According to the United States Census Bureau the poverty rate in Texas was 14.5% in 2018. This means that about 4.5 million people in Texas were living below the poverty line. The poverty line is an income threshold set by the federal government. In 2018 the poverty line for a family of four was an annual income of $25100.
Texas has the seventh-highest poverty rate among states and the second-highest rate among large states (behind California). The poverty rate in Texas is higher than the national poverty rate of 11.8%.
There are many factors that contribute to poverty in Texas. One is the state’s low minimum wage. The minimum wage in Texas is $7.25 per hour which is the same as the federal minimum wage. However the cost of living in Texas is higher than the national average. This means that families need to earn more money just to cover basic expenses.
Another factor is the high cost of housing. According to the National Low Income Housing Coalition a family in Texas would need to earn at least $17.00 per hour to afford a two-bedroom apartment. This is more than double the minimum wage. Many families in Texas are forced to live in substandard housing or to double up with other families. This can lead to overcrowding and poor living conditions which can have a negative impact on health.
Texas also has a high rate of child poverty. In 2018 21.8% of children in Texas were living in poverty. This is higher than the national child poverty rate of 18.5%. Children who grow up in poverty are more likely to experience poor health low educational achievement and unemployment as adults.
There are many nonprofit organizations that are working to reduce poverty in Texas. One example is the Texas Hunger Initiative which is a part of Baylor University. The Texas Hunger Initiative works with communities to create hunger-free zones. They provide food and resources to families in need and they also work to connect families with social services and job training programs.
If you want to help reduce poverty in Texas you can donate to the Texas Hunger Initiative or another organization working to end poverty in the state. You can also volunteer your time to help with their programs. Finally you can advocate for policies that would help reduce poverty such as increasing the minimum wage or increasing funding for social services.
