Poverty in Minnesota: How Can Communities Work Together?

The Minnesota poverty rate is at 10% and 90% of residents had health insurance according to the Current Population Survey sited by our state’s demographer in an MPR report on Wednesday, September 12, 2012.

The American Community Survey to be released next week will provide more accurate numbers.

This current report indicates that nationally, the poverty rate stayed steady at 15% from 2010 to 2011 but median income dropped by 1.5% to $50,054. According to the US Census Bureau, an increase in full-time employment likely prevented the poverty rate from rising.

How is your community addressing these high levels of poverty? Who are you engaging in discussions? What types of discussions and ideas are surfacing?

Kathy Grochow, NRS, St. Cloud