About the Institute

The Indiana Institute for Working Families promotes data-driven policy that results in opportunities for Hoosier families to become self-sufficient. The Indiana Institute for Working Families, a program of the Indiana Community Action Association (IN-CAA), was founded in 2004. The Institute is the only statewide program in Indiana that combines research and policy analysis on federal and state legislation, public policies, and programs impacting low-income working families with education and outreach.

For Immediate Release
Press Release

Thursday, September 22, 2011

CONTACTS: Jessica Fraser, Senior Policy Analyst, 317-638-4232 or 260-438-3959, jfraser@incap.org

Lisa Travis, Program Manager, 317-638-4232 or 502-608-5347, ltravis@incap.org

Indiana Sees Increase in Child Poverty and Those Who are Severely Poor

Indianapolis, IN—Today the U.S. Census Bureau released American Community Survey (ACS) data. ACS data is based on information collected from January 1, 2010 through December 31, 20101 and is a much larger sample size than the Current Population Survey data released by the Census Bureau2 earlier this month.

Despite these differences in data sets, ACS data also shows poverty has increased in Indiana. Indiana’s poverty rate has increased to15.3 percent in 2010, up from 14.4 percent in 2009. This mirrors the national poverty rate of 15.3 percent in 2010, up from 14.3 percent in 2009. Indiana is currently tied with Missouri with the 20th highest poverty rate in 2010.

In 2010, 21.7 percent of Hoosier children lived in poverty, ranking Indiana with 21st highest child poverty rate. The number of poor children in Indiana reached 342,172–an increase of 31,141 (or 10 percent) in one year. Read full release here.