The reality
The Numbers Behind the Need
Every statistic represents a family. Understanding the scale of poverty in America — and right here in New York and New Jersey — is the first step toward changing it.
Data sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey (2023), the National Center for Children in Poverty, and the Annie E. Casey Foundation Kids Count Data Center.
National picture
Family Poverty Across the United States
Poverty in America is not a distant problem — it is a persistent, structural crisis affecting tens of millions of families in every state, every county, and every zip code.
children in America grows up in poverty — limiting their access to nutrition, education, healthcare, and stable housing before they ever start school.
New York
Family Poverty in New York State
New York is one of the wealthiest states in the nation — and one of the most unequal. Poverty is concentrated in urban centers and rural communities alike, with families facing some of the highest costs of living in the country.
New York City's South Bronx consistently ranks as one of the poorest urban congressional districts in the United States, with child poverty rates exceeding 40% in some neighborhoods.
New Jersey
Family Poverty in New Jersey
New Jersey ranks among the top states for median household income — yet nearly 1 million residents live in poverty, concentrated in cities like Newark, Trenton, Camden, and Paterson where families face compounding barriers to stability.
Despite NJ's high median income, the gap between wealthy suburbs and urban centers is among the widest in the nation. Families in Camden earn, on average, 1/10th the income of families in nearby Princeton.
Why this matters
Poverty Doesn't Stop at One Problem
Families in poverty face compounding crises. Housing instability leads to school disruption, which leads to reduced lifetime earnings, which perpetuates the cycle. Every intervention we make breaks a link in that chain.
Education Gap
Children in poverty are 3× more likely to drop out of high school and 6× less likely to graduate college, limiting lifetime earning potential.
Health Disparities
Low-income families are 2× as likely to report poor or fair health and have significantly higher rates of chronic illness and untreated mental health conditions.
Housing Instability
1 in 30 American children experiences homelessness each year. Unstable housing is the single strongest predictor of poor outcomes across every life domain.
Intergenerational Cycle
Children who grow up in poverty are 3× more likely to be poor as adults — without intervention, the cycle continues across generations.
These Numbers Are Why We Exist.
Family Support Network Inc. works every day to be the intervention that changes a family's trajectory. Your support — whether time, money, or advocacy — directly addresses the needs behind these statistics.