Wisconsin
State Government
Governor
Tony Evers (D)
State Senate
10
Democrats,
22
Republicans
State House
35
Democrats,
41
Republicans
Economic well-being - Wisconsin
Extreme poverty rate
0.06
Food insecurity
0.118
Minimum wage
7.25
Percent of working families under 200% of the poverty line
0.251
Poverty rate
10.3%
Unemployment rate
3.1
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
5.3
Poverty by demographic - Wisconsin
Child poverty rate
0.12
Number of Asian and Pacific Islander children below 200% poverty
N/A
Number of Black or African American children below 200% poverty
67,000
Number of Hispanic or Latino children below 200% poverty
85,000
Senior poverty rate
10.0 %
Women in poverty
2,915,466
The Capital Times, September 15, 2012: (Op-Ed) Child poverty in stressed schools needs legislative response
"Wisconsin experienced a dramatic uptick in the number of children living in poverty. Census data show the number of school-age children in poverty rose to about one out of six in 2010. According to the U.S. census, two-thirds of Wisconsin counties experienced a significant increase in child poverty over the last three years. Every county but one in the new 31st Senate District, which I represent, experienced a significant increase in child poverty."
The Business Journal of Milwaukee, September 14, 2012: A chance at achieving the American Dream
"The United Way of Greater Milwaukee's Individual Development Account (IDA) program, in conjunction with the efforts of the Boys and Girls Clubs of Greater Milwaukee and Select Milwaukee, a nonprofit counseling program for homebuyers, is helping minority and low-income applicants gain the financial stability needed to pursue their dreams. By providing eligible participants with matching dollars for every dollar they save themselves, the IDA program offers a valuable monetary boost to those who want to buy that first home or attend a postsecondary school."
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, September 06, 2012: Stuff the Bus ensures students have school supplies
"It's not a highly known fact in the Germantown community, but poverty in the suburban school district has nearly tripled in the last decade. Statistics provided by the Germantown School District show that between one in six and one in seven students meet the federal poverty guidelines and qualify for free and reduced lunches. With these statistics in mind, Go Riteway, the district's contracted company for its busing needs, took action and launched Stuff the Bus."
The Business Journal of Milwaukee, September 05, 2012: Grants to help college students get degrees
"Great Lakes Higher Education Guaranty Corp. (Great Lakes) awards $1.8 million in grants to 14 programs that help Wisconsin college students from disadvantaged backgrounds complete their degree, diploma or certificate."
The Stevens Point Journal, August 11, 2012: Upward Bound funding reinstated in nick of time
"The U.S. Department of Education reinstated the program's funding for the next five years. Upward Bound, which prepares low-income students for college, will receive just more than $414,000 from Sept. 1 to Aug. 31, 2017."
The Business Journal of Milwaukee, August 03, 2012: State grant to help students map job path
"By next July, 3,000 low-income or minority students in southeastern Wisconsin will choose a career path, talk to professionals in that industry and map a high school and post-secondary education strategy under a new initiative from the Greater Milwaukee Committee's Talent Dividend."