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Poverty Levels In Illinois On The Rise
The number of people in poverty in Illinois has grown 27 percent over the last two years. The ninth annual report on poverty in the state by the Heartland Alliance for Human Needs and Human Rights says the number of people in the state living below the poverty line is nearly 1.5 million people.

This number represents almost 12 percent of the population, an increase of over 400,000 people since 2007 and poverty levels have increased in 58 of the state's 102 counties.

Director for Heartland Alliance for Human Needs and Human Rights Amy Rynall says she has seen first hand some of the conditions that those in poverty live in.

"I've traveled around Illinois and I've met those families and the way they are making ends meet are by living in really substandard housing. Housing that's considered much of it unfit for human habitation - dirt floors, no running water, no sewers."

The report also says 2 million of state residents are not poor right now, but lack savings or assets and would be poor the moment they lose their job or face any significant hardship.

Rynall says many people that are employed, often in more than one job, don't make enough money to lift themselves and their families out of poverty.

To view a copy of the report, CLICK HERE
06 30 09 by Newsroom
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