Seeing the Full Picture: Poverty Rates May Have Dropped but Families Are Still Facing Material Hardship
A recent New York Times article reported that from 1993 to 2019 the child poverty rate has dropped by more than half, showing the critical role of robust government support as well as the power of persistent efforts of parents, caregivers, and advocates.
While progress has been considerable, the pressing problem of child poverty has not been resolved.
RAPID data show that material hardship among families with young children has been on the rise since April 2022—and having higher household income does not fully protect families from material hardship and its effect on emotional well-being.