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Report Shows Increase In Child Poverty In Michigan

A new report finds child poverty has increased in 80 of Michigan’s 83 counties since 2006. 

The Michigan League for Public Policy released the latest Kids Count in Michigan Data Book Monday. It finds a 23-percent increase in poverty among children statewide. There was a 15-percent increase in Kalamazoo County over the same eight year period.

The Kids Count in Michigan Project Director for the Michigan League for Public Policy Alicia Guevara Warren says the economy has improved, but that has done little to reduce poverty among children statewide. 

Calhoun County was one of three counties in the state where child poverty decreased since 2006. But the report still finds that more than 23-percent of children in Calhoun County live in poverty. Guevara Warren says all three counties that saw a drop over the eight year period still have child poverty rates that at or above the state rate for child poverty. 

The Michigan League for Public Policy says policies that would help address childhood poverty include more job training, expanding the Earned Income Tax Credit for working poor families and access to high quality child care. 

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Gordon Evans became WMUK's Content Director in 2019 after more than 20 years as an anchor, host and reporter. A 1990 graduate of Michigan State, he began work at WMUK in 1996.
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