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.
