More than 49 million Americans, or 16% of the population, were living in poverty in 2010

Rising poverty is a national tragedy and a brewing humanitarian crisis in America...

Which brings us to another edition of Taken to Task.
11/15/2011
The poverty figures released this week came after the U.S. Census Bureau adjusted the way in which it calculates poverty using the new Supplemental Poverty Measure. Instead of just tripling a family's minimum annual food budget, as previously, this new measure looks at how much families spend on food, shelter, clothing and utilities. You know, life's basic necessities.

Most groups saw their poverty rates increase using the new calculations, including married couples, whites, Asians, immigrants, homeowners with mortgages, those with private health insurance and the elderly. Poverty rates among those over 65 rose to 15.9% from the previously reported 9%. Poverty rates did, however, drop for Americans under the age of 18, African Americans, renters and people living in rural areas.