The US Census Bureau is scheduled to release new statistics on poverty on Thursday, Sept. 16.
Demographers believe that the new numbers will find that the poverty rate has increased from 13.2 percent to 15 percent. This is the largest one-year increase since the data was first collected in 1959.
This means that 45 million Americans are currently living in poverty.
In anticipation of the jump in poverty rates, Vicki Escarra, president and CEO of Feeding America, the nation’s largest hunger relief organization said, “These dismal poverty numbers are further proof that an increasing number of Americans are struggling everyday to feed themselves and their children. The findings prove the critical need for Congress to pass child nutrition reauthorization legislation this month, which will help provide nourishing food to children living in poverty.”
Escarra added:
“Feeding America urges Congress to be mindful of the food assistance needs of all Americans living in poverty – including the critical importance of SNAP benefits and emergency food assistance.”
