Poverty Rates in Pennsylvania
Residents of the State's Major Cities Cannot Get By on Minimum Wage
With a poverty rate of 11.2%, Pennsylvania has the 29th highest poverty rate in the United States. This is just slightly better than the poverty rates of Maine and Idaho, but just slightly higher than the poverty rates of Kansas, Indiana, and Nevada.
Where the Worst Poverty in Pennsylvania Occurs
The highest poverty rates in Pennsylvania occur in the state’s major cities. There are 15 major cities in Pennsylvania with poverty rates that reach critical levels (at least 50% above the state average poverty rate).
The major cities (25,000 or more people) with these critical poverty rates are the following:
- Allentown (18.5%)
- Altoona (17.7%)
- Chester (27.2%)
- Erie (18.8%)
- Harrisburg (24.6%)
- Lancaster (21.2%)
- New Castle (20.8%)
- Norristown (17.2%)
- Philadelphia (22.9%)
- Pittsburgh (20.4%)
- Reading (26.1%)
- State College (46.9%)
- Wilkes-Barre (17.8%)
- Williamsport (21.5%)
- York (23.8%)
There are also two counties with critical poverty rates in Pennsylvania, but these are both urban counties as well (see map below article). They are Fayette County with a poverty rate of 16.9% and Philadelphia County with a poverty rate of 21.6%.
Why the Worst Poverty in Pennsylvania Exists
Since all of the critical poverty rates in Pennsylvania occur in heavily populated major cities, this section will focus mainly on problems which contribute to poverty in urban areas.
In a heavily populated urban area, people are completely reliant on the market for all of their most basic needs. These needs include shelter, food, utilities, education, and health care.
As the costs of these most basic needs rise, but the minimum wage in a major city does not rise, pockets of poverty begin to form and expand.
As these pockets of poverty begin to expand, negative stigma may start to be associated with the area.
Negative stigma can make that particular area of the city an unattractive place for expanding businesses, teachers, and health care professionals. This then makes the area a place of few available jobs, low-quality education, and low-quality health care.
This then makes the poverty in the area even worse, creating a cycle of continuously worsening poverty.
The cycle will continue to repeat and poverty will continue to multiply until some sort of public-sector or private-sector investment is made in the area.
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 Pennsylvania
Since all of the most critical poverty of Pennsylvania is located in its major cities, this makes it much easier for charitable and outreach organizations to help people in need than it is in more rural areas.
Though there are many state-based organizations working to end poverty in Pennsylvania, it seems that national organizations still have the most impact on peoples’ lives within the state.
Examples of these national organizations include Red Cross, United Way, Save the Children, Poverty USA, Habitat for Humanity, Second Harvest, Big Brother Big Sister, and many others.
Other people who have worked to help people in need within Pennsylvania cities are legislators who worked to raise the minimum wage. A higher minimum wage will make it possible for many more low-income families to sustain themselves without federal assistance.
References:
United States Census Bureau
