Here are a few numbers related to governmental efforts to eradicate poverty in America:
33 million — Number of Americans who were living in poverty when the ‘war on poverty’ was declared in 1964.
46.5 million — Number of Americans who are living in poverty today.
19% — Poverty rate in 1964.
15% — Poverty rate in 2013.
126 — Current number of different federal programs aimed at fighting poverty
$15,000,000,000,000 — Total local, state, and federal spending on welfare programs since the beginning of the ‘war on poverty.’
$1,000,000,000,000 —Amount the U.S. spends annually on welfare programs.
$20,610 — Annual amount spent for every poor person in America ($61,830 per poor family of three).
25% – Poverty rate among single-dads.
31% — Poverty rate among single moms.
6% — Poverty rate among married couples.
0.001% — Poverty rate among married couples who both have full-time jobs.