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Working Poor PDF Print E-mail
Written by Tiffany Jen   
Thursday, 18 November 2010 21:35

Most people would not use the words 'working' and 'poor' together but a growing number of Tucson residents are being described as just that.

Arizona has the second highest poverty rate in the nation at 21.2 percent, that's one out of five Arizonans. Families with four or more that make under $21,954 a year would be considered at poverty level. A growing number of them are considered the working poor, people who are not homeless but would still need assistance from homeless organizations.

Tucson's Primavera Foundation is a homeless shelter as well as a group that gives assistance to those hit hardest by the economic downfall. The organization's marketing coordinator Renee Bibby says that she has been noticing a new group of people coming in for help. She says that this new group consists of people who are trying to stay out of the shelters and stay in their own homes.

Before the economy tanked, in 2007, 13 other states had higher poverty rates than Arizona. Now, Mississippi is the only other state in the country with a higher poverty rate.

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Last Updated on Thursday, 02 December 2010 07:06
 

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Arizona Cat’s Eye, a 30-minute news magazine and online publication, features the best video news stories produced by students at the University of Arizona School of Journalism.

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