Saturday, May 18, 2013
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Working Poor Among the Thousands Living in PovertyMore than 40,000 Anchorage residents are living in poverty, according to a recent hunger study by the Food Bank of Alaska.
According to a new U.S Census study, more Americans have become poor, setting a record number since 1983.
The overall poverty rate in the U.S. climbed to 15 percent -46 million now living in poverty- with an annual income of $22,314 for a family of four. It’s a staggering statistic that is also seen here in Anchorage. According to a recent hunger study conducted by the Food Bank of Alaska, more than 40,000 people are living in poverty. Many of these residents are employed but are still not able to make ends meet. Jade Ransom is just one of thousands of Anchorage residents living in poverty. “I never thought I was close to the poverty line, but two months that’s where I was,” she said. After a two-months stay in the hospital, she lost her job, her apartment and was living on the street. “I got out of the hospital with literally no home and nothing but what was on my back and no job, and there I was-homeless,” Ransom said. Her husband is employed full time, but is paid only minimum wage, which is barely enough to pay for their rent. “It takes every cent that we can pull together just to keep a motor home roof over our heads,” she said, relying on the food pantry at the New Hope on the Last Frontier for food. “If it was not for the food that I get here, I don’t know what we'd eat,” she said. |
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old lady long time Alaskan said on Saturday, Sep 17 at 10:13 AM
Everyone I know is living on the edge and barely surviving. While our local government keeps voting themselves cost of living pay increases and supporting one massive costly boondoggle after another. While the exponentially increasing number of families fac facing dire hardship continues to grow.
73965059for Anonymous said on Thursday, Sep 15 at 6:43 PM
go back to your mamas ahem and get another mouthful of spoiled brat. what will you do when this happens to you?
73894289Anonymous said on Wednesday, Sep 14 at 11:48 AM
you can blame all of this on your treasonous goverment! time to wake up sheep!
73816524ricola said on Wednesday, Sep 14 at 9:25 AM
After nine months of unemployment we have lost every thing we owned.Jobs are out there but the pay scale is lower than unemployment.If you can find a full time job it's only minimum wage. All the jobs that pay decent go to people from out of state.When will companies do right by Alaskans?
73807284akrock said on Wednesday, Sep 14 at 6:32 AM
At least when the balloon goes up, we poor folks will know how to survive with what we have. The rich will be jumping out windows.
73795638livingthedream in ak said on Tuesday, Sep 13 at 8:02 PM
Sad but true! You are not the only one working to make ends meet but relying on the food bank to put food on the table!
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