A new review of census data from the Annie E. Casey Foundation shows while the number of Arizona’s poor neighborhoods has dropped a few percentage points, from 22% to 20%, the state still has some of the highest rates in the country.
One in 5 children lives in concentrated poverty here, according to the report. Arizona ties with Louisiana for the fifth-highest rate in the country.
“That in our minds is a ... contributor to perpetuating the cycle of poverty,” said Siman Qaasim, president and CEO of advocacy group Children's Action Alliance. “We know it’s not good because when you live in a poor neighborhood you have less access to health foods, less access to good doctors and dentists and pre-natal care”
Concentrated poverty means at least 30% of the population lives below the federal poverty level.
In Arizona and nationally, Latino (30%), African American (24%) and American Indian (61%) kids are more likely to live in these poor neighborhoods.
The state also has the highest rate of children in rural communities living in concentrated poverty at 39%, compared to 11% nationally.
