FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: September 22, 2011 CONTACT: Amy Rynell

Social IMPACT Research Center at Heartland Alliance Phone: 312.870.4957

The Recessions Toll: Significant Poverty Growth and Income Declines throughout Wisconsin and the Midwest
Immediate, Expert Analysis Available
The U.S. Census Bureau released new local information on income, poverty rates, and health insurance coverage from the American Community Survey on Thursday, September 22. Thursday, September 22 and Friday, September 23 experts on poverty issues from the Social IMPACT Research Center will be available to provide analysis of the new data and discuss their context and implications. IMPACT is also summarizing the new information in customized fact sheets based on local data for all Illinois counties and places with populations over 65,000 and Midwest states, including a 2010 snapshot and trend over time analysis. These fact sheets will be available on request and will also be made available throughout the day on Thursday, September 22 and Friday, September 23 at http://www.heartlandalliance.org/research/current-and-local-data/local-fact-sheets.html. While the recession technically ended in 2009, these new data show declining incomes, stubbornly high unemployment, and record numbers experiencing poverty persists across Wisconsin and throughout the Midwest, leading to increasing hardship and need in local communities. The number of people experiencing poverty in Wisconsin has increased by 279,941 people from 1999 to 2010. It is clear that economic troubles are far from over for working individuals and families throughout the Midwest, with data highlighting further the human consequences of the recession. Some notable findings from todays release include: 731,479 people living in Wisconsin experienced poverty in 2010, a rate of 13.2%, up from 12.4% in 2009 and 8.7% in 1999. The 2010 household median income for Wisconsin is $49,001, which is $8,301 below the median income in 1999. Overall 14.6% of Midwesterners are living in poverty. The number of people in poverty in the Midwest dramatically grew by 3,127,842 people from 1999 to 2010.

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Midwest Comparison Tables Percent Percent 2010 Change from Change from Number 2010 Rate 2009 to 2010 1999 to 2010 1,731,711 13.8% 0.5 3.1 962,775 15.3% 0.9 5.8 370,507 12.6% 0.8 3.5 377,530 13.6% 0.2* 3.7 1,618,257 16.8% 0.6 6.3 599,516 11.6% 0.6 3.7 888,570 15.3% 0.7 3.6 229,923 12.9% 0.6* 3.2 84,895 13.0% 1.3* 1.1 1,779,032 15.8% 0.6 5.2 113,760 14.4% 0.2* 1.2 731,479 13.2% 0.8 4.5 9,487,955 14.6% 0.7 4.4

Poverty in the Midwest Illinois Indiana Iowa Kansas Michigan Minnesota Missouri Nebraska North Dakota Ohio South Dakota Wisconsin Midwest

* means change not statistically significant

Midwest Median Household Income Midwest Illinois Indiana Iowa Kansas Michigan Minnesota Missouri Nebraska North Dakota Ohio South Dakota Wisconsin Midwest

2010 Amount $52,972 $44,613 $47,961 $48,257 $45,413 $55,459 $44,301 $48,408 $48,670 $45,090 $45,904 $49,001 $47,894

Change from 2009 -$1,885 -$1,561 -$876 -349* -$589 -$1,075 -$1,675 269* 53* -$1,054 117* -$1,817 -$1,289

Change from 1999 -$7,993 -$9,779 -$3,686 -$4,901 -$13,036 -$6,188 -$5,337 -$2,952 $3,389 -$8,503 -264* -$8,301 -$7,606

* means change not statistically significant

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On the verge of a double-dip recession, the effects of the Great Recession on unemployment, poverty, and income generation are still being felt by millions of individuals and families, and the eroding safety net means that while there are more people in need, there are fewer resources to help them. Preserving, extending, and strengthening these solutions can help keep more people from falling into poverty and help those struggling to meet their basic needs: Fund safety net and benefit programs such as SNAP (food stamps), TANF, Medicaid, and the Earned Income Tax Credit, which help poor and near-poor individuals and families bridge the gap between low incomes and meeting their most basic needs. These programs not only help reduce poverty, but also generate additional economic activity in local communities. Continue Unemployment Insurance for those seeking employment, which will help protect people who are out of work and keep families out of poverty. Invest in subsidized and transitional employment programs to help disadvantaged workers and struggling businesses weather the stalled economy and create jobs that will put people back to work and that pay living wages.

TO OBTAIN THE SUMMARIES OF THE NEW DATA RELEASED ON SEPTEMBER 22, PLEASE VISIT HTTP://WWW.HEARTLANDALLIANCE.ORG/RESEARCH/CURRENTAND-LOCAL-DATA/LOCAL-FACT-SHEETS.HTML
The Social Impact Research Center (IMPACT), the research arm of Heartland Alliance, provides dynamic research and analysis on todays most pressing social issues and solutions to inform and equip those working toward a just global society. Heartland Alliance for Human Needs & Human Rights helps people who are threatened the most by poverty or danger improve their lives and realize their human rights. For more than 100 years we have been providing solutionsboth through services and advocacy creating paths from crisis to stability and on to success. Our work in housing, health care, legal protections, and economic security supports more than 200,000 people annually, helping them build a better future. For more information: 312.870.4949 | research@heartlandalliance.org | www.heartlandalliance.org/research