Delaware
State Government
Governor
John Carney (D)
State Senate
15
Democrats,
6
Republicans
State House
26
Democrats,
15
Republicans
Economic well-being - Delaware
Extreme poverty rate
0.1
Food insecurity
0.1
Minimum wage
15.0
Percent of working families under 200% of the poverty line
0.2
Poverty rate
9.6%
Unemployment rate
4.3
Number of Black or African American children living in families where no parent has full-time, year-round employment
Number of Hispanic or Latino children living in families where no parent has full-time, year-round employment
Percent of individuals who are uninsured
6.9
The News Journal, October 25, 2014: Group brings learning into sharp new focus
"You can't learn what you can't see. That's the basic principle behind 'Vision to Learn,' a new campaign in Delaware to give low-income students free eye exams and glasses."
The News Journal, October 25, 2014: (Op-Ed) Getting more poor kids into college won't fix inequality
"f you want to address income inequality, fix higher education. That seems to be the current thinking in Washington, where President Obama has urged college administrators to better serve low-income students. Some colleges have been following that guidance. The University of Chicago has been praised for its new campaign to recruit low-income students a strategy that reduces the financial paperwork in the admissions process and guarantees low- and middle-income students summer employment while no longer expecting them to work during the academic year."
The News Journal, May 19, 2013: The Aging of Delaware: Programs keep seniors home
"Rios and his neighbors in the low-income senior housing where he lives on Wilmington's west side are one segment of the growing population of older adults in the First State, where nearly a third of residents are projected to be 60 or older by 2030. Delaware is grappling with how to provide needed services for this surge of residents, many of whom wish to stay in their communities."
The News Journal, May 05, 2013: Wilmington University aims to help homeless students with new scholarship
"A new scholarship program at Wilmington University aims to help academically qualified homeless students from Delaware's public school districts. The university will provide $1,000 each academic year to supplement the financial aid of the students, who can use the money for books, supplies and other necessities."
The News Journal, May 24, 2012: Budget compromise sets 1% pay hike for state workers, retirees
"'Those are the employees that need the most; those are the employees that are suffering the most, the retirees who are suffering the most,' he said. 'There are individuals working for the state in the merit system who are at the poverty level.'"
The News Journal, March 1, 2012: Delaware legislators push for deep look at Social Security denials
"'You want judicial independence, but you want to balance it with some consistency,' Linarducci said. 'Just because the judges aren't doing anything illegal doesn't mean it's a good system.' About 8.6 million disabled workers nationwide get an average monthly benefit of $1,170. Another 8.2 million low-income disabled people get about $517 a month in Supplemental Security Income."