The share of all people who live in families with incomes below the federal poverty level.
The federal poverty definition consists of a series of thresholds based on family size and composition. In calendar year 2017, a family of two adults and two children fell in the 200% “poverty” category if their annual income fell below $49,200. Poverty status is not determined for people in military barracks, institutional quarters, or for unrelated individuals under age 15 (such as foster children). The data are based on income received in the 12 months prior to the survey.
Data source: US Census Bureau/American Community Survey
Last updated: October, 2017
Updated by: Department for Children and Families
We want to reduce the percentage of the population living below the Federal Poverty Level as part of our efforts to ensure that all Vermonters are healthy.
In Vermont, the percentage of individuals living below the 200% Federal Poverty Level (FPL) has seen a slight decline since a high of 30% in 2010 to 27% in 2016. In 2016, approximately 163,000 Vermonters lived at this level.
The FPL is calculated by multiplying the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s “economy food plan” by three, based on data collected in the 1950s that found that food costs approximated one-third of a family's budget. Today, food comprises far less than one-third of a family’s expenses, while housing, transportation, and child care costs have grown disproportionately (source). Therefore, individuals living below the Federal Poverty Level will struggle to meet their basic needs.
AHS is currently using this tool to assess our agency contribution to reducing the rate of poverty in Vermont. One Agency cannot turn the curve alone; there are many partners who have a role to play making a difference.
Poverty in Vermont is a population-level problem. Many partners, including those identified below, have a role to play in improving this population-level indicator for the state of Vermont.
Effective anti-poverty programs should:
Sources: Brookings Institute, Ford Foundation
Initiatives across the Agency of Human Services aim to support individuals living in poverty. DCF initiatives that aim to reduce the poverty rate include: