Arizona Poverty Rate Skyrockets | Legal News | News Ticker

The United States Census provides many different statistics to review aside from population. One such statistic that’s measured is poverty rate, and unfortunately for Arizona, that rate has skyrocketed. In fact, no state’s poverty rate climbed faster between 2006 and 2009. For those who face this harsh reality, there are steps that can be taken to put many of their financial struggles behind them with the help of Arizona bankruptcy lawyers, and below is a closer look at this serious problem.

According to the US Census Bureau, the poverty rate in Arizona stands at 21.2 percent of the population. That’s an enormous rise from the previous measure taken in 2006/2007, and at this point only Mississippi has a higher poverty rate than Arizona. This means that more than one in every five Arizona residents live in poverty, which is defined numerically as individuals who earn less than $10,956 per year and less than $21,954 per year for a family of four. Clearly, those who find themselves in this situation are enduring an endless struggle.

Those who have offered theories on how and why Arizona’s poverty rate has shot up at such a rapid rate tend to point to the obvious, including the high unemployment rate in the state, the drop in real estate values and other economic indicators that show that as a whole, Arizona residents are collectively fighting to keep their heads above water when it comes to their finances. Most experts seem to agree that this poverty rate will not improve until the overall economy turns around and people can find gainful employment.