Poverty in Washington State | Opportunities to Prosper

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Goal

Promote equal access for all Washington's residents to meet their full potential.

REAL stories...

Judith Whiteley,
“I became homeless for the first time in 1977. I had to flee my abuser and took my four children with me.”
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Opportunities to Prosper

In Brief

Everyone dreams of a better future for themselves and the ones they love - getting a college degree, saving for a home, opening a small business. In fact, that is what the American Dream is all about. Yet many people in our state are barred from that dream. They struggle in low wage work, unable to afford to go back to school or sacrificing precious time with their kids if they try. They scrimp and save only to see their meager savings vanish when the next crisis hits.

Today in Washington, one in three adults have a high school diploma or less, severely limiting their earnings potential in the workforce. And the wages that they earn often go right out the door to meet some basic need. With the rising cost of housing, health care, food and transportation it is no wonder that half of all Americans have less than $1,000 in savings.

Meeting
Basic Needs