Rural vs. Urban
In rural America, the rate of child poverty is 22% and the rate of deep, entrenched poverty is 10%. In urban areas, these statistics fall to 17% and 8%, respectively.
This report spotlights the fact that one-fifth of all poor children hail from rural areas. It makes a clear case for why policymakers should to look beyond the urban landscape to the American countryside when creating services and programs aimed at helping rural children in need.
In the national narrative, child poverty is an exclusively urban issue. In reality, rural America has experienced higher child poverty rates for decades. This disconnect means that policymakers are overlooking the unique challenges that rural families face when designing and implementing critical welfare reforms. Those challenges include absent transportation, low wages and fewer job opportunities.