Pennsylvania
State Government
Governor
Josh Shapiro (D)
State Senate
22
Democrats,
28
Republicans
State House
102
Democrats,
101
Republicans
Economic well-being - Pennsylvania
Extreme poverty rate
0.07
Food insecurity
0.132
Minimum wage
7.25
Percent of working families under 200% of the poverty line
0.273
Poverty rate
11.6%
Unemployment rate
4
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
5.8
Poverty by demographic - Pennsylvania
Child poverty rate
0.15
Number of Asian and Pacific Islander children below 200% poverty
29000
Number of Black or African American children below 200% poverty
191000
Number of Hispanic or Latino children below 200% poverty
215000
Senior poverty rate
10.4 %
Women in poverty
6,429,348
The Philadelphia Inquirer, September 04, 2012: Northeast High program with Philadelphia Futures helps students get into college
"Enter Philadelphia Futures, the nonprofit that helps promising low-income city students get into college and then succeed there. Traditionally, it has handpicked a select group of teens - currently, 176 high school students citywide - for intensive, long-term mentoring, academic enrichment, guidance, and funds for college-related expenses. But Futures wants to do more. This year, it's launched a one-year pilot program for 31 Northeast seniors."
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, August 06, 2012: Local businesses pitch in for school supplies
"Back-to-school costs are expected to increase this year, according to one index, but local corporations and nonprofits are stepping in to help low-income families equip their children for schools."
The Philadelphia Inquirer, August 04, 2012: Getting to voter-ID centers a hardship for low-income elderly
"A representative at Episcopal Commons, a low-income housing agency for Perry County seniors and disabled people, cited Duncannon as well when, in fact, the nearest ID center is 271/2 miles away in Cumberland County, a 45-minute drive away."
The Patriot-News, June 24, 2012: Cumberland County could cut more senior services
"Dauphin County Commissioner George Hartwick III said the county stopped providing grocery shopping and laundry assistance to its senior citizens in 2005. The county Aging office had to cut services and lay off staff to close a $1.3 million budget deficit."
The Philadelphia Inquirer, June 11, 2012: Lack of computer access a major hurdle for the poor
"For low-income Americans, it's akin to being stuck yelling out a window to communicate while everyone else is using the phone. Overall, 90 percent of Americans making between $50,000 and $74,999 are online, according to a study released by the Pew Research Center in April. For those making more than $75,000 annually, it's 97 percent."
The Philadelphia Inquirer, June 11, 2012: Cherry Hill looks to phase out rent control
"Cherry Hill is preparing to scale back rent control, prompting fears among senior citizens that they soon could be priced out of their apartments and forced to move to less expensive suburbs."