16% of kids in Kentucky living in poverty
Frankfort, Ky. (WAVE) - A new report from the Annie E. Casey Foundation says 16 percent of Kentucky’s children are living in poverty.
Kentucky Youth Advocates links the poverty level to wages that aren’t increasing, rising housing costs and a lack of job opportunities in rural communities.
“You know, we have historical trends of childhood poverty in Kentucky especially in the coalfields where you have much higher unemployment rates. We know that it took a much longer time for Kentucky to recover from the Great Recession than other states.” said Patricia Tennen, chief operating officer of Kentucky Youth Advocates.
The rate of the number of children living in poverty has remained relatively unchanged since 2008 according to the report from the Annie E. Casey Foundation.
Tennen points out that low-income households could benefit from legislation that makes it easier for parents to work.
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