Orange County NC Website
Browse       Search
POVERTY <br />PROBLEMS /ISSUES /GAPS <br />19 <br />-The fact that Orange County has an unemployment rate of 1.6 <br />percent, and that 15.2 percent of the citizens in Orange County <br />live at or below the poverty level of $11,650 for a family of <br />four, verifies that there are a large number of "working poor ". <br />Approximately 75 percent of those living at or below the poverty <br />level are "working poor ". <br />- During the decade of the 80s poverty has increased dramatically <br />and continues to escalate, after a 50 percent decline in the <br />70s. <br />-Need to address under - employment. <br />-Need to address job training opportunities. <br />-Need for adequate emergency resources for families in crisis. <br />-Need for affordable day -care and innovative after--school <br />programs for impoverished families. <br />-Need for affordable housing for every Orange County citizen. <br />-Need for adequate nutrition and health care services. <br />-Need adequate support for adolescent parents. <br />-Need for more accessible transportation. <br />-Need to address service delivery problem to youth. <br />-Need for more effective counselling programs and services for <br />youths living in poverty. <br />-Need to address the large number of youths suffering severely <br />because of poverty. <br />- Orange County's drop -out rate is 7.6 percent. <br />-12.9 percent of Orange County's children are living in <br />poverty. <br />-23.1 percent of Orange County's children are receiving Aid <br />for Dependent Children (AFDC). <br />-Need for better networking between schools and the Department of <br />Social Services. <br />Page 19 <br />