Poverty Rates in Nebraska
Rural Areas and Native American Reservations Suffer
With a poverty rate of 10.0%, Nebraska ties with Alaska with the 39th highest poverty rate in the United States.
This is just slightly better than the poverty rate of Colorado, and just slightly higher than the poverty rate of Massachusetts.
Where the Worst Poverty in Nebraska Occurs
Throughout Nebraska, poverty rates remain relatively close to the state average in each major city and county. However, there are two counties in Nebraska which are experiencing critical poverty rates (see map below article).
The two counties with critical poverty rates (at least 50% above the state average) are the following:
- Dawes (15.8%)
- Thurston (20.5%)
None of the six major cities in Nebraska currently experience critical rates of poverty.
Why the Worst Poverty in Nebraska Exists
There are two different sets of reasons for the critical poverty rates in Nebraska.
In a rural area like Dawes County, it can oftentimes be difficult to access basic utilities. This means it is harder to access electricity, water, and sewage systems than it is for people living in urban areas.
Due to low quality road maintenance in areas like this it can also be much more difficult to reach a hospital or school. All of this isolation also means that the residents of Dawes County have less of a political voice as well.
In Thurston County, the entire county is actually two Native American reservations for the Omaha Tribe and the Winnebago Tribe.
When dealing with poverty on Native American reservations, the main problem to overcome is the problem of negative stigma.
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?
Native Americans living on reservations like the ones in Thurston County often times feel forgotten, or pushed to the side, by the United States government.
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 Nebraska
There are several organizations within Nebraska that are working to help low-income individuals make a better life for themselves and their families.
One of these organizations is Nebraska Appleseed. This organization works to promote self-sufficiency for Nebraska’s poor working families by focusing on advancing policies and practices in government that help reach their goal.
Another such organization is the Food Bank of Lincoln, which provides food to the needy in southeastern regions of Nebraska.
Though when looking at the problems specifically in the two counties with the most critical rates of poverty, finding help is a trickier process.
Both counties suffer from problems of isolation which could be improved with either better/expanded infrastructure, or better federal-tribal relations and an improved attitude among the American public to combat negative stigmas currently in place.
References:
United States Census Bureau
Nebraska Appleseed
Food Bank of Lincoln
