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. Arguably, 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.

According to the U.S. Census bureau, as of 2008 one in three adults have only a high school diploma or less, severely limiting their earning potential in the workforce. The wages that they do earn often go right out the door to buy groceries, pay rent or meet another of life’s basic needs.. With the rising cost of housing, health care, and transportation it is no wonder that so many Americans simply cannot afford to save a significant amount of money.

Meeting
Basic Needs