POVERTY IN ARIZONA; NOT A PRETTY PICTURE

posted by Michael Chihak

The effects of the economic downturn and resultant governmental and nonprofit budget reductions on poverty will be the topic of Friday's Arizona Week.

Arizona's poverty rate went down slightly from 2009 to 2010, according to the U.S. Census Bureau, but it is still fourth worst in the country. The Cronkite News Service detailed the statistics in a report last month.

For Friday, we will interview Penelope Jacks, director of the Children's Action Alliance Southern Arizona office. The alliance tracks information about child and family welfare and advocates on their behalf.

We also are seeking interviews with the director of the Community Action Human Resources Agency in Eloy to get a picture of the issues in rural Arizona, an official with the Arizona Department of Economic Security and officials of food banks and homeless shelters around the state.