[Vision2020] Reality of Poverty in Idaho

[Tom Ivie]

Any suggestions to as to what "our" legislators can do to correct these staggering Idaho statistics?  Now we know there are problems, what are the solutions?

> From: Tom Trail 
> To: vision2020 at mail-gw.fsr.net
> Subject: [Vision2020] Reality of Poverty in Idaho
> Date: Wed, 22 Nov 2006 19:07:21 -0800
>
> Visionaires:    During this holiday of Thanksgiving, we should also 
> reflect
> on the current reality of poverty in Idaho.
>
> Economic Poverty
>
>   . 19 out of every 100 children live in poverty.
>
>   . Idaho has the highest percentage (29%) of young adults, ages 18-24,
>     living in  poverty of any state in the U.S.
>
>   . A Tufts University Center on Hunger and Poverty report ranks Idaho's
>     welfare laws 51st (compared to all other states and the District of
>     Columbia) when ranied on the likelihood to support families' efforts
>     to become self-sufficient.
>
>   . 63% of Idaho 3 & 4 year olds do not attend a preschool program due to
>     availability and affordability, leaving them unprepared to enter
>     kindergarten.
>
>   . Low-income parents make up almost half of Idaho's working population.
>     The parents in these families work for low wages, often without the
>     ability to afford health insurance, quality child care and early
> education-
>     three key elements that young children need to succeed in school and
>     become productive, contributing citizens.
>
>   . In Idaho, a living wage for a family of 4 (2 parents and 2 
> children-one
>     program working) is $20.98 per hour.  Only 17% of current jobs in 
> Idaho
> pay
>     this wage.
>
>   . Of local interest, approximately 20% of University of Idaho staff, are
>     at or below the poverty level for the area.
>
> Poverty of Relationship and Meaning
>
> . Drug arrests are up 144%
>
> . The suicide rate is 22 people per 100,000, compared to the national
>    suicide rate of 11 people per 100,---.
>
> . Idaho's elders face isolaton due to lack of mobility, relationships and
>    adequate resources.
>
> . By 2025, 20% of Idaho's population will be over age 65 and Idaho will
>    have the greatest number of people over age 85 per capita than any
>    other state.
>
> (statistics are from the U.S. Census 2000, the Annie E. Casey Idaho Kids
> Count
>   Report 2005 and the 2006 Idaho Job Gap Report from the Northwest
> Federation
>   of Community Organizations)
>
> Rep. Tom Trail
> --
> Dr. Tom Trail
> International Trails
> 1375 Mt. View Rd.
> Moscow, Id. 83843
> Tel:  (208) 882-6077
> Fax:  (208) 882-0896
> e mail ttrail at moscow.com
>
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> 

=======================================================
 List services made available by First Step Internet, 
 serving the communities of the Palouse since 1994.   
               http://www.fsr.net                       
          mailto:Vision2020 at moscow.com
=======================================================


 
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