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Seeds of Success

Community Action Duluth's "Case for Change" Findings

Local According to the 2000 Census, Duluth has 12,627 individuals living below the poverty line (U.S. Census Bureau) (this is 15.5% of Duluth's population) (This is nealry 2 times the Minnesota average poverty rate of 8.1%) (U.S. Census Bureau, 2006 estimate)

• The federal poverty rate is 12.6%

  (U.S. Census Bureau, 2006 estimate)

• In St. Louis County 55% of households who rent pay over 30% of their income on rent. This is the highest in Minnesota.

  (Minnesota Housing Partnership County Fact Sheet, December 2006)

• 38% of Duluth's school-age children qualify for free or reduced price lunches

  (From AYP Results- Not Making AYP- All Districts (spreadsheet), MN Department of Education, 2006)

• Duluth's median household income ($37,083) was 71.2% of Minnesota's ($52,054) in 2005.

  (MN State Demographic Center Report, 2006)

(from MN State Demographc Center Report, 2006)

Working Poor in St. Louis County, MN

Federal

• "The richest 1% of Americans in 2005 had the largest share of the nation's income (19 percent) since 1929."

  (Center for American Progress)

• If all the poor people living in the U.S. were to populate a single state, it would be our largest at over 35 Million people.

  (Catholic Campaign for Human Development)

• On average, 1 in 3 Americans (34.2%) are officially classified as living in poverty at least 2 months out of the year

• Within a 13-year period 1/3 of all Americans will experience poverty.

  (Center for American Progress)

• 12.1% of Americans are below Fedaral Poverty Guidelines

  (U.S. Census, 2000)

• 1 in 6 children in the U.S. live in poverty

  (Catholic Campaign for Human Development)

• It is estimated that 4% of the nation's Gross Domestic Product or $500 Billion each year is lost each year due to persistent childhood poverty

  (Center for American Progress)

• 1 in 10 families in the U.S. live in poverty

  (Catholic Campaign for Human Development)

• "Federal policies disproportinately benefit those who already have assets. Analysis of the largest spending categories shows that over a third of benefits go the the wealthiest 1% of Americans- those who typically earn over $1 million per year. In contrast, less than 5% of the benefits go to the bottom 60% of taxpayers" (from Hidden in Plain Sight: A Look at the $335 Billion Federal Asset-Building Budget)

2007 U.S. Health and Human Services Poverty Guidelines

( For all states (except Alaska and Hawaii) and for the District of Columbia )

Case for Change Quick Links:

Blueprint Powerpoint (.pdf)

Declaration to End Poverty

External Info Resource Links:

U.S. Census St.Louis County Quick Facts

MN Department of Employment and Economic Development Regional Labor Market Data

Jobs Now Coalition

Institute for Research on Poverty

Duluth-Superior Area's Regional Assessment Project Website

Service and Benefits Pages:

Benefits Eligibility Screening Tool

Duluth Housing and Redevelopment Authority

St. Louis County Public Health and Human Services

Damiano Center

Chum (Churches United in Ministry)

Salvation Army Duluth

Union Gospel Mission of Duluth

Human Development Center