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Causes of Poverty

In Brief

There are a variety of circumstances that force individuals and families into poverty. Each situation can be as unique as the person, but there are some general factors that make it more likely a person could end up in poverty. These factors include being; a single parent who does not receive child support, a person of color, a person with a disability or a person with a low level of education.

More and more, people who work live in poverty. In Washington State one in four families (about 170,000) are working but struggle to meet basic needs. A job alone is not enough. Three out of four jobs in Washington state don’t pay enough to support a family. Over half a million people don’t have access to health care, and the ranks of the uninsured are rising. Those earning under $20,000 a year are paying up to 17% of what they earn in state and local taxes. Financially staying afloat against odds like these takes more than hard work – it takes support from the community.