Who is Poor in Washington State?

Prosperity has left many counties behind. While the annualized 2000 unemployment rate in King County was 3.2%, it was much higher elsewhere in our state. In Yakima County it was 8.5%, in Okanogan County, it was 9.8%, and in Grant County, it was 11.1 %.

One in eight households in Washington State are hungry or at risk for hunger. (USDA Report Oct. 2000)

More than three-fourths of all poor children in the United States (77.6%) live in working families. (Children's Defense Fund Report Sept. 2000)

17% of people receiving food from Northwest Harvest's statewide Hunger Response Network are seniors. 41% are children.

Many need help because of an emergency — such as a job loss, an illness, injury,  domestic violence or divorce.

Still others may be working at low wage jobs that don't cover the high cost of rent, child care, utilities, and transportation.