Poverty in Maine likely to worsen (Bangor Daily News)

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<ORONO, Maine — Poverty in Maine is at an elevated level and a researcher analyzing the figures predicts it is likely to get worse.

According to the Poverty in Maine Update study produced by the Margaret Chase Smith Policy Center at the University of Maine and the Maine Community Action Association, 12.2 percent of the state’s population was living in poverty in 2007, the most recent year complete figures are available. The poverty line in the report is defined as an individual making $10,210 a year or less; $13,690 for a couple; and $20,650 for a family of four.>

<Broken down by counties, Washington County was the highest with a poverty rate of 20.1 percent, while York County was lowest at 8.2 percent.

Aroostook County had a rate of 17.4 percent, Somerset County had a rate of 17.2 percent, Piscataquis County was 16.5, Waldo County was 14.5, Penobscot County was 13.5, Knox was 10.6 and Hancock was 9.9 percent.>

<According to the report, 75,364, or 39 percent of all students received either free or reduced school lunch in 2007-08. More than half the students in Washington, Waldo, Somerset and Piscataquis counties were eligible for the program. Aroostook County had an eligibility rate of 49.4 percent and Penobscot County had a rate of 42.3 percent.>


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