Poverty Rates in Montana
Needs of Native American Reservations Consistently Underrepresented
With a poverty rate of 13.6%, Montana has the 16th highest poverty rate in the United States. Montana’s poverty rate is slightly lower than the poverty rate of Georgia, and slightly higher than the poverty rate of California.
Where the Worst Poverty in Montana Occurs
For the most part, the poverty rates of different counties and cities in Montana remain relatively even throughout the state. However, there are four counties in Montana with critical rates of poverty (at least 50% above the state average).
These four counties are the following:
- Big Horn (23.1%)
- Blaine (21.5%)
- Glacier (25.2%)
- Roosevelt (26.8%)
Though these four counties seem to have no connection to each other because they are so spread apart (see map below article), they do each have something in common.
Three of the four counties are the only three counties in Montana with a majority of Native American residents. The fourth county, Blaine County, still has 47.5% Native American residents.
There are no major cities (25,000 or more people) in Montana with a poverty rate that is at least 50% above the state average.
Why the Worst Poverty in Montana Exists
According to the United States Census, critical rates of poverty in Montana are directly linked to areas of Native American reservations.
Native Americans living on these reservations often times feel forgotten, or pushed to the side, by the United States government.
There is a serious negative stigma associated with these reservations which makes it harder on the residents, suicide rates are extremely high, and they have little to no political voice.
When is the last time anyone heard “I’m going to fight to improve the Native American reservations” in a campaign message?
When negative stigma is associated with any area, it can lead to the area becoming an unattractive place for expanding businesses, teachers, and health care professionals who might otherwise consider working in the area.
This results in a serious lack of jobs and high unemployment rates, low-quality education, and low-quality health care. All of this then makes the problem of poverty even worse in the area, which then reinforces the negative stigma attached to it.
All of this aside, it is important to keep in mind that the reasons for poverty are as unique as the individuals who live through it. Though finding trends in a specific area is important, no generalization can account for everyone.
What is Being Done about Poverty in Montana
Since the problem of critical poverty in Montana is in areas of Native American reservations, it is important that communication between the United States federal government and the tribal governments improve.
This means that the federal government has to be more willing to work with the tribal governments if there is going to be any positive change. When looking at this aspect of the problem, barely anything, if anything, is being done.
Though there is a federal assistance program called the Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations in place, funding for this program has only been continuously decreased in the final years of the Bush Administration.
On the more positive side, the USDA’s Rural Development branch does have rural community development initiatives in place.
The USDA also has programs to improve housing and access to utilities in rural areas of Montana as well, which includes Native American reservations.
Though the USDA also says that they communicate with the Native American tribes, it is apparent that much more will have to be done to bring people together and end poverty in Montana’s Native American reservations.
References:
United States Census Bureau
United States Department of Agriculture
