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In Maricopa County 667,000 people are experiencing poverty; one in four are children.
On average, families spend $2,500 each month for:
This still leaves other expenses like groceries, health care, and emergencies to figure out. By federal definition, poverty means a family of 4 with an income of $2,000 a month. After spending it on the necessities listed above, it leaves families with difficult choices that can lead to a cycle of poverty.
Arizona has the fifth-highest poverty rate in the nation.1
One in four children live in poverty in Arizona.2 Children who live in poverty are twice as likely to repeat a grade in school and twice as likely to drop out before completing high school.3 High school non-graduates are almost twice as likely to be living under the poverty line and unemployed than those who have graduated.4 If this is the case, their children could also live in poverty.
No other organization unites as many people to fight poverty in as many ways. There’s no single way to break the cycle of poverty. Valley of the Sun United Way pulls together the most promising organizations across Maricopa County that provide comprehensive support to fight for kids, families and neighborhoods.
In partnership with 140 exceptional local programs, United Way invests nearly $100 million to address the multiple causes of poverty in the Valley.
With your help, we can continue to do this and more. Show your dedication and join the fight to break the cycle of poverty in our community and donate online or giving to the Helping the Working Poor fund for a dollar-for-dollar state tax credit of up to $400 for individuals or $800 for couples.
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1. 2013 US Census Bureau
2. 2012 US Census Bureau
3. Smith et al. “Poverty and Education.” Encyclopedia of Education. 2002. Web. 10 November 2014
4. Arizonafuture.org (2007)
