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Report: Illinois Can Halve 'Extreme Poverty' by 2015
CHICAGO (AP) -- A commission tasked with designing a plan to reduce poverty in Illinois is calling for more low income student scholarships, a jobs program and helping more people get assistance.

The Illinois Commission on the Elimination of Poverty released its plan today to cut "extreme poverty" in half by 2015.

About 760,000, or about 6 percent, of Illinois' approximately 12 million people are in extreme poverty. Poverty means a family of four would survive on about $22,000 annually, but for a family in extreme poverty it's only about $11,000.

Commission spokesman Doug Schenkelberg says there isn't one remedy to reduce poverty. That's why the plan addresses education, jobs and housing, among other issues. He says the plan is realistic if there's political will to follow through.

(Copyright 2010 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
12 09 10 by Newsroom
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