Inside the Beltway, that is Alexandria, Arlington and parts of Fairfax, 32 percent of children are living in poverty or near poverty. In Fairfax County, 26 percent of children live in or near poverty.
This is according to the Weldon Cooper Center for Public Service at the University of Virginia.
“While Northern Virginia counties and cities enjoy some of the highest median incomes in the nation, the Virginia Poverty Measure shows that the extent of economic deprivation in the region is significantly greater than suggested by official poverty statistics.”
Taking into consideration the high cost of housing and other necessary goods, poverty rates for Northern Virginia residents are surprising. Inside the Beltway, the Virginia Poverty Measure showing a poverty rate of 12.3 percent, much higher than the official rate of 7.4 percent. In Fairfax, the Virginia Poverty Measure shows a poverty rate of nearly 10 percent (9.7 percent).
In Fairfax, that’s more than 100,000 individuals living in poverty.
But for the most part, the affluent residents in our area do not see any of this poverty. Our schools and neighborhoods are economically segregated.
When thinking about affordable housing, about funding for schools, about expanding health coverage, it’s important to hold these numbers, these children, these families in mind.
Father’s Day Photos
Father’s Day is June 15, and as in years past, The Connection will publish a gallery of photos of fathers, grandfathers, great grandfathers and sons and daughters. Send your photos, including names of everyone in the photo, ages of children, town of residence and a brief description of what is happening to editors@connectionnewspapers.com