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Why This is Important

Growing up at or near the poverty line means that a child is more likely than a non-poor child to experience difficulties in school, to become a teen parent and, as an adult, to earn less and experience greater unemployment.

 

Where We Stand

In 2006 & 2005, the estimated percentage of children and youth living in poverty was 17% for Maine and 18% for the U.S.  17% of Maine’s youth living in poverty represented an increase from 14% in 2003 & 2002.  

Maine’s 0-4 year olds living in poverty decreased in 2006 to 24.1% from 26.9% in 2004.  However, this is higher than the national estimate for 0-4 year olds living in poverty which is 21%.   Maine’s 5 to 17 year olds living in poverty in 2004 was 13.3%, 2005 was at 14.9% and then showed a slight decrease to 14.2% in 2006.  The national average for 5-17 year olds living in poverty is approximately 17%, higher than Maine’s 5-17 year old youth.

 

Data Source and Context

 

Why This is Important

Being raised in economically deprived circumstances can have far-reaching negative consequences for children. Several factors contribute to the economic status of this segment of female headed family households including the availability of jobs that pay a living wage, the gender disparity in job income, the educational levels of single female parents in poverty, the availability of affordable, quality child care services, and the availability of health insurance for underemployed parents and their children.

 

Where We Stand

In 2006, there were approximately 548,000 households in Maine.  Approximately 65% of all the households were Family Households and of those, 45.5% were family households with own children under the age of 18.  Of all types of households, 11% were those of single Female Headed Households.  Of these 57,724 female headed households, 70%, or 40,154 were households with own children under the age of 18.

The first chart above displays estimates for the total number of Maine Female Headed Households with No Husband present that were Below the Poverty Level in the Past 12 Months – those households with own children under the age of 18.  Census data in 2006 indicate that approximately 39% of female headed households with children under age 18 live below the federal poverty level in Maine.

 

Data at the national level shows that in recent years, 2004 through 2006, the rate of female headed households with children stood at a fairly constant rate, 37.6 in 2004 to 36.9 in 2006.

Related children include biological children, stepchildren, and adopted children of the householder and all other children in the household related to the householder by blood, marriage, or adoption.

 

Data Source and Context

Data are drawn from the US Census Bureau American Community Surveys as well as the Current Population Survey, Bureau of Labor Statistics and US Census, which can be accessed at http://factfinder.census.gov.

 

 

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Why This is Important

Housing is a basic need for all families and their children. Being homeless is often a serious consequence of a family's basic social, economic and or mental health needs not being met. Homelessness among youth in the United States is disturbingly common, with an estimated annual prevalence of at least 5% for those ages 12 to 17.

 

Where We Stand

According to the Maine State Housing Authority, in July of 2000, 2001 and 2002 over 400 of Maine's young people aged birth through 17 stayed in a homeless or emergency shelter either with or without other family members. This number dropped to 315 in July 2003. In July of 2004, this number increased to 372 but dropped again to 318 in July of 2005. Measures in January of 2006 registered a drop to 117 children, rebounding in January 2007 to 149 children and then a slight decrease to 137 in January 2008. It is important to recognize that only a portion of the total homeless children in Maine reside in shelters. In 2007, the total estimated number of homeless children stood at 208 (149 residing in shelters).  In 2008, two youth were identified as homeless, not in shelter and also unaccompanied by an adult.

According to the 2008 data, homeless youth make up 18% of the total shelter population, a substantial decrease from 36% reported in 2005. 

 

Data Source and Context

The data source for this indicator is the Maine State Housing Authority.  July numbers were compiled from a biannual shelter occupancy report submitted by shelters for this month. Most recent data were based on Maine State Housing Authority Homelessness Point In Time Survey January 2007 and January 2008.

The total number of homeless youth may include children whose primary residence is out of state. It is important to note that not all of the state’s shelters admit children.