More than 38,000 people in Jefferson County are living in poverty.
Cost of Poverty to our Community
$1 TRILLION ANNUALLY
Child poverty costs the US $1 trillion annually, with welfare costs around $500 billion.
$343,453 PER CHILD
It costs Colorado $343,453 per kid who ages out of foster care.
ONLY 16% ESCAPE POVERTY
Only 16% of children are able to escape poverty, further perpetuating the cycle of generational poverty.
Source: Monica Privette-Black. “Intergenerational Poverty in the United States.” Ballard Brief. May 2021. www.ballardbrief.org.
Poverty's Impact on Education
ONLY 11% FIRST-GEN STUDENTS EARN A
4-YEAR DEGREE
1 IN 10 STUDENTS DROP OUT OF HIGH SCHOOL
HIGH SCHOOL
GRADUATES LIVE
9 YEARS LONGER
Compared to 55% of their higher-income peers.
Compared to only 1 in 100 students from higher-income families.
Compared to those without a high school diploma.
Source: Monica Privette-Black. “Intergenerational Poverty in the United States.” Ballard Brief. May 2021. www.ballardbrief.org.
To meet basic needs in Colorado a single parent of two children needs to earn:
$40.63 HOURLY
$7,151 MONTHLY
$85,811 ANNUALLY
At Colorado's minimum wage ($13.56), a single parent would need to work 104 hours per week to meet the family’s basic costs of living.
104 HOURS PER WEEK
Source: Colorado Center on Law and Policy, The Self-Sufficiency Standard for Colorado 2022 Report
Today 1 out of 10 Colorado residents live in poverty.
Federal Poverty Level (FPL)
The Federal Poverty Level (FPL) is a measure of income issued every year by the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). Federal poverty levels are used to determine your eligibility for certain programs and benefits, including savings on Marketplace health insurance, and Medicaid and CHIP coverage.
For individuals.........$14,580
For a family of 2.......$19,720
For a family of 3.......$24,860
For a family of 4.......$30,000
2023 FPL Guidlines:
Source: Federal Poverty Guidelines, Department of Health and Human Services (HHS)
Resources & Assistance
Making ends meet can be hard and everyone could use some help from time to time. If you need assistance with food, finding a job, or other support, and are not sure where to turn, Jeffco community partners can help. For a full list of resources visit the Jeffco Community Resources Page.
