Poverty Rates in New Jersey
Huge Percentage of State's Poorest Confined to Life in Inner Cities
The poverty rate in New Jersey is 8.4%, which means New Jersey has the 3rd lowest poverty rate in the United States. This is just slightly better than Vermont, and just behind Minnesota.
Where the Worst Poverty in New Jersey Occurs
Though the overall poverty rate of New Jersey may be relatively low, a lot of the people living in New Jersey’s major cities may find this hard to believe.
With poverty rates reaching as high as 35.5% in the city, it becomes clear that the critical poverty in New Jersey is extremely isolated from the rest of the state.
Poverty rates reach critical levels (at least 50% above the state average) in the following major cities (25,000 or more people):
- Atlantic City (23.6%)
- Camden (35.5%)
- East Orange (19.2%)
- Elizabeth (17.8%)
- Jersey City (18.6%)
- Long Beach (16.7%)
- Millville (15.2%)
- New Brunswick (27.0%)
- Newark (28.4%)
- Passaic (21.2%)
- Paterson (22.2%)
- Perth Amboy (17.6%)
- Plainfield (15.9%)
- Trenton (21.1%)
- Union City (21.4%)
Critical poverty rates can also be found in a small number of New Jersey counties. These counties include the following:
- Cumberland (14.2%)
- Essex (13.9%)
- Hudson (14.4%)
Why the Worst Poverty in New Jersey Exists
The isolation of the critical poverty rates to poorer sections of New Jersey’s major cities is a primary reason for the perpetuation of poverty by itself. When the extremely poor in the state are isolated, the areas in which they live can become stigmatized.
This negative stigma associated with the areas discourages businesses from setting up shop, which causes a rise in unemployment.
It also makes the area an unattractive choice for teachers and health care professionals, leading to poor quality education and health care, which makes the problem of poverty even worse and thus reinforces the stigma.
On top of the negative stigma is the fact that people living in heavily populated urban areas, such as the major cities of New Jersey, are completely reliant on the market for all of their most basic needs.
In most cases, people living in poverty in major cities work for a living, but simply cannot earn enough money to sustain themselves or their families.
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 New Jersey
On the more positive side of things, it is much easier for charitable and outreach organizations to reach people in need when they live in heavily populated urban areas.
One of the poverty-fighting organizations based in New Jersey is the Anti-Poverty Network (APN) of New Jersey.
The APN holds regular meetings and forums where faith-based groups, people living in poverty, advocacy organizations, labor unions, and others all come together to update each other on work being done, propose new strategies, and discuss current and pending legislation all about ending poverty in New Jersey.
In addition to organizations like the APN, there are many national organizations which play a part in ending poverty in New Jersey as well.
These organizations include Habitat for Humanity, Second Harvest, Poverty USA, United Way, Save the Children, Big Brothers Big Sisters of America, and many other charitable and outreach organizations.
Other people who help the working poor of New Jersey are legislators who worked to raise the minimum wage. A higher minimum wage will make it possible for many more families to sustain themselves without federal assistance.
References:
United States Census Bureau
Anti-Poverty Network of New Jersey
