Washington
State Government
Governor
Jay Inslee (D)
State Senate
20
Democrats,
29
Republicans
State House
58
Democrats,
40
Republicans
Economic well-being - Washington
Extreme poverty rate
0.05
Food insecurity
0.132
Minimum wage
16.66
Percent of working families under 200% of the poverty line
0.227
Poverty rate
9.9%
Unemployment rate
4.5
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
6.5
Poverty by demographic - Washington
Child poverty rate
0.11
Number of Asian and Pacific Islander children below 200% poverty
29000
Number of Black or African American children below 200% poverty
N/A
Number of Hispanic or Latino children below 200% poverty
169000
Senior poverty rate
9.6 %
Women in poverty
3,896,514
The Bellingham Herald, April 9, 2012: City of Bellingham finds funds to support homeless youth shelter
"Northwest Youth Services was able to obtain a small windfall for its new shelter for homeless youth, despite dwindling federal support for housing programs."
The Seattle Medium, March 15, 2012: Arne Duncan Announces Tool To Shed Light On Education Disparities
"U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan and Ali announced new findings from a data collection tool to help analyze the achievement gap in the U.S. education system. That tool, the Transformed Civil Rights Data Collection, consists of self-reported information covering college and career readiness, discipline, school finances and student retention."
Tri-City Herald, March 4, 2012: Richland schools, organizations fight effects of poverty on students
"The boy is one of about 26 students from Richland's Marcus Whitman Elementary School receiving tutoring and breakfast twice a week at nearby West Side Church. As he munched on cereal and a granola bar, the second-grader said he didn't get much help on schoolwork from his parents."
The Bellingham Herald, February 21, 2012: Whatcom Community College parenting education program under budget threat
"She was referring to families that are just above the poverty line so they can't qualify for Head Start, a federal program for preschool children from low-income families. Leatherbarrow said the college presidents' recommendations, which he said are expected out soon, could include a provision that people will pay according to their ability."
The Bellingham Herald, January 29, 2012: Bellingham homeless youth shelter needs funds for construction to finish
"A shelter with 16 beds for homeless youths could be completed in two months, Northwest Youth Services Executive Director Riannon Bardsley said, if the agency gets the money it needs to finish the work."