AUGUSTA — Advocates for low-income Mainers are presenting a report that highlights the impact of poverty on children, families and seniors.
The Maine Community Action Association is releasing its annual Poverty Report Update today at a news conference at the State House. The report was prepared by the Margaret Chase Smith Center at the University of Maine.
The report highlights newly released county-by-county poverty data from the 2010 U.S. Census.
Figures released in September and based on the 2010 Census show about 161,000 Mainers were living in poverty. The 2010 poverty rate of 12.5 percent was up from 11.4 percent in 2009. Maine’s 2010 poverty rate was still lower than the national rate of 15.1 percent.
Today’s report includes the number of students eligible for free and reduced lunch in Maine and the latest data on poverty among seniors.
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