more difficult to acquire. The statistics ultimately reveal that it is not only difficult to survive in the current U.S. economy but it is far more difficult to be any type of minority and survive financially.
          The current Illinois poverty line is as follows: 1 person household, $1,836 income per month, $6,680 and less than $11,000 for a family of 4. Since 2008, Illinois residents in extreme poverty has worsened. As of 2008, 1 out every 7 Illinois households has zero or negative net worth. As of March 2010, March 2010 than Illinois, in which 1 out of every 371 homes received a foreclosure filing. Also, the Illinoisans’ average debt from all sources is over $11,300. 680,000 Illinoisans lived in extreme poverty in 2008 on an annual income of less than half of the poverty line. These numbers continue to grow and can be expected to get much worse in the recent events of the debt ceiling being raised as well as the announcement that the United States is once again in a recession.

(Taylor High Rise, Chicago, IL)

References:
http://www.heartlandalliance.org/whatwedo/advocacy/reports/2010-report-on-illinois-poverty.html
http://www.egyptianaaa.org/eligibilityguidelines.htm