Significant Increases in Poverty Throughout the Midwest and Across Illinois Indicate Families Mired in Hardship

Immediate, Expert Analysis Available Regarding Counties and Places in the Midwest, Illinois, and Chicago Area

CHICAGO, Sept. 28 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The U.S. Census Bureau released new local information on income, poverty rates, and health insurance coverage from the American Community Survey on Tuesday, September 28. The Social IMPACT Research Center has done the analysis for you, creating a series of fact sheets that include a 2009 snapshot and trend over time analysis. Some highlights are below:

• 13.9% of Midwesterners are living in poverty. The number of people in poverty in the Midwest dramatically grew by 2,702,429 people from 1999 to 2009.
• The Illinois poverty rate rose 24% from 1999 to 2009. In 2009 the poverty rate in Illinois was 13.3%, up from 12.2% in 2008 and 10.7% in 1999.

Tuesday, September 28 and Wednesday, September 29 experts on poverty issues will be available to provide analysis of the data and discuss their context and implications.

The new data cover state and local income and poverty estimates for the year 2009 as well as state and local health insurance coverage data. The Social IMPACT Research Center is creating customized fact sheets with local data for the geographies below available at http://www.heartlandalliance.org/povertyreport.

The Social IMPACT Research Center (IMPACT) provides dynamic research and analysis on today's most pressing social issues and solutions to inform and equip those working toward a just global society. As such, IMPACT conducts research to increase the depth of understanding and profile of social issues and solutions; develops recommendations and action steps; communicates findings using media, briefings, and web strategies to influence a broad base of decision makers; and Impacts social policy and program decisions to improve the quality of life for poor and low-income individuals.

SOURCE Social IMPACT Research Center