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?<br><b><i></i></b><blockquote class="replbq" style="border-left: 2px solid rgb(16, 16, 255); margin-left: 5px; padding-left: 5px;"><kjajmix1@msn.com><ttrail@moscow.com><vision2020@mail-gw.fsr.net><br>> From: Tom Trail <ttrail@moscow.com><br>> To: vision2020@mail-gw.fsr.net<br>> Subject: [Vision2020] Reality of Poverty in Idaho<br>> Date: Wed, 22 Nov 2006 19:07:21 -0800<br>><br>> Visionaires: During this holiday of Thanksgiving, we should also <br>> reflect<br>> on the current reality of poverty in Idaho.<br>><br>> Economic Poverty<br>><br>> . 19 out of every 100 children live in poverty.<br>><br>> . Idaho has the highest percentage (29%) of young adults, ages 18-24,<br>> living in poverty of any state in the U.S.<br>><br>> . A Tufts University Center
on Hunger and Poverty report ranks Idaho's<br>> welfare laws 51st (compared to all other states and the District of<br>> Columbia) when ranied on the likelihood to support families' efforts<br>> to become self-sufficient.<br>><br>> . 63% of Idaho 3 & 4 year olds do not attend a preschool program due to<br>> availability and affordability, leaving them unprepared to enter<br>> kindergarten.<br>><br>> . Low-income parents make up almost half of Idaho's working population.<br>> The parents in these families work for low wages, often without the<br>> ability to afford health insurance, quality child care and early<br>> education-<br>> three key elements that young children need to succeed in school and<br>> become productive, contributing citizens.<br>><br>> . In Idaho, a living wage for a family of 4 (2 parents and 2 <br>> children-one<br>> program working) is $20.98 per
hour. Only 17% of current jobs in <br>> Idaho<br>> pay<br>> this wage.<br>><br>> . Of local interest, approximately 20% of University of Idaho staff, are<br>> at or below the poverty level for the area.<br>><br>> Poverty of Relationship and Meaning<br>><br>> . Drug arrests are up 144%<br>><br>> . The suicide rate is 22 people per 100,000, compared to the national<br>> suicide rate of 11 people per 100,---.<br>><br>> . Idaho's elders face isolaton due to lack of mobility, relationships and<br>> adequate resources.<br>><br>> . By 2025, 20% of Idaho's population will be over age 65 and Idaho will<br>> have the greatest number of people over age 85 per capita than any<br>> other state.<br>><br>> (statistics are from the U.S. Census 2000, the Annie E. Casey Idaho Kids<br>> Count<br>> Report 2005 and the 2006 Idaho Job Gap Report from the Northwest<br>> Federation<br>> of
Community Organizations)<br>><br>> Rep. Tom Trail<br>> --<br>> Dr. Tom Trail<br>> International Trails<br>> 1375 Mt. View Rd.<br>> Moscow, Id. 83843<br>> Tel: (208) 882-6077<br>> Fax: (208) 882-0896<br>> e mail ttrail@moscow.com<br>><br>> =======================================================<br>> List services made available by First Step Internet,<br>> serving the communities of the Palouse since 1994.<br>> http://www.fsr.net<br>> mailto:Vision2020@moscow.com<br>> =======================================================<br>><br>> _________________________________________________________________<br>> Get free, personalized commercial-free online radio with MSN Radio powered<br>> by Pandora http://radio.msn.com/?icid=T002MSN03A07001<br>><br>> =======================================================<br>> List services made available by First Step Internet,<br>> serving the
communities of the Palouse since 1994.<br>> http://www.fsr.net<br>> mailto:Vision2020@moscow.com<br>> =======================================================<br>> <br><br>=======================================================<br> List services made available by First Step Internet, <br> serving the communities of the Palouse since 1994. <br> http://www.fsr.net <br> mailto:Vision2020@moscow.com<br>=======================================================<br></ttrail@moscow.com></vision2020@mail-gw.fsr.net></ttrail@moscow.com></kjajmix1@msn.com></blockquote><br><p> 
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