For this week's United Way Wednesday, Jeff Sargent, the Executive Director of North Central Community Action Program, stopped by Sunrise 7 to talk with us about the growing problem of poverty in North Central Wisconsin.
While most people think of the stereotypical single man sitting on a street corner begging for change, Sargent says the reality is that's not usually the case.
There are far more homeless families and homeless children than people realize.
The statistics are staggering:
22% of all children live in families with income below the federal poverty level.
45% of all children live in families that are considered “low-income”.
41% of the homeless population are comprised of families.
16.7 million children under 18 in the US live in households where they are unable to consistently access enough nutritious food for a healthy life.
